Effective April 1, 1996 the Essa Centennial Library Board was forced to reintroduce fines on overdue library materials. This step was taken to try and minimally offset the 20% cut to our operating grant by the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.

While it is the patron's responsibility to return library materials on their due date, staff will endeavour to make one phone call to warn patrons that their library materials are overdue and are accuring fines.

Overdue fines are due and payable at the time the library materials are returned. If the fines are not paid at that time or if materials are returned in absentia, borrowing privileges will be temporarily suspended until the fine is paid. Fines still outstanding 12 months from the original due date shall result in the patrons membership being revoked. In order to have this membership reinstated it will be neccessary to clear the overdue fines owing plus a $5.00 administration fee.

**Patrons claiming hardship will be given the opportunity to negotiate a repayment plan with the C.E.O.

**For your information: you may renew library materials once, unless renewals are not allowed (i.e. interloan or high-demand materials). Simply call us at (705)424-6531 or bring in the materials, prior to the due date.

**A drop box is also provided for your convinience, when the library is closed. Overdue items returned via our bookdrop will have fines attached to you membership and we will collect them on your next visit!

When the Library receives no responsible reply to reminder calls to patrons of overdue materials after five weeks, the assumption is made that the loaned items are lost. The patron is then billed for the replacement cost of the material.

The replacement cost represents the original cost of the material plus a processing fee determined by the Library Board.

Failure to return the library materials or make restitution for lost or damaged materials shall result in loss of privileges and revocation of a patron's membership card.

(a) Minor Damages (can be repaired and returned to the collection): $2.00 per item.

(b) Irreparable Damages (must be withdrawn from the collection): $5.00 cataloguing fee + Original cost of item

**The Essa Centennial Library will not allow the copying of any copyrighted material. For more information, please check with Library Staff.

**Library staff are available to help anyone photocopy non-copyrighted material. Prices are available for viewing on the Services and Resources page.

1. The applicant must state the purpose to which the meeting room will be put and any requirements in writing to the Essa Centennial Library Board.
2. Loss or damage to any Library property arising out of the occupancy by the group/organization must be paid by the group/organization.
3. A designated member of the group/organization shall be in charge at all times. This person will also liaise with the Chief Executive Officer on behalf of the group/organization.
4. All arrangements for chairs, tables, equipment and kitchen privileges shall be made in advance. All set-up and clean-up labour shall be provided by the applicant. The premises must be left in an orderly and clean condition.
5. At the close of the meeting, the applicant shall ensure that the room lights are turned off and that the door is properly locked.
6. Smoking is not permitted in the library.
7. The Library Board must be formally advised when the meeting room is no longer required by a group/organization.
8. The applicant agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Essa Centennial Library Board from any action or claim being brought against it as a result of the use of the Public Library facilities by the applicant.

**Please see the Services and Resources page for pricing.

The maximum amount of library materials that can be loaned in a block will be 25 items!

Two titles per subject area may be borrowed (up to 25 titles) for 3 weeks.

All but two titles in a subject area may be borrowed for a 1 week period.

25 titles by any author or authors may be borrowed for a 3 week period.

The Essa Centennial Library functions as part of an information network within the community, within Ontario Library Services/Trent, and in cooperation with other library systems across Ontario and Canada.

Interlibrary loan service is offered automatically when requiested information is not available at the Essa Centennial Library and is within the scope of the regional and national interlibrary loan codes. In return, the Library shares its resources in accordance with the codes, while always retaining top priority in the use of the resources for its own patrons.

The Essa Centennial Library Board, while striving to fulfil its Statement of Purpose as outlined in the Policy Manual, also recognizes that diminishing provincial funding and imminent changes to the Public Library Act are compelling libraries to implement user fees to cover the costs of operating and maintaining equipment necessary to the dissemination of information to the community.

Patrons shall have access to library computers and printers, for a nominal fee, for the purposes of accessing programs for word processing and to search computer generated refernce and resource materials.

Adult patrons and students shall be required to sign a log-in record sheet which obliges them to abide by the regulations of the library and assume responsibility for damage or misuse of the computer equipment and disks. Students under the age of 12 years must be logged in by a parent's or guardian's signature.

No patron shall be allowed to transport disks into or out of the library for the purpose of downloading or inputting computer information. Hard copies of patron generated documents and researched reference and resource information shall be allowed to be printed out at a nominal cost.

**Effective July 5, 1999, there will no longer be a free 15 minute period when using the computers (i.e. for word processing uses, games, etc.)

**Rates are posted at the computer stations and at the Services and Resources page.

**Reservations for computer use are highly recommended. Call us at (705)424-6531 or reserve in person at the Circulation Desk.

1. The use of the Internet at Essa Centennial Library is a privilege and not a right. This privilege may be revoked at any time for inappropirate behaviour such as:
   • Displaying, sending and/or receiving illegal and/or inappropriate information.
   • Using of abusive and otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages.
   • Downloading information of any kind off the Internet on to the Hard Drive or to a Disk at Essa Centennial Library.
   • Using Chat Rooms or Chat Pages on Internet at Essa Centennial Library.
2. The Essa Centennial Library does not offer or probide E-mail accounts, posting to newsgroups or file transfers.
3. Users who attempt to use library workstations for unlawful purposes, or electronically or physically abuse the computer, or to install, delete or modify software, or play games on-line on the Essa Centennial Library computers will have their privileges suspended and may incur the invovlvement of police action.
4. Users of the Internet should be aware that a printing cost is involved when printing information from the Internet.
5. Library Staff will offer users some searching suggestions but cannot provide in-depth Internet training.
6. The Essa Centennial Library is not responsible for the content, accuracy or availability of any external sites linked to library pages and therefore assumes no responsibility for information found on the Internet that may be considered erroneous, controversial, out of date or offensive or that do not meet the library's criteria for the acquisition of information and materials.
7. The Library Staff have full control over every aspect of the computer stations and their decisions are final.
8. Certain copying or distribution of material found on the Internet may infringe on Canadian copyright laws. The Essa Centennial Library is not responsible for such infringements.
9. Signed Parental/Guardian permission is required for users under the age of 18 years wishing to use the Internet. Parental/Guardian supervision of users under the age of 18 is recommended as Library Staff cannot always be available to provide continuos supervision.
10. By signing the acceptance agreement users agree to abide by all policies and procedures as described in the Use and Access Policy.
11. Access to the Internet will be based on demand and availability. Regulations regarding usage are subject to change. Current regulations will be posted at the Internet Stations and the Circulation Desk.

**Please note: there is a 1 hour limit per patron to use the Internet

**There is a charge for printing! -Please check in with Library Staff to pay for all the copies you have made. Thank you.

**Please see the Services and Resources page for pricing.

**The Essa Centennial Library does not accept incoming faxes.

**Please see the Services and Resources page for pricing.

Audio visual hardware shall mean film projectors, projection screens, spare film reels, projector lamps, exciter lamps, video cassette players/recorders, audio cassette players/recorders, computers or any other equipment required to facilitate the access of audiovisual software materials.

A non-refundable fee per booking, determined by the Library Board will be charged for the use of audiovisual hardware. The exception to this ruling shall be the use of the audio cassette player/recorder by environmentally disadvantaged patrons for the use of talking book materials.

A loan period of 24 hours shall be imposed on audiovisual hardware allowed to be used outside the librarry premises. Longer loan periods will be at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer. The exception to this ruling shall be the use of the audio cassette player/recorder for the use of talking book materials.

Audio visual hardware will be loaned only to persons holding an adult membership card (18 years of age and up).

In the case of the 16mm projector, the operator must hold a valid projectionist's certificate or obtain training from the staff of the Essa Centennial Library.

Audiovisual software shall mean 16mm film, video cassettes, audio cassettes and computer disks.

The loan perios for 16mm film shall be a 24 hour period or whatever time period imposed by the source library if obtained through the inter-library loan system or a time period pre-arranged with the Chief Executive Officer.

The loan period for video cassettes shall be a 24 hour period unless otherwise arranged with the Chief Executive Officer.

Audio cassettes and computer disks may be borrowd for a three week period.

Audiovisual software will be loaned only to persons registered on an adult membership card (18 years of age and up).