Including Links to Wisconsin Public Library Policies on the Web
This page provides resources to help Wisconsin public libraries develop local library policies. Inclusion of links to particular policies does not constitute DLT endorsement. Links to sample library policies are provided as a resource to help libraries develop and refine their own policies. The library board of each public library must establish library polices that are legal and that meet the needs of their community.
Policy Development
The development of policies is covered in Trustee Essential #10 of the Wisconsin trustee handbook: Trustee Essentials: a Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees. In addition, Trustee Training Module #2 is a online PDF presentation that covers issues to be considered when developing public library policies. It is important for library policies to be legal. Illegal policies can open your municipality to liability. Here are four tests of a legally defensible policy:
- Test #1: Policies must comply with current statutes and case law.
- Test #2: Policies must be reasonable (and all penalties must be reasonable).
- Test #3: Policies must be clear (not ambiguous or vague).
- Test #4: Policies must be applied without discrimination.
Sample Public Library Policies
- Sample Policies for the Small Public Library. These sample polices were developed by the Small Library Committee of the Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians, 2nd Edition, Revised by David L. Polodna, 1999.
- Sample Library Board Bylaws for Wisconsin Public Libraries. These sample board bylaws were developed by DLT staff and may be freely adapted for local library use.
- Sample Policy on Privacy of Library Records and Use .This sample policy is not intended as a recommended policy, rather it is intended to be a starting point for development of a local library policy—ideally to be developed with the assistance of the municipal attorney (or library counsel). More information is available in "Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance With the Parental Access to Library Records Law".
Links to Wisconsin Public Library Policies on the Web
Each of the public libraries listed immediately below has posted fairly comprehensive policies on the web. Links are also provided directly to a sampling of specific types of policies.
Policies by Library
- Appleton
- Beloit
- Eau Claire (L.E. Phillips)
- Fort Atkinson (Dwight Foster)
- Kenosha
- Kimberly - Little Chute
- Madison
- Manitowoc
- Marathon County
- Verona
- Waukesha
- Waupaca
- West Bend
- Winneconne
Policies by Type
ADA Compliance • Behavior • Bulletin Board & Literature Distribution • Circulation / Loan of Materials • Confidentiality / Privacy • Disaster, Emergencies & Inclement Weather • Exhibits & Displays • Financial, Investments, Gifts & Donations • Homebound / Outreach • Internet, WiFi & Computer Use • Materials Selection, Collection Development, Challenged Materials & Weeding • Meeting Room • Personnel • Proctoring Exams • Reference / Information Services • Social Media • Theft & Mutilation of Materials • Unattended Children • Volunteers
ADA Compliance
- ADA Compliance Regarding the Delivery of Services (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Procedure for ADA Service Complaint Resolution (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- ADA Compliance Regarding Employment (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- ADA Request for Accommodation (Kenosha)
Behavior (can include solicitation, canvassing, and harassment)
- Rules of Conduct (Appleton)
- Conduct on Library Property (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Customer Rights & Responsibilities (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Public Code of Behavior (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Harassment (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Rules of Conduct (Kimberly-Little Chute)
- Behavior (Madison)
- Appropriate Library Behavior (Middleton)
- Code of Conduct (Milwaukee)
- Code of Conduct in the Library (Monona)
- Library Rules (Oshkosh)
- Appropriate Library Behavior (Reedsburg)
Bulletin Board & Literature Distribution
- Handouts, Bulletin Board Postings, Notices & Petitioning (Appleton)
- Exhibits, Displays, Bulletin Boards & Pamphlet Racks (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Posting of Public Notices (Madison)
- Bulletin Board (Middleton)
- Use of Public Bulletin Boards (Racine)
- Materials for Posting or Distribution (Waukesha)
Circulation / Loan of Materials
- Charges to Customers for Lost or Damaged Items (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Circulation of Materials & Addendum (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Identification Required for Library Cards (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Library Cards (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Using Other Peoples Cards for Check Out (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Circulation (Kimberly-Little Chute)
- Library Materials: Library Card (Manitowoc)
- Get a Library Card (Milwaukee)
- Circulation Rules & Regulation (Racine)
Confidentiality / Privacy
- Privacy (Appleton)
- Confidentiality & Privacy (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Confidentiality of Library Records (Madison)
- Administration: Confidentiality of Library Records (Manitowoc)
- Privacy of Library Records & Library Use (Monona)
Disaster, Emergencies & Inclement Weather
- Emergency Closings (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Adverse Weather (Janesville)
- Emergency Closing (Kenosha)
- Emergency (New London)
Exhibits & Displays
- Exhibits (Appleton)
- Exhibits, Displays, Bulletin Boards & Pamphlet Racks (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Exhibits and Other Displays (Janesville)
- Use of Public Spaces: Programs, Displays & Brochures (Manitowoc)
- Exhibit (Middleton)
- Exhibit (River Falls)
Financial, Investments, Gifts & Donations
- Financial (Appleton)
- Donations of Money (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Gifts of Materials (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Gift and Special Accounts (Middleton)
- Gift (Reedsburg)
- Donations from Local Authors & Self-Published Authors (Waukesha)
Homebound / Outreach
- Homebound Services (Brodhead)
- Extension Services (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Home Service Program (Madison)
- Homebound Delivery (Shorewood)
- Homebound Service (Whitewater / Irvin L. Young)
Internet, WiFi & Computer Use
- Internet (Appleton)
- Computer and Internet Rules of Conduct (Eau Claire / L.E. Philips)
- Computer and Internet Use (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Electronic Communications (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Internet Safety (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Internet Use (Fort Atkinson / Dwight Foster)
- Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Wireless Use (Kimberly-Little Chute)
- Internet Use Policy and Guidelines (Madison)
- Internet Use (Middleton)
- Internet Access (Monona)
- Internet Access (Oshkosh)
- Wi-Fi Access (Racine)
- Wireless Internet Access (Ripon)
- World Wide Web Access (Waukesha)
Materials Selection, Collection Development, Challenged Materials & Weeding
- Material Selection (Appleton)
- Collection Development and Management (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Collection Development Plan (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Withdrawn Editions (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Collection Development (Madison)
- Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials (Madison)
- Library Materials: Reconsideration of Challenged Materials & Form (Manitowoc)
- Collection Development (Middleton)
- Collection Development (Racine)
- Materials Selection (Waukesha)
Meeting Room
- Meeting Room (Appleton)
- Meeting Rooms (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Meeting Room (Kimberly-Little Chute)
- Meeting and Study Room (Madison)
- Use of Public Spaces: Meeting Room (Manitowoc)
- Meeting Rooms (Middleton)
- Meeting Rooms (Oshkosh)
- Meeting Rooms (Ripon)
Personnel
Proctoring Exams
-
Exam Proctoring (Brookfield)
Reference / Information Services
- Reference & Reader's Advisory (Appleton)
- Reference Assistance (Madison)
- Using the Library: Reference & Information Services (Manitowoc)
- Reference Services (Middleton)
Social Media
- Social Media Guidelines (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Social Media (Suring)
Theft & Mutilation of Materials
- Theft or Damage of Materials (Janesville / Hedberg)
- Theft Library of Materials (Sheboygan / Mead)
Unattended Children
- Unattended Children (Appleton)
- Unattended Children (Eau Claire / L.E. Phillips)
- Unattended Children (Fort Atkinson / Dwight Foster)
- Behavior: Disruptive or Lost / Unattended Child (Manitowoc)
- Children's Safety (Monona)
- Safe Child (Racine)
Volunteers
- Volunteers (Appleton)
- Volunteer (Kenosha)
- Volunteers (Menasha / Elisha D. Smith)
- Volunteers (Middleton)
- Use of Volunteers (Waukesha)
For questions about this information, contact Shannon Schultz (608) 266-7270