Poultney Public Library

Trustee Policy Statement

Mission Statement

            The Poultney Public Library collects, maintains, and makes available to all members of the community resources that contribute to personal, educational and recreational enrichment.

I. Governance

            The Library is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees with one member being elected by the town of Poultney each year for a five-year term.  The Board meets at least five times per year, in meetings that are warned and open to the public.  The Town of Poultney supplies an annual appropriation to cover operating expenses, this appropriation being based on a budget prepared by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the Director and approved by the voters within the total town budget.

II. Population Served

            The Library and its holdings may be used by all residents of the community and by residents of adjacent communities free of charge. Pay per use online services (e.g. hoopla, Kanopy, and Listen Up VT) are available free of charge to Poultney residents and tax payers, and are available to non-residents with a $20 per year membership. A deposit is required of all temporary residents who are not Poultney taxpayers, including students at local colleges.  If all items are returned and all fees and fines paid, a full refund of this deposit is made upon departure.

            Juvenile registrations requiring the signature of a parent or guardian are issued to children through age 11.  It is the policy of the Board that children are granted free access to all library materials.  The responsibility for supervising a child’s borrowing lies with that child’s parents. Confidential Minor registrations will be issued to juveniles aged 12 through 17. Adult registrations are issued at age 18.

            Within the limits of our building and budget, the library is committed to providing the fullest possible access for all community members.  Accommodations will be made on an individual basis and may include, but are not limited to—

• home delivery for those unable to visit the facility
• retrieval by staff of books shelved beyond a patron’s reach, or in areas inaccessible to a wheelchair
• assistance with the automated card catalog and the public access computers

use of written communication with the hearing impaired

• maintenance of a collection of large print books and audio books, and referrals to the Vermont Department of Libraries ABLE Library for the visually impaired

Use of the Library may be denied for due cause, as determined by the Librarian. Actions which might constitute due cause include consistent failure to return materials promptly, violating the Guidelines for Library Behavior, misuse of the Library building, equipment or materials, or failure to pay for lost materials.

III.  General Operating Procedures

            The Library will be open a minimum of 34 hours per week, with opening hours distributed to accommodate morning, afternoon, and evening use. Library hours may be temporarily reduced due to emergency or community health concerns. The Library will be closed on Federal holidays.

            No overdue fines are charged. After 45 days overdue, library materials will be considered missing and patrons will be billed for the cost of the materials. Borrowing privileges are suspended for patrons with materials 30 or more days overdue, or with outstanding charges.

            Gifts to the Library are welcomed.  For information on books and movie donations accepted, see attached donation policy. The Library reserves the right to dispose of donated materials in whatever manner the Board deems appropriate.

            The safety and comfort of Library visitors and staff is of utmost importance.  Therefore, any actions which make others feel unsafe or produce a hostile environment will not be tolerated.  Violators will be asked to stop the offensive behavior immediately or leave the premises.  Noncompliance will result in suspension of Library privileges. (see attached Guidelines for Library Behavior)

Poultney Public Library respects the right of privacy for all its patrons regarding the use of this Library. Library records are protected under Vermont Statute, Title 22, Chapter 4, Sections 171-173.

IV.  Materials Selection Policy

In accordance with 22 V.S.A. § 69, the Poultney Public Library adopts this collection development policy which includes both a materials selection policy and procedures for the reconsideration and retention of library materials.

1. Introduction & Purpose

The Poultney Public Library (the library) maintains collections of resources to help library users pursue their intellectual interests and educational objectives, including material for leisure time enjoyment and practical problem solving.

The library strives to build a collection representing multiple points of view that reflect the community’s diverse people and history, including a diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and political beliefs and a diversity of authors, creators, and media.

The library’s collections reflect a commitment to intellectual freedom. Compliance with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Vermont laws prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation shall underpin the practices and practical processes of maintaining the library’s collections.

The library remains committed to securing professional services, including legal counsel, as necessary to ensure that its collection development activities comply with the above-identified State and federal laws.

2. Materials Selection Policy

Multiple factors determine what materials are included in the library’s collections: funding, space, staffing, and ongoing maintenance needs. Library staff weigh the following criteria when making collection decisions:

• Alignment with the library’s mission and strategic plan
• Review in a standard reviewing source (e.g., Booklist, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews) and/or reviews and discussion in national newspapers and magazines, local publications, broadcast media, and reputable online sources.
• Community interests, demand, and suggestions
• Representation by and of diverse individuals and groups
• Significance and relationship to the local community and State of Vermont
• Authority and qualifications of the creator(s), publisher(s), and/or producer(s)
• Price and availability
• Accessibility of format and content
• Anticipated viability and/or longevity of the format

The library welcomes Library Users to recommend items for inclusion in the collection and accepts donated materials. Suggested and/or donated materials will be evaluated by library staff prior to being included in the library’s collection and must meet the library’s selection criteria.

The library may provide access to subscription databases and shared online collections. The library may not have direct control over the inclusion or exclusion of specific titles within those shared collections. 

3. Materials Retention Policy

Materials that no longer meet the needs of the community and/or no longer support the library’s collection will be withdrawn from the collection. This may include materials that are damaged, that include obsolete information, or that have not been used within a reasonable length of time. Items withdrawn from the collection will be disposed of in accordance with all applicable laws and municipal policies at the discretion of the librarian and Library Board.

4. Procedures for the Reconsideration and Retention of Materials

• An individual (Library User) with a concern about the inclusion of an item in the library’s collection is encouraged to discuss their concern with the library director (the Director).
• If speaking with the Director does not resolve the concern, a Library User may initiate a formal request that an item be removed from the library collection or relocated within the library collection by completing a Request for Reconsideration form and submitting it to the Director.
• The item in question will remain in circulation; it will not be relocated or removed from the library collection during the review process.
• The library will review only one request for reconsideration of materials at a time and will do so in the order in which requests are received.
• The Director will notify the Library User that their Request for Reconsideration form has been received and will inform the Library User when they anticipate processing the form (based on the number of other requests that have been filed).
• The Director or their delegate will review the Request for Reconsideration form and the material in question. They will read, listen to, or view the item and will read reviews of the item in professional journals when available. They will evaluate the usage of the item by the public (circulation) and evaluate whether the selection of the item conforms with the library’s Materials Selection Policy.
• The Director will notify the Library User of the library’s decision regarding the request within 15 library business days of receipt of their Request for Reconsideration form, stating the reasons for the decision to the Library User who submitted the request.
• If the Library User is not satisfied with the library’s decision, they may submit a written appeal to the Board of Trustees (the Board) of the library within 10 library business days of receipt of the decision letter.
• The Board will notify the Library User if their appeal will be heard by the Board. If the Board plans to address the appeal at a meeting, the Library User will be notified of when and where the next regular meeting of the board will be held.
• The decision of the Board is final. Once an appeal has been considered by the Board, it will not be reconsidered.

V. Personnel

There are four staff positions:  Librarian (37.5 hours), Assistant Librarian (32 hours), Clerk (18 hours), and Assistant Clerk (10 hours).

            Staff is granted three weeks paid sick leave, as well as paid vacation and holidays as outlined in the Town of Poultney Personnel Rules and Regulations, on an annual basis after one year of employment. (see attached Vacation Policy)

            Staff is granted leave with pay for further training when opportunities for courses and workshops are reasonably available.  Attendance at meetings and conferences is encouraged, with paid time off and travel expenses.

            Staff is requested to give one month’s notice upon leaving the library’s employ.

            Volunteers are used by the Library to assist with special projects (fundraisers, children’s programs, etc.).  It is the intent of the Board to maintain paid staff sufficient to handle regular Library operations.

VI. Programming

            The Library offers programs for both children and adults, with children’s programming predominating.  Programs are used to promote interest in reading and books, to provide information, and to stimulate library use.  Preschool and toddler story hours are regularly scheduled activities which receive top priority in programming efforts.

            Requests for use of the Library for activities not directly sponsored by the Library will be dealt with by the Board on an individual basis.  The Library bulletin board will be used for announcements of non-profit community events, cultural and educational opportunities, and informational notices of general interest.

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This policy may be revised at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.  A view of the policy shall be conducted annually, at the spring meeting of the Board.

Updated 7/29/2025

                      

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The Library Trustees are:

D. Bruce Williams, Jean Davis, Ennis Duling, Nancy Luzer, and Emily Sosnoff.