Library Policies
To maintain a safe and welcoming environment and so that everyone can enjoy fun and educational activities at the Library, all patrons are expected to follow our Library Policies. If you have any questions, please call 902-895-0235 or email us at info@cehpubliclibrary.ca.
A Code of Conduct is a guide for how people must behave in a certain place. This Code of Conduct outlines the rules for how to behave when you go to the Colchester-East Hants Public Library (the Library) or use its services.
Everyone can use and enjoy the Library. We ask for your support in making sure that visitors and staff feel safe and respected when they are at the Library.
Read Library Code of Conduct (PDF)
The Library is committed to fairness and nobody is allowed to treat people differently due to their identity. If someone thinks that the actions of a library staff member or volunteer are biased, they can report it anonymously using the form below.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library (the Library) recognizes that oppression exists in our world. We stand with the communities affected by it and commit to challenging oppressive systems.
The purpose of this document is to outline the rules and procedures of the Colchester-East Hants Public Library’s (the Library’s) Borrow by Mail service. This service lets people who live in Colchester or East Hants get library items delivered to them in the mail.
The purpose of this policy is to tell the public about how the Library develops its collection and about how it cares for the collection it already has. The Library’s collection supports its vision to empower, enrich, and inspire its communities.
Read the Collection Development Policy (PDF)
Read the Statement on Intellectual Freedom (PDF)
The Library recognizes the right of any person to make a complaint about the inclusion of material in the Library’s collection. If a person does not agree with an item in the library collection, they can fill out a Request for Reconsideration of Library Material form online or in person at their local library.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the conditions and context within which the Colchester-East Hants Public Library (CEHPL) supports the posting and distribution of community information from individuals, community groups, organizations and government.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library has an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. We call it the ILL service in this document. The ILL service lets people borrow items from other libraries when they need to.
The purpose of this document is to outline the rules of the ILL service and how it works.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the conditions and context within which the Colchester-East Hants Public Library provides free public access to the Internet and technology.
Library Delivery Service lets group settings like nursing homes and other care homes in Colchester and East Hants get free deliveries of items from the Library. The purpose of this document is to outline the rules of the Library Delivery Service and to give information about how the Colchester-East Hants Public Library provides this service.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library has meeting rooms that are available to the community. The purpose of this document is to outline how people can use library meeting rooms.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how the Library uses and safeguards personal information under its control.
The purpose of this document is to give information about the many programs available at the Colchester-East Hants Public Library and the guidelines used to choose and create programs.
The purpose of this policy is to limit advertising, selling, and the collection of donations within Colchester-East Hants Public Library (CEHPL).
Definition of Social Networking
Any website or online application which allows users to share information. Social networking can include, but is not limited to, blogging, instant messaging, social networking sites and wikis. Many social networking sites will allow users to become a “friend”, “fan” or otherwise associate their own profiles with the Library’s profile on these sites. Examples of such sites are Facebook. MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and various blogging sites like Blogger and WordPress.
Privacy on Social Networking Pages/Sites
The Library does not collect, maintain or otherwise use the personal information stored on any third party site in any way other than to communicate with users on that site, unless granted permission by users for the Library to make contact outside the site.
The purpose for contact outside the site may include reference help, program promotion, volunteer opportunities or other similar activities.
Users may remove themselves at any time from the Library’s “friends” or “fan” lists, or request that the Library remove them.
Users should be aware that third party websites have their own privacy policies and should proceed accordingly.
Monitoring Use of Library Social Networking Pages/Sites
The Library does not act in the place, or in the absence, of a parent or guardian and is not responsible for enforcing any restrictions which a parent or guardian may place on a minor’s use of this resource. Comments, posts, and messages are welcome on Library social networking pages/sites. While the Library recognizes and respects differences in opinion, all such interactions will be monitored regularly and reviewed for content and relevancy (before publishing when possible).
Library staff reserves the right to remove any posts deemed inappropriate.
All postings which contain any of the following will be removed and the poster barred from posting any subsequent messages to Library social networking pages/sites:
- Obscene, racist, sexist or otherwise discriminatory content
- Personal attacks, insults or threatening language
- Potentially libellous statements
- Plagiarized or use of copyright material
- Private, personal information published without consent
- Hyperlinks to material that is not directly related to the discussion
- Commercial promotions or spam
- Organized political activity
- Photos or other images that fall in any of the above categories
In addition, the Library reserves the right to edit or modify any postings or comments for space or content, while retaining the intent of the original post. The Library shall also be granted the right to reproduce comments, posts and messages in other public venues, e.g. a response to a YouTube book review may be quoted in a newspaper or on the Library website. Identifying information, other than first name, will be removed, unless prior approval is granted by the poster.
The Library assumes no liability regarding any event or interaction that takes place by any participant in any Library-sponsored social networking service and does not endorse or review content outside the “”pages”” created by Library staff.
Participation in Library social networking services implies agreement to follow all Library policies, including its Social Networking Policy and its Internet Code of Ethics as well as the terms of service of each third-party service.
The role and utility of social networking sites will be evaluated periodically by Library staff and may be terminated at any time without notice to subscribers.
Appendix: Online Notices
Disclaimer
To reach out to potential library users, the Colchester-East Hants Public Library maintains an online presence on selected social networking sites such as Facebook. Content on Library pages will be vetted by Library staff; however, sites that are linked to Library pages are not monitored by Library staff
The Library does not endorse any information, opinions, services or advertisements available for viewing on social networking sites.
As with the use of all Library services and resources, it is the responsibility of parents/guardians, not Library staff, to determine and monitor their minor children’s use of the internet.
The Library reserves the right to remove anyone from its social networking pages, who has associated his/her own profile with the Library’s profile.
Rules for Posting
By submitting a comment to any of the Library’s social networking pages, you agree to abide by the following rules, which are designed to ensure that people feel comfortable in any online discussions and are keen to participate and that any such discussions stay relevant and on topic:
- Stay on topic. Please don’t post comments that are unrelated to the topic to which you are contributing.
- Be concise. Other users are more likely to read your comment if it is short and to the point; for this reason we will not generally publish articles longer than 300-400 words.
- Be respectful. Commenting on a topic should be a positive experience for all. Comments should be civil, tasteful and must not be malicious or designed to offend. No reference should be made to the personality of other participants. Attacks on an individual’s character will not be tolerated.
- Don’t incite hatred on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, sexuality or other personal characteristics. Do not use language that is offensive, inflammatory or provocative (this includes swearing and obscene or vulgar language). Do not choose a user name that is offensive, inflammatory or provocative.
- Don’t ‘spam’. Please don’t add the same comment to more than one topic or more than once to the same topic.
- Don’t post personal information. Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other online contact details relating to you, or other individuals, are not allowed.
- Don’t advertise. You can mention relevant products and services as long as they support your comment. All links submitted must be appropriate for a general audience and must not link the site to material that is obscene, defamatory or incites hatred or violence.
- Don’t impersonate or falsely claim to represent a person or organization. Please don’t mislead other users by abusing the Library’s registration procedure.
- Don’t break the law. This includes libel and condoning illegal activity. Remember – you are legally responsible for what you write. By submitting a comment you undertake to indemnify the Colchester-East Hants Public Library, its board, and employees against liability arising from its publication.
We encourage open, lively debate but the decision to publish comments received by the Library is at the discretion of Library staff. Comments that violate any of the above rules will not be published. If users break the rules, the Library reserves the right to suspend their accounts and/or delete their comments.
Policy adapted from the Whitman Public Library (MA)’s social networking policy and the Government of Nova Scotia’s Back to Balance online discussion forum.
Adopted by the Colchester-East Hants Public Library Board November 23, 2010. Revised June 23, 2015.
Intellectual freedom means that everyone has the right to their own opinion and to access information and ideas from all points of view without restriction.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library (the Library) believes that intellectual freedom is an essential human right. We support the principles in the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ Statement on Intellectual Freedom. You can read more about that here: Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the conditions and context within which Colchester-East Hants Public Library provides space for art exhibits by local community artists and artisans. Through its collections, the Library provides access to a wide range of expressions of imagination, knowledge, creativity, intellectual activity and thought, in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Read Use of Library Space for Art Exhibitions Policy (PDF)
Download Use of Library Space – Application Form (PDF)
Download Use of Library Space – Agreement Form (PDF)
Download Use of Library Space – List of Works Form (PDF)
At the Colchester-East Hants Public Library (CEHPL), we know how important Volunteers are to our community. They share their experiences, knowledge, and time with the people at the Library. They help Library staff with programs and services. The Library is pleased to offer the chance for members of the public to volunteer with us.
The purpose of this policy is to outline the role of Volunteers within the Library, the types of duties Volunteers do, and guidelines for how to manage Volunteers at the Library.
The Colchester-East Hants Public Library (the Library) welcomes youth of all ages. Parents or guardians are responsible for the behaviour and safety of their youth at the Library. This policy outlines the responsibilities for making sure youth are safe at the Library.
