Registration Requirements
A library card is required of each patron checking out library materials from any of the four Anderson County libraries. Each library has separate cards for each patron.
Photographic identification, proof of Tennessee residency showing a current mailing address and two forms of contact (either phone and/or email), is required to obtain a library card.
The original library card is free; however, there will be a $1.00 fee for each replacement card that has been lost, damaged, or stolen. The fee may be waived for an expired card. A photo ID must be presented to obtain a replacement card.
There is no minimum age requirement to obtain a library card, however juveniles under the age of 18 need a parent’s or legal guardian’s permission and signature. Parents/legal guardians are responsible for materials checked out on their juvenile’s card.
Patron accounts must be renewed every 3 years.
Adult Library Card Application
Juvenile Library Card Application
Borrowing Policy
Library cards (or photo ID) must be presented to check out any library material.
Patrons under the age of 18 may check out only G-rated movies, in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-911. To check out movies with ratings above G, patrons under the age of 18 need a parent’s or legal guardian’s permission and signature with each checkout via a Juvenile Video Permission form.
Borrowing privileges will be suspended when material is listed as 30 days overdue or fines have reached a total of $5.00 for any and all cards held under a patron’s signature. Borrowing privileges will be restored once material is accounted for and the fine balance is below $5.00.
The cardholder is responsible for any material checked out on their card, including lost, damaged and/or stolen material.
Legal guardians of children may flag materials the minors they are responsible for are prevented from checking out. This may be done by title, author, age level, section, or Dewey designation.
Loan Period
Books, magazines, audiobooks – 14 days
Visual Media – 7 days
First time borrowers are limited to two items.
Borrowing Maximums
Each library determines the maximum amount of items allowed per check-out.
Interlibrary Loans
Material not available in the library may be requested through Interlibrary loan.
Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library.
Reserves
Reserves may be placed on material that is currently checked out.
Reserves will be held for three days. When the customer is notified that their reserve is available, they will also be told the date which the book will be returned to the shelf or given to the next person on the reserve list.
Renewals
Items may be renewed twice.
Items on reserve for someone else may not be renewed.
Extended renewals will be at the discretion of the Library Director.
Fines and Fees
A daily fine will be charged for each item that is overdue.
Books, magazines, audiobooks – $0.10 per item, per day.
Visual Media – $0.50 per item, per day
Maximum overdue fines are $10.00 per item. For items costing less than $10.00, the fine shall not exceed the cost of the item.
Lost and damaged material
The charge for lost material or material that is too damaged to be repaired will be the cost of the item.
The library is not responsible for personal equipment damaged by library materials.
Confidentiality
To maintain confidentiality and protect the privacy of our customers, only the card holder has access to checkout history and reserve requests. Furthermore, the title of reserves will not be left on an answering machine or be given to a third party over the phone.
Special Collections
Each library has special collections that may not be removed from the building. Under special circumstances, a director may grant a temporary loan at their discretion.
Anderson County Library Board Internet Access Policy
Introduction
In response to advances in technology and the changing needs of the community, Anderson County Libraries inform, educate, culturally enrich and entertain the citizens of Anderson County, Tennessee. It is within this context that the Anderson County Libraries offer free access to the internet. Internet access is available during the Library’s regular hours of operation. Periodic maintenance or technical difficulties may arise that may cause computer access to be temporarily unavailable.
The accuracy or availability of the information from the internet cannot be guaranteed and the Anderson County Libraries cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information gained or the suitability of material that may be encountered.
In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the provisions of Tennessee law concerning the sale, loan, or exhibition of material to minors (Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-911), the Anderson County Libraries have installed and enforced the operation of filtering software that attempts to limit the incidence of chance encounters with inappropriate websites. Any attempts to disable or otherwise compromise the use of that software will result in the removal of computer privileges. No filtering software is 100% effective and library staff can monitor the use of computer workstations to ensure compliance with this provision.
Library staff will provide help on basic computer use as time permits, but will not provide extensive personal, in-depth training or instruction. Library staff may not be available for computer help at all times.
Confidentiality
Library staff will respect the patron’s confidentiality. However, since computer screens are visible to others, the library cannot guarantee privacy or confidentiality.
Staff Monitoring of Computer Workstations
Some material is inappropriate for display in a public setting. Library staff reserve the right to monitor the use of computer workstations to ensure compliance with this and all other provisions of this policy.
Computer Use Agreement
It is the responsibility of the patron to read, understand, and accept the Internet Access Policy for using the library’s computers by agreeing to the policy as prompted on the screen when logging in.
Children and students under eighteen (18) years of age must have a parent or legal guardian present to read and sign the Juvenile Computer Use Agreement at all Anderson County Libraries. As long as a signed agreement is on file at the library, children may access the internet without an adult present. However, parents may withdraw permission in writing at any point. Parents of minors must assume responsibility for their children’s use of or exposure to content accessed on the Library’s computers.
The computers are available for patron use on a first come, first serve basis. The patron agrees to limit his or her session to 1 hour if other patrons are waiting. There is a one (1) hour maximum use per day which may be extended at the discretion of the library director. Use of equipment must be completed within 15 minutes of closing time and Library staff reserve the right to shut down any computers after this time. Reservations for computer use are not permitted.
While using the Library’s computers, the patron is not permitted to:
- Install software or hardware.
- Alter the computer’s configuration.
- Install or download information onto the hard drive.
- Apply unnecessary force to the computer or its parts.
- Alter software configuration on the desktop.
- Use the Library computer for illegal or criminal purposes.
While accessing the internet, the patron is not permitted to:
- View sites that are inappropriate for display in a public setting.
- Attempt access to the Library’s network system.
- Use the internet for illegal or criminal purposes.
- Violate copyright or software licensing agreements.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other computers or computer systems, or use the computer in any other way which violates other applicable law.
- Attempt to change, circumvent, disable or otherwise defeat the correct operation of the filtering software.
- Display any material which is harmful to minors pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-911 and the Children’s Internet Protection Act.
For your protection and safety, it is recommended that you avoid disclosing personal information over the Internet. Library Internet users are prohibited by law from disclosing, using, or disseminating personal information regarding a minor; anyone below the age of eighteen, without written authorization of the parent or legal guardian of the minor. Internet users are prohibited from using the library computers to compromise the safety and security of minors when using email and all other forms of electronic communication.
Wireless Internet Access
Wireless internet access is available to the community using personal technology devices. Users must comply with the Library policies for Internet Access. The wireless connection is unencrypted; use of the wireless connection is done at the patron’s own risk. Neither the library nor the library staff is responsible for any damage to patrons’ personal devices.
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with the Library’s Internet Use Policy and other Library restrictions and rules may result in loss of computer use privileges. Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.
Miscellaneous
- Material may be printed and/or downloaded onto a CD and/or USB flash drives if provided by the patron.
- Pricing structure for printing is set by the library director.
- The Library reserves the right to update and change this policy at any time without notice except as required by law and the By-laws of the Library Board.
Child Safety Policy
Clinton Public Library welcomes all children to its library. We care for the safety and well-being of all children and strive to provide a safe environment for them; however, library staff cannot be responsible for or supervise unattended children. To ensure the safety of your child and maintain a positive environment for all library users, please observe the following rules:
- Children 10 and under may not be left unattended in the library. They must be accompanied by an adult.
- If a child under the age of 11 comes to the library without proper adult supervision, attempts will be made to contact the parents. If the parents or caregivers cannot be contacted within 30 minutes, staff will contact the police.
- Librarians, staff, and volunteers are not responsible for children who are unattended.
- Children over the age of 10 may be left unattended if they work quietly and follow library rules. If the child’s behavior becomes disruptive, you may be asked to limit their time left alone in the library, or you may be asked to pick up your child.
- We suggest that your child has some form of identification including his/her telephone number.
- Children attending programs are supervised by library staff only during the scheduled time of the program. They must be supervised before and after programs by an adult.
Library Closings
Clinton Public Library would like to keep all of our patrons informed on any potential holiday or weather related closings.
The library follows the same closing policy as the Anderson County Government. If the Anderson County Government closes, Clinton Public Library will not open.
For up to date notices on potential closings, please visit your preferred local news website or the Anderson County Government Home Page. In the event of bad weather on Saturdays, or after 5:00 PM on weekdays, closing the library will be at the discretion of the Library Director. All library closings will be posted to the library Facebook page as soon as possible.
Collection Development Policy
The Anderson County Library Board has adopted the following Collection Development Policy to guide the librarians and to inform the public about the principles upon which library collections are developed and maintained.
The library collection supports the mission of the Anderson County Library Board: “Anderson County Libraries inform, educate, culturally enrich and entertain the citizens of Anderson County, Tennessee.”
Find the full policy and the Citizen Request For Reconsideration of Library Materials form here: Anderson County Library Board Collection Development Policy.
