The community resource for education, exploration, enrichment & enjoyment.

The Whitehall Public Library, in upholding its mission to provide information services to the community, will be open the maximum number of hours as determined by the Library’s Board of Trustees and Library Director in conjunction with its annual budget, for the convenience of Library users.

Weekend hours are modified during the months of July and August:
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday (closed)

Holidays:
The Library will be closed on the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas
• New Year’s Eve

The Library will close early on the following days:

• Halloween - The Library will close at 5:00 p.m.
• Thanksgiving Eve - The Library will close at 5:00 p.m.

While most closing dates are decided prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which they will occur, additional closing dates may be established during the year by the Library Director and the Board of Trustees. Closing dates will be posted in the Library and on the Library website unless closing is due to inclement weather or emergency.

Emergency closings are the responsibility of the Library Director and the Board of Trustees.

When the Library is closed, Library material may be returned to the Library in the built in "Depository Drop" adjacent to the Library entrance.

You must have a valid Library card in order to borrow material from the Whitehall Public Library.

Library cards are issued free of charge to any resident of Allegheny County. Non-Allegheny County residents who have a valid Library card from a participating ACCESS Pennsylvania Library may also receive a Library card free of charge.

Employees of Whitehall and the Baldwin-Whitehall School District who live in counties other than Allegheny, and whose home libraries do not participate in the Access Pennsylvania program are eligible to receive a Library card. Proof of identification and residency must be provided.

Non-residents who pay Borough of Whitehall taxes but who live in counties other than Allegheny, AND whose home libraries do not participate in the Access Pennsylvania program are eligible to receive a free Library card upon proof of identification and presentation of current tax receipts.

Out-of-county residents whose libraries do not participate in the Access Pennsylvania program may purchase a Library card for an annual fee of $20 ($10 for children).

Children under the age of sixteen must have a parent or legal guardian sign their registration card when applying for a Library card. Applicants must sign both the registration card and Library card, thus acknowledging responsibility for all material borrowed under that card. Parents or legal guardians who sign for a child’s card accept responsibility for items charged out to that card.

You may only have one Library card at a time, if a card is lost, a replacement card may be issued for a fee.

Cards may not be issued to third parties. You must be present to sign for you Library card. Applicants must have proof of identity and proof of residency. Current driver’s license is preferred, but the Library will accept a utility bill, lease, etc. accompanied by photo identification.

Cardholder Responsibilities

Library users are responsible for all items checked out on their Library card. Library material returned late will be subject to fines. Items that are damaged, lost, or stolen may be subject to replacement and reprocessing costs.

It is the Library user’s responsibility to notify the Library of any changes regarding name, address, phone number or email on their account. The Library will request proof of identity and resdency when updating and/or renewing library card accounts.

Loan Periods

1. The loan period for most Library material is 3 weeks.
2. The loan period for DVDs and children's Nintendo games is 1 week.
3. Overdue items are assessed a late fee.
4. There is a LIMIT of 5 items per card on the following items:

• Audio Books on Cassette or CD
• Videos
• DVDs
• Music CDs
• Children's computer software
• Adult computer software
• Non-Fiction books per subject

Note: FINES and LOAN PERIODS follow the POINT-OF-CIRCULATION

This means that items checked out at Whitehall Library follow Whitehall policies regardless of where the items are returned; items checked-out at other libraries (such as a neighboring library or a Carnegie Library) but returned at Whitehall Library will follow the loan and fine policies of the library where the materials were originally checked out.

Late Fees

Fines will be assessed as follows:

• 50¢ per day - For Whitehall Public Library Videos, DVD's and CD ROM's
• 25¢ per day – Whitehall Public Library adult material
• 10¢ per day – Whitehall Public Library children's material

Please note: fines over $2.00 can be paid online with a credit card by going into an individual library card account online through the library’s web site. A PIN number must be created to access a library card account online. Follow the instructions given on the screen. Library staff members have no access to PIN numbers, but can help if you need to reset an existing PIN.

Renewals

Most items may be renewed twice if there are no holds pending. Items in our Best Seller collection, and ILL items sent from outside of the library system may not be renewed. Renewable material may be renewed either through the "My Account" feature in the online catalog, or through the automated telephone renewal system (412) 622-3130 during the following hours:

Monday through Wednesday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday through Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

When calling the second number, please be prepared to provide:

• Your library card barcode number
• The barcode number of the item(s) to be renewed

Items may also be renewed by calling the Whitehall Public Library during business hours, 412-882-6622.

Reserves

The Library supports intellectual freedom and the rights of Library users to free access of information.

The Library staff will treat all Library user records as confidential, Library user information will be used by staff only in the administration of their regular duties.

No Library user records will be made available to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies except by court order as required by law.

Library users may not use this policy to steal Library material. In the event of theft, the Library will release Library user information to the appropriate law enforcement officers.

You must have a valid Library card in order to access the computers.

Library users from out of the area who are temporarily visiting the Library may request a guest card to access the computers. Valid photo I.D. is required.

Computers may be used on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each Library user upon logging into a computer is granted a two hour session. If computer availability and staff time allow, a Library user may request an extension of time from a staff person, however no extension shall exceed two hours, and all extensions are ultimately at the discretion of Library staff.

No more than two persons may sit at a computer at any one time.

Do not turn computers on and off.

Hardware or software may not be modified or destroyed.

Library users may not load personal programs onto Library computers.

Copyright and trademark protections must be observed.

In the event of an equipment or power failure, the Library will not be responsible for any damage to any equipment or loss of data.

Storage and Printing

Information may be saved to removable media which Library users may provide, or which may be purchased at the circulation desk. Any files temporarily saved to the computer desktop will be deleted.

Black and white printing is 10 cents per page.
Color prints are $1.00 per page.

Library users can only print to paper that the Library provides. Resume-quality paper and envelopes are available upon request at the front desk; resume prints are 15 cents per page. Library users may not load their own paper into Library printers. Library users may not open printers, if there is a problem, ask for assistance from a staff member.

Internet Access

Valuable sources of information may be accessed through the internet, however, the internet is a vast unregulated medium therefore the Library is not responsible for any content or information obtained on the internet. Access to the internet is at the Library user’s risk.

Children under the age of twelve may not use the internet without adult supervision, parents or legal guardians, not Library staff, are responsible for what information is accessed by their children.

In compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), all Whitehall Public Library computer terminals will be filtered. CIPA requires that access be blocked to sites that are obscene, contain child pornography or are harmful to minors within the meaning of applicable sections of Title 18 U.S. Code. The filtering will also help ensure that access is blocked to sites that are illegal, obscene, or sexually explicit within the meaning of 18 PA. Cons. Stat., Sec. 5903. Any adult (age 17 or older) may request that the filter be disabled without significant delay by an authorized staff member. A parent/guardian may request the filter be disabled for a child (age 16 or younger) in the event that the filter blocks a legitimate site.

All computer and internet use that is deemed inappropriate may result in the termination of Library computer privileges.

Library computers are for public use. In order to protect user privacy, all public computer users are responsible for logging out of any open Internet sites by clicking on that website's log-out button, rather than by simply closing the session. The Library is not responsible for any personal information that may be viewed by subsequent public computer users.

Library Staff

The Library reserves the right to reserve computers for Library programs, restructure time limits, or end a computer session.

Library users wishing to take advantage of the free wireless network will need to have personal laptop computers equipped with built-in WiFi capability, or an installed WiFi network card. The network uses industry-standard 802.11 wireless networking equipment. The Library cannot guarantee the compatibility of your wireless equipment with our network.

A valid Library card is required to access the network. Library users visiting from out of the area may request a guest card at the circulation desk (photo ID required).

Library wireless service users must comply with the same computer and internet use policies designated for the Library’s public computers (see Computer Use and Internet Access Policy).

For reasons of safety, please keep any wires away from foot traffic.

The Library will not be held responsible for any changes made to a laptop computer's settings as a result of attempting to connect to the wireless network. It is expected that the user/owner of the laptop is capable of configuring the network setting on his/her computer. Library staff is not trained to configure a laptop to use the network, and may not provide troubleshooting assistance. Public WiFi support information can be found on the EIN website.

• Illegal acts in violation of Federal, State, or local laws ordinances or regulations.
• Defacing, breaking, or injuring Library materials or property, including restrooms and lobby areas.
• Smoking or the use of tobacco products.
• Solicitation of any kind.
• The abuse of any controlled substance or alcohol.
• The use of abusive, threatening, or offensive language.
• Carrying of any weapon (unless permitted by law).
• Negative behavior deemed inappropriate by the Library Director or Library Manager.

Library Users are expected to observe the following:

• Do not leave personal belongings unattended. The Library is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Turn cell phones, pagers, or other audio devices off or on "vibrate" when using the Library. Cell phones conversations are restricted to the lobby area or outside of the building.
• Smoking is permitted outside of the Whitehall Borough Building entrance. The Allegheny County Health Department's smoking ordinance states that smoking is prohibited within five feet of any building entrance or exit. All smoking material must be properly extinguished and disposed of in designated receptacles.
• All library users are expected to follow all Library computer use policies.
• All library users are expected to follow the behavior outlined in the Library’s Unattended Children’s policy.
• Persons of any age with mental, physical or emotional disabilities which affect their ability to use the Library or render supervision otherwise necessary must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at all times.
• Covered drinks are permitted in the Library, open drinks and food are not permitted unless specified as part of a Library-related program, or approved by the Library Director or Library Manager.
• Unreasonable noise levels, boisterous activity, or any other disruptive behavior that is disturbing to other Library users is unacceptable.
• Shirt and shoes must be worn at all times in the Library. Library users are expected to maintain an acceptable standard of personal hygiene which will not offend others.

Library Theft

Children under the age of twelve should not be left unsupervised in any area of the Library.

Accompanying adults may not leave children in the temporary care of another child under the age of twelve.

Children under the age of 12 should not be left unattended in the restrooms.

Children age twelve or older may use the Library on their own provided that they maintain proper Library user behavior (see Library User Behavior Policy). Parents or legal guardians, however are still responsible for the actions of their children age twelve or older. Behavior deemed inappropriate by Library staff may result in a child being asked to leave the Library. All children should know a phone number for emergency contact purposes.

Persons of any age with mental, physical or emotional disabilities which may affect their ability to use the Library responsibly and safely must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at all times.

Children and young people are expected to adhere to the same standards of Library user behavior expected by adults (see Library User Behavior Policy). Parents, legal guardians, or assigned chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their children while in the Library.

The Library staff will exercise appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of unattended children when the Library is closing. In addition to scheduled closing hours, the Library may also close for unexpected reasons. If no parent or legal guardian is located upon Library closing, the police will be notified. A staff member will remain with the child until the authorities arrive.

Food may not be consumed in the Library unless it is offered as part of a designated Library program, or otherwise approved by the Library Director or Library Manager.

Food is permitted in the lobby.

Please immediately report any spills to Library staff.

Please help keep the Library clean for other Library users by disposing of waste in trash receptacles located throughout the Library.

General Selection Criteria:

The Library selects materials for its collection in whatever format is most appropriate in accordance with professionally accepted guidelines. The Library attempts to represent divergent viewpoints on public issues of a controversial nature. The Library does not sanction particular beliefs or views, nor is the selection of any given item equivalent to an endorsement of the author or publisher's viewpoint.

The selection of materials is governed by the Library's mission and values, its assessment of the community's present and future needs, its recognition of and cooperation with other libraries in the consortium, and the limitations of space and budget.

Fiction Criteria:

Works of contemporary fiction, classic works, and novels of enduring value are included in the collection. Fiction is selected according to the following criteria: popular demand; reputation of the author and publisher; availability of professional reviews; appropriateness to the library's users; importance as a document of the times; relationship to the existing collection and to other titles and authors dealing with the same subject; interest and originality of plot and character development; style of writing; quality of illustration; literary merit; inclusion in standard library bibliographies; availability of similar material within the community and other area libraries; the physical qualities of the book; cost; and whether a title is part of an existing series.

Nonfiction Criteria:

The Library acquires materials of both permanent and current interest in all subjects, based upon the merits of a work in relation to the needs, interests, and demands of the community. While a single standard cannot be applied to each work, the following general criteria are to be considered when selecting materials for purchase: authoritativeness of the writer and reputation of the publisher; availability of professional reviews; accuracy of information; impartiality of opinion, or clearly stated bias; timeliness of data; adequate breadth and depth of coverage; appropriateness and relevancy of subject to the Library's users; popular demand; historical value; availability of similar material within the community and other area libraries; organization and style appropriate to the material and to the Library's users; quality of illustrations; special features, such as bibliography and index; durable binding and paper; and value for price.

Periodicals (Serials) Criteria:

Periodicals are publications issued and received on a regular basis and form an important part of the Library's collection. The Library does not subscribe to highly specialized and technical periodicals nor to professional journals other than those in the field of library science. With the availability of online full-text magazine articles, the periodical collection no longer requires extensive back collections. The Library's print collection is more of a browsing collection. Periodicals are selected according to the following criteria: Cost, requests by Library users, local or regional interest, expansion of a subject area to help balance the general collection, and circulation statistics (when renewing subscriptions). The retention of most periodicals is limited to a maximum of 1 year, except for Consumer Reports and NADA Official Used Car Guide which are retained for 5 years. Due to space considerations, collected daily newspapers will be retained for one month only.

Reference Criteria:

Reference materials, whether in print or computer-based formats, are those designed by the arrangement and treatment of their subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information rather than to be read consecutively. They can provide quick, concise, and current information or they may serve as an index to other materials in the collection. Since they are typically used frequently by the public and Library staff to answer specific questions, books in the reference collection are therefore designated for use within the Library.

In selecting for the reference collections, the primary criteria are the Library users' information needs and the format in which that information is available. Decisions to purchase are based upon content, currency, and ease of use. In addition to the general selection criteria mentioned above, the following must be considered in acquiring materials for the reference collections: favorable reviews or inclusion in basic reference collection guides; reputation of the author or publisher; currency of information; value for the price; and the expense of ongoing maintenance. To a very limited extent, items not falling strictly within the reference format but in high demand by library users may be designated as a reference item to allow maximum use.

Audio Materials Criteria:

• Recorded Books - Recorded instructional, educational, fiction and nonfiction titles that parallel most areas of the general collection are made available. At present, recorded books are purchased primarily in the compact disc format, however emerging technologies such as the Playaway MP3 format are considered as well. Preference will be given to unabridged audio books, but abridgments may occasionally be purchased when the unabridged format is unavailable. In addition to the general criteria for selection, the following criteria must be taken into account when selecting recorded books: authority and competency of producer; artistic merit and reputation of the reader; technical quality, i.e. sound quality; and cost.
• Recorded Music - The Library strives to provide a collection of music on compact disc representing a broad variety of musical genres, and taking into account the demand and interests of Library users. Selections include both instrumental and vocal recordings. The following criteria are taken into account when selecting music: authority and competency of producer; artistic merit; technical quality; and cost.

Digital Video Disc (DVD) Criteria:

The Library's goal is to provide a balanced collection which includes instructional, educational, and popular feature films. The following selection criteria are considered for digital videodiscs: favorable reviews; appropriateness of the subject to the collection; appropriateness to the interests and skills of the intended users; technical quality, i.e. clarity of picture and sound quality; authority and competency of the producer; artistic merit and reputation of the performers; Library user demand; and cost. Videos are no longer actively collected, however donated videos may be added to the collection when deemed appropriate.

Electronic Resource Criteria:

Electronic resources include but may not limited to educational and instructional CD-ROMs, CD-ROM games and games for Nintendo DS. The following criteria will be considered for electronic resources: cost; Library user demand; favorable reviews; appropriateness of subject to the collection; and technical and artistic quality.

Formats:

Materials are purchased in the most appropriate format for Library use. Although much of the Library's collection is offered in the traditional print format, valuable information is increasingly available in audio-visual and electronic formats.

New formats are considered for the collection when industry reports, national survey results, and local requests indicate that a significant portion of the community has the necessary technology to make use of the new format. The following factors must be taken into consideration when deciding whether to add a new format to the collection: availability of items in the format; cost per item; and the Library's ability to acquire, process, and circulate the items in the specific format. Older formats are discontinued when customer needs and technological advances result in obsolescence.

Gifts and Donations:

Gifts and donated materials are subject to the same thoughtful review as purchased materials. Timeliness, usefulness, out-of print status, and condition are among the criteria considered. The Library reserves the right to decide which items are added to the collection or to dispose of gifts as it deems appropriate. The Library also reserves the right to decline gifts (see Gifts and Donations Policy).

Weeding:

Weeding Library material is an integral part of effective collection development. An active and continuous weeding program is essential in maintaining a viable and useful collection. Materials are withdrawn from the Library's collection through systematic deselection, or because of loss or physical damage. The continuous review of Library material is necessary as a means of maintaining an active collection of current interest to Library users. Statistical tools such as circulation reports, collection turnover rates, withdrawal reports and other collection development reports provide useful data. The following categories of materials should be considered for weeding: worn or mutilated items; duplicate copies; materials which contain outdated or inaccurate information; superseded editions of specific titles; and materials no longer of interest or demand. Library books with commemorative book plates will not be weeded within five year's time unless the book is excessively worn or its information outdated.

Materials Not Collected:

Due to finite resources and limited demand, the Library does not actively collect the following materials:

• Rare Books: The Library does not collect rare material that requires special handling.
• Foreign Language: The Library does not collect materials in foreign languages. However, English as a Second Language (ESL), introductory and instructional materials in foreign languages is collected in a variety of formats.
• Textbooks
• Dissertations and Theses
• Obsolete formats: Beta videotapes, eight-track tapes, LP recordings, etc., are not collected.

Materials Reconsideration:

In order to represent the diversity of thought within the community, it is very important that the Library's collection contain materials representing differing points of view. The Library does not endorse particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of an item express or imply an endorsement of the viewpoint expressed by the author.

Monetary gifts to the Library will be utilized to purchase materials or equipment, support Library programs, or in other ways that the Board deems appropriate.

If monetary gifts are offered with specific restrictions, including endowment funds, Board approval of such restrictions is required before such monetary gifts are accepted.

Gifts may serve to honor or memorialize a donor, family member, or friend, and at the same time will contribute to the cultural enrichment of the community.

Sponsorships

The Library welcomes sponsorship of programs, projects and events from individuals and groups including but not limited to businesses and service organizations. Sponsorships must be approved by the Library Board.

Donations

The Whitehall Public Library will accept donations of used books, audio books, music CDs, videos, DVDs, puzzles and games on a year round basis.

Items that are not retained for our collection may be sold as part of the Library Book Sale. Material is evaluated based upon the Library’s collection development standards. Selection decisions for donated material are at the discretion of Library staff only.

Once donated items are received by the Library, they become the property of the Library and cannot be returned, regardless of collection decisions.

The Library will not accept the following donations:

• Encyclopedias
• Reader’s Digest Condensed books
• Textbooks
• Most magazines, including National Geographic
• Books that have been stored in a basement or attic that may be very dirty or have a musty odor, or books that are very old or damaged in any way, including missing, torn or yellowed pages, dusty covers, or broken spines—items that are not in "good" condition.

Library staff will provide a signed and dated receipt for tax purposes; however the Library is prohibited from placing a monetary value on any donated material.

Material posted or displayed without the Library's consent will be promptly removed.

In addition to its public bulletin board, the Whitehall Public Library provides a brochure rack in the lobby area for the distribution of information. This rack shall be reserved for material with civic, cultural, educational or informational interest and value. Materials should not advertise for private or organizational gain, unless the gain is used for the benefit of the community as a whole, such as cultural enhancement.

There are two glass display cases in the Library entrance area. This display and exhibit space is used to promote Library resources and programs as well as reflect topics of interest to Library users. Library staff members have the primary responsibility for developing and exhibiting displays. Other displays originating from outside of the Library may occasionally be considered, but are subject to the approval of the Library Director or Library Manager. The Whitehall Public Library is not responsible for theft or damage, nor does it carry insurance to protect any items in display cases for any non-Library material. Exhibits for any commercial purpose will not be considered. No Library space is available for unsolicited exhibits or displays.