Policy list for Public Libraries

Wireless Internet Policy Example

Toolkit: Policy: Policy List for Public Library Boards in Alberta

Public library service in Alberta is bounded by legislation from the Department of Municipal Affairs. The Libraries Act is the law. The Act allows the Minister to set Library Regulation to guide or direct how the law is operated.

The Alberta Libraries Act:  http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/acts/L11.cfm
The Libraries Regulation:    http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/regs/1998_141.cfm

Required Policies

The Alberta Libraries Act (Alberta) from section 7 of The Libraries Regulation

  1. Confidentiality of user records, except where disclosure is required by law
  2. Orientation and continuing education of board members and staff, including expenses for attendance at library meetings, conference workshops and courses and for memberships in library associations
  3. Finance, including designation of expense for which board members and staff will be reimbursed, the form in which those expenses shall be claimed and the appointment of signing officers for the board
  4. Personnel, including job descriptions and performance appraisals for employees and volunteers, qualifications for staff positions, working hours, conditions of employment and grievance procedure.

In addition to these requirements, we recommend including statements on the following:

  1. Breaks, overtime, weekends
  2. Leaves for vacation, sickness, jury duty, etc.
  3. Staff evaluation, probation, promotion, termination, retirement
  4. Fringe benefits, staff privileges
  5. Conduct and attitude
  1. Collection development: selection, acquisition, purchase and disposition of library resources, including a policy respecting gifts and donations.  We recommend including a statement which affirms the Canadian Library Association’s Statement on Intellectual Freedom (http://www.cla.ca/about/intfreed.htm), establishes provisions for children’s access to material, and includes procedures for dealing with patron complaints and challenged books.
  2. Resource sharing
  3. Library service to people unable to use conventional print resources
  4. Terms and conditions under which library members may borrow library materials
  5. Library hours
  6. Terms for use of space managed by board but not normally used for library purposes (e.g. meeting rooms)

Also see Alberta Employment Standards at http://employment.alberta.ca

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FoIP) (Alberta)
The library board must appoint a FoIP officer (usually the library manager).

  1. Personal information banks (PIB)
  2. Records retention

Occupational Health and Safety (Alberta)
The board must do a hazard assessment of the worksite. The library must have a First Aid kit on-site and it must meet Alberta’s guidelines for what is required; it can be self-made or purchased (available through NLLS). One staff member must be trained in First Aid. The library must hold fire drills 2 times per year. More information from OH&S website: http://www.whs.gov.ab.ca.

  1. Workplace violence and harassment
  2. Staff working alone
  3. Disaster recovery plan
  4. Staff training to train other staff about OH&S and access to proper documents and safety guidelines

Revenue Canada (Canada)

  1. Copyright
  2. Applicable tax law (only if have a Friends group or other body with charity or society status)

Recommended Policies

  1. Internet and public access computer use
  2. Care and use of the library’s own website
  3. Unattended children
  4. Library objectives and services offered
  5. Where applicable: cooperation with other libraries (e.g. not members of the system)
  6. Public relations, marketing, advocacy, and communications
  7. Policy on policies: establishing, reviewing, revising policies

Contact

Please visit the website for the Libraries, Community and Voluntary Services Branch for policy examples and more information about legislation: http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/pls_index.htm

For more information please contact YRL's Client Services Librarians:
Stephanie Thero (sthero@yrl.ab.ca)
Jocie Wilson (jwilson@yrl.ab.ca)