Books and magazines shall circulate for a period of 21 days (3 weeks).

DVDs, Play-a-Ways, and BCDs shall circulate for 7 days (1 week).

All other audiovisual equipment and machines shall circulate overnight.

Reference material does not circulate outside of the libraries except by the following situation:

• The librarian or Administrative Librarian allows the patron to check out the item overnight.

There is a limit of 33 items per library card as the maximum that can be checked out.

Patrons shall be limited to 4 DVDs per library card.

St. John the Baptist Parish Library selects materials for its collection on the basis of literary, educational, informational and recreational value. The responsibility of selection rests with the Library Director or designee, who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Board of Library Trustees. The Library makes all decisions as to the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations relating to the selection, use, and disposition of the collection.

The Library offers free access to ideas and information encompassing all areas of knowledge and opinion to all citizens in an open, non-judgmental atmosphere. The Library reflects within its collection differing points of view. The Library does not promulgate particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of a resource express or imply endorsement of the viewpoint of the author or publisher or vendor. No title is excluded on the basis of moral, racial, religious, or political belief. Library materials will not be marked to show approval or disapproval of the contents, nor will items be sequestered or access denied, except for the purpose of protecting resources from damage or theft.

Titles are selected, within the limitations of the budget, in various formats. Among the criteria considered when selecting are critical consensus among recognized subject authorities, literary merit, enduring value, accuracy, authoritativeness, social significance, importance of subject matter to the collection, timeliness, popular demand, cost, scarcity of material on the subject and availability elsewhere, quality and suitability of the format. Customers’ suggestions are encouraged and will be given due consideration.

The Library provides to the citizens of St. John the Baptist Parish free access to books, magazines, the Internet, electronic databases, videos, DVDs and BCDs, downloadable e books and audio books. As formats continue to evolve the primary formats collected may change.

The resources of the Internet are provided free to library patrons. The Library provides this access as an adjunct to the educational and informational materials of the Library. 

In order to provide an equality of access within the bound of limited resources, it is necessary for the library to institute restrictions on the use of individual terminals. Such restrictions are:

• One-hour time slots
• Institution of sign-in processes: sign-in reservation
• Prohibition of recreational use during peak research time, such as after-school; afternoons and evenings
• Limits to maximum time allowed each day, at the discretion of the supervising staff

Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian when using the workstation and electronic resources. 

All workstations should be used for:

• Research and educational information
• Printing from full text and journal databases
• Downloading of public domain software on flash drives
• Working using Microsoft Office products
• General surfing of the internet to locate sites of interest, when workstations are not limited to research uses
• Checking e-mails are allowed when workstations are not being used for researching or educational purposes

The Administration Librarian is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and endowments to the Library.

No one on the staff may accept a gift except for small food items for immediate consumption by the staff member.

When a gift, donation, or endowment is made to the library, a receipt will be given that states the gift is accepted with no conditions and will not be returned on any date in the future.

Circulation records and other records identifying the names of users and materials used are confidential, regardless of the source.

The Library complies with all Louisiana Revised Statutes regarding parent’s rights to information and records of minor children.

Records will not be made available to any agency of federal, state or local government, or to any group or individual, for whatever purpose except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized by law.

St. John the Baptist Parish Library provides an array of services to children from preschool age to middle school age. The library offers story times, internet access, tours, homework help, and advice on books to read, along with other educational and entertaining programs. The children's collections at all four library locations hold a wide assortment of fiction, folktale, picture books, nonfiction, audiovisual materials, reference materials, and public computers. Library children's rooms are reserved for children, their parents, guardians, teachers, and caregivers, and people researching children's literature.

The library encourages frequent visits by children and their families. However, library staff cannot provide childcare or assume responsibility for children's safety. Parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior and safety of children visiting the library. Staff cannot be placed in the position of supervising unattended children.

Children are expected to behave in a manner conducive to maintaining an appropriate atmosphere in the building for all patrons. Children must know how to reach an adult in case of an emergency, and both children and adults need to be aware of library hours.

An unattended child is a child of any age who is apparently unaccompanied by a responsible adult. Parent, guardians, teachers and caregivers may not leave children alone or in the care of other children who are unable or unwilling to provide adequate care. Supervising adults must be close at hand.

As in all public places, “stranger danger” is a real concern. Library staff cannot prevent children from interacting with or leaving with persons who are not the appropriate chaperone.

If the Library is closing, at a regular time or in an emergency situation, and a parent or guardian of a child cannot be located in the building, the St, John the Baptist Parish police Department will be called to take the child.

The Library is not responsible for any consequences of parents forfeiting their responsibilities.

St. John the Baptist Parish Library strives to provide a safe and welcome environment for everyone. Therefore, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are allowed to accompany their handlers anywhere individuals with disabilities are allowed to enter. Service animals are defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act as being trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Pets, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are not considered service animals under the ADA.

Only service animals are allowed in the library.

• Service animals are only dogs and miniature horses (see below). Therefore, any other type of animal is not allowed in the library.
• Pets, therapy animals, and comfort animals are not allowed in the library.
• Animals in carriers are not allowed in the library.
• Animals in bags or purses are not allowed in the library.

Also, animals brought into the library for an authorized program is allowed for a limited time.

Objective

St. John the Baptist Parish Library strives to create and maintain a work environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. The environment of the library should be characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, oppression, and exploitation. The Library will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment of any kind. Through enforcement of this policy and by education of employees, the Library will seek to prevent, correct, and discipline behavior that violates this policy.

All employees, regardless of their positions, are covered by and are expected to comply with this policy and to take appropriate measures to ensure that prohibited conduct does not occur. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any employee who violates this policy. Based on the seriousness of the offense, disciplinary action may include verbal or written reprimand, suspension, or termination of employment.

Managers and supervisors who knowingly allow or tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation, including the failure to immediately report such misconduct to the Assistant Library Director, are in violation of this policy and subject to discipline.

Prohibited Conduct Under This Policy

St. John The Baptist Parish Library, in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination and harassment laws and regulations, enforces this policy in accordance with the following definitions and guidelines:

1. Discrimination

It is a violation of the Library’s policy to discriminate in the provision of employment opportunities, benefits, or privileges; to create discriminatory work conditions; or to use discriminatory evaluative standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, the person’s race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or marital status.

Discrimination of this kind may also be strictly prohibited by a variety of federal, state and local laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This policy is intended to comply with the prohibitions stated in these anti-discrimination laws.

Discrimination in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termination.

2. Harassment

It is St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s intent to provide a work environment free of sexual and other harassment. To that end, harassment of the Library’s employees by management, supervisors, coworkers, or non-employees who are in the workplace is absolutely prohibited. Further, any retaliation against an individual who has complained about sexual or other harassment or retaliation against individuals for cooperating with an investigation of a harassment complaint is similarly unlawful and will not be tolerated. St. John the Baptist Parish Library will take all steps necessary to prevent and eliminate unlawful harassment.

Definition of Harassment. “Unlawful harassment” is conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment; has the purpose or effect of substantially and unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance; or otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities because of the individual’s membership in a protected class.

Unlawful harassment includes but is not limited to, epithets; slurs; jokes; pranks; innuendo; comments; written or graphic material; stereotyping; or other threatening, hostile, or intimidating acts based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

The following examples of harassment are intended to be guidelines and are not exclusive when determining whether there has been a violation of this policy:

• Verbal harassment includes comments that are offensive or unwelcome regarding a person’s national origin, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, body, disability, or appearance, including epithets, slurs, and negative stereotyping.
• Nonverbal harassment includes the distribution, display, or discussion of any written or graphic material that ridicules, denigrates, insults, belittles, or shows hostility, aversion, or disrespect toward an individual or group because of national origin, race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, appearance, disability, sexual identity, marital status, or other protected status.

Sexual Harassment

“Sexual harassment” is generally defined under both state and federal law as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of any individual’s employment or as a basis for employment decisions; or
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Other sexually oriented conduct, whether intended or not, that is unwelcome and has the effect of creating a work environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating to workers may also constitute sexual harassment.

While it is not possible to list all those additional circumstances that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples of conduct that, if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment depending on the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness:

• Unwanted sexual advances, whether they involve physical touching or not;

• Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life, comments about an individual’s body, comments about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;

• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or cartoons;

• Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing up against the body, sexual gestures, or suggestive or insulting comments;
• Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; and
• Discussion of one’s sexual activities.

Sexual harassment may take different forms. The following examples of sexual harassment are intended to be guidelines and are not exclusive when determining whether there has been a violation of this policy:

• Verbal sexual harassment includes innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, lewd remarks, and threats; requests for any type of sexual favor (this includes repeated, unwelcome requests for dates); and verbal abuse or “kidding” that is oriented toward a prohibitive form of harassment, including that which is sexual in nature and unwelcome.
• Nonverbal sexual harassment includes the distribution, display or discussion of any written or graphic material, including calendars, posters and cartoons that are sexually suggestive or show hostility toward an individual or group because of sex; suggestive or insulting sounds; leering; staring; whistling; obscene gestures; content in letters, notes, facsimiles, emails, photos, text messages, tweets and Internet postings; or other forms of communication that are sexual in nature and offensive.
• Physical sexual harassment includes unwelcome, unwanted physical contact, including touching, tickling, pinching, patting, brushing up against, hugging, cornering, kissing, fondling, and forced sexual intercourse or assault.

Courteous, mutually respectful, pleasant, noncoercive interactions between employees that are appropriate in the workplace and acceptable to and welcomed by both parties are not considered to be harassment, including sexual harassment.

The St. John the Baptist Parish Library has meeting rooms available at each of the four branches of the library. These primary purpose of these rooms is to provide appropriate facilities for activities and programs related to and in fulfillment of the library's goals and objectives. These rooms are dedicated first to library sponsored programs.

When not required for library purposes, the rooms are made available free-of-charge, on a first come-first served basis to governmental agencies, non-profit cultural, charitable, historical, fraternal and civic organizations and groups. The rooms shall not be used for shows to promote commercial purposes, social affairs, private parties, political meetings and money-making activities/affairs or for programs by commercial firms.

Non-profit organizations MUST PROVIDE non-profit status by PROOF of a non-profit tax certificate or with the organizations by-laws or constitution.

No admission fee shall be charged by the group using the facility. This includes admission by fee, ticker or request for donation. The Library system or Friends of the St. John Library are the only organizations that can hold fundraising activities with proceeds to benefit the library system.

All meetings shall be open to the public.

Responsibility for scheduling the meeting rooms is vested in the branch managers (who may assign other staff). Applications must be submitted several days in advance of the date of the meeting. The meeting room may be booked by adults, i.e ., persons at least eighteen years old, only. If teenagers or children are to be present, an adult must be responsible, in charge of, and present during the entire meeting. Groups requesting the use of the meeting room must designate an authorized contact-person for the group who will ensure that all policies are followed.

All meetings must be held within regular library hours. No exceptions will be made. All meetings are to conclude and disperse no later than fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled closing time of the branch or central library.

It is the intent of this policy to prohibit any one outside group or organization from dominating the use of the meeting rooms. No more than two (2) meetings per month will be scheduled for any one group. No group may transfer a room reservation to another group. Groups may reserve future meeting dates not to exceed three months beyond the first meeting date.

Failure to observe meeting room policies may result in denial of meeting room privileges. If any group or individual violates any of these policies, the St. John the Baptist Parish Library Director retains the right to cancel subsequent use of the meeting rooms by the group.

No publicity materials, invitations, flyers and press releases promoting events or meetings held at the library may be issued before a meeting room reservation is confirmed.

No publicity materials, invitations, flyers and press releases promoting events or meetings held at the library list the St. John the Baptist Parish Library as a co-sponsor unless the Library Director has officially designated the event as co-sponsored. The library phone numbers may not be listed as a contact for meetings/events.

Groups are responsible for arranging the room for their meetings. The applicant is responsible for reasonable care of the meeting, furnishings and any equipment used and is responsible for damages to facilities, equipment and contents. The organization must remove any clutter caused by its activities. Materials are not to be attached to the walls. windows. doors or furnishings. Trash containers and trash bags will be available.

Storage is not provided in the library for the property of the organization. The library is not responsible for equipment, supplies or other items owned by any group and used in the library.

Only light refreshments may be served. Cooking on the premises is not allowed. Groups shall not serve red or purple beverages due to staining if spiIt.

No alcoholic beverages of any kind is permitted. Likewise prohibited is any controlled substances, gambling in any form and smoking and other uses of tobacco are prohibited throughout the library or on library property, except for designated smoking areas.

Library staff has the right to enter and remain in the meeting room/study room at any time during a scheduled meeting. Library staff has the right to terminate any meeting which is disruptive of the quiet and orderly functions of the library.

Standard fire code regulations restrict any open flame, burning candles or other flammable, combustible or hazardous materials in the library. The occupancy number for each room must adhere to the Fire Marshall requirements.

The library staff members are not care givers. Persons attending meetings shall not leave children in the library unattended. The library cannot guarantee safety and security for unattended children.

Authorized use of the St. John the Baptist Parish Library meeting room does not constitute endorsement or sponsorship of the organization or the views expressed by the group as a whole or by individual participants in the meetings. Meetings held will not be allowed or disallowed solely on the basis of race, creed or national origin provided that the meeting falls into the category of approved type of organization.

Updated and Revised: 9/24/2019 Previous Revisions: I 0/23/2006: 10/02/2000. Adopted: 11/14/1994

St. John the Baptist Parish Library has meeting space available for rent for events that do not meet our current Meeting Room Policy. Rental requests will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Groups or individuals wishing to reserve a room for private, social, commercial, or promotional use must complete a Room Rental Contract to request the use of Library facilities. Approval will depend on the Library’s capacity to manage the event as well as how closely the event aligns with the Library’s Mission and Vision.

Room Rental Contracts are available at any SJBPL Branch or on the website- www.stjohnlib.com. Rental contracts, full payment, and security deposit must be submitted a minimum of seven (7) days in advance of the date of the meeting. Only Cashier’s Check or money orders are accepted.

The minimum age to rent a meeting room is 25 years. 

Rental spaces are available for use during and outside of operational hours of the Library. Rental spaces are not available on holidays for which the Library is closed.

Rental fees are based on the day of the week, time of day, and facilities used. Library approved security and Library staff will be present for any after-hours events, for the duration of the event. Fees for staff, security and cleaning will be added to the rental rate as required. A fee schedule is attached. 

Room set up and take down is the responsibility of the renter.

Any cancellations on the day of the event will result in a $75.00 cancellation fee.

Any rental reservations impacted by Acts of Nature or a Library emergency will be given the option of rescheduling or refunding collected fees.

Groups are restricted to only those areas of the facility that the group has rented.

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and any illegal substances are prohibited.

Renters are responsible for providing their own cooking and serving utensils. 

Decorations can be tied or freestanding only. No nails, tacks, tape, glue, etc., are permitted on the walls, ceiling, or furnishings. Decorations must be removed from the building when the event is over. No confetti, glitter, or sprinkles are allowed.

Commercial or Private Use

With prior approval, use of the Blue Heron Multi-Purpose Room and the 1885 House for events such as ticketed luncheons or fundraisers during normal Library hours is allowed. Nonprofit organizations can rent the meeting space for a fundraiser. Types of events approved for use:

• Informational seminars to promote a product or business
• Training meetings for staff of a commercial business
• Job Fairs
• Sales Expos
• Any meeting activity that is not open to the public

Storage is not provided in the Library for the property of any organization. The Library is not responsible for equipment, supplies, or other items owned by any group and used on site.

Private Social Events 

The Library provides rental space for recognized or organized civic or social organizations defined as organizations that are associated with academia, activist groups, charities, clubs, community foundations, community organizations, consumer organizations and /or cooperatives.

The rental applicant is responsible for reasonable care of the meeting room, furnishings, and any equipment used and is responsible for damage to facilities, equipment, and contents. The organization must remove any trash and clutter caused by its activities. Trash containers and bags will be available.

Fire code regulations restrict any open flame, burning candles, or other flammable, combustible, or hazardous materials in the library. The number of attendees for each room must adhere to Fire Marshall occupancy restrictions.

Failure to observe meeting room policies may result in denial of meeting room privileges. The St. John the Baptist Parish Library Director retains the right to cancel subsequent use of the meeting rooms by any group violating these policies.

The fact that St. John the Baptist Parish Library and the Library Board of Control have authorized a group to meet in the Library does not constitute endorsement or sponsorship of the organization or the views expressed by the group as a whole or individual participants. The Library logo may not appear on any promotional material, and all promotional items, including fliers, postcards, social media posts, or other print, digital, or mainstream media marketing materials MUST include the following statement:

“This program is not sponsored or endorsed by the St. John the Baptist Parish Library.”

Meetings will not be allowed or disallowed based solely on race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin provided that the meeting falls into a category of approved types of use or organizations.

Item Type	Lost or Unrepairable	Repairable
Barcode missing	$0.50	$0.50
Book (not reference)	$25.00	NA
Book with material (CD, DVD, etc.)	$25.00	$3.00
Paperback book	$15.00	$3.00
ILL Book	Set by the lending library	Set by the lending library
ILL Book - Book wrap lost or damaged	$3.00	$3.00
Magazine	$5.00	$3.00
Board Book	$5.00	$3.00
Reference Book	$100.00	$3.00
Audiobook on CD	$40.00	See below
CD lost or damaged	$5.00 per CD (Max $40.00)	$3.00 per CD (Max $40.00)
CD case lost or damaged	$6.00	$3.00
DVD	$40.00	$3.00
DVD case lost or damaged	$3.00	$3.00
Playaway	$60.00	$5.00-$60.00
Playaway case lost or damaged	$3.00	$3.00
Wi-Fi Hotspot	$50.00	Max fee $50.00
Wi-Fi Hotspot lost or damaged	$50.00	$10.00-$50.00
Wi-Fi case lost or damaged	$10.00	$3.00-$10.00
Wi-Fi charger lost	$30.00	$5.00-$30.00