0001 General Policy Statement
The Flathead County Library System Board of Trustees has approved the name ImagineIF Libraries for the Library System. Library policies will be updated to reflect this change as policies come due for renewal.
1000 Library Board Powers and Duties
The powers and duties of Library Boards of Trustees are set forth in Montana Code Annotated 22-1-309.
1001 Fair Treatment
The Library Board of Trustees has adopted the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights: The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their successes.
1002 Confidentiality
Confidentiality of library use is essential to ensure citizens’ freedom to access information. The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the privacy of those who use ImagineIF Libraries.
1003 Protection of Copyright
It is the intent of ImagineIF Libraries to comply with Title 17 of the United States Code, titled “Copyrights,” and other federal legislation related to the duplication, retention and use of copyrighted materials.
1004 Donations
The Library Board of Trustees welcomes gifts, grants, donations, devises, or bequests of property, real or personal and is authorized by law to accept gifts, grants, donations, devises, or bequests of property, real or personal, from whatever source and to expend or hold, work, and improve the same for the specific purpose of the gift, grant, donation, devise, or bequest.
1005 Naming Rights
The ImagineIF Library Board of Trustees shall have sole responsibility for naming or renaming library facilities and/or subunits of facilities. Generally, facility subunits shall be named according to ImagineIF branding guidelines and professional best practices in libraries. However, ImagineIF Libraries also offers naming rights for facility subunits when the Library wishes to recognize substantial financial . . .
2001 Library Service
The Library Board of Trustees shall provide for library service to the residents of Flathead County through ImagineIF Libraries and other service outlets as the Board chooses to establish or support.
2002 Hours of Service
In accordance with the Montana State Library Public Library Standards, ImagineIF Libraries will be open a minimum of 50 hours per week. Hours of service are set by the Library Board of Trustees and are subject to change as finances, staffing and usage patterns require.
2003 Library Accessibility
The Library Board of Trustees strives to provide equal access to all library facilities, activities, and programs in adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
2004 Computer Use
To facilitate exploration, idea sharing, connection and collaboration, ImagineIF Libraries provide computers, Internet access and printing for the public.
2009 Contracted Services
The Library Board of Trustees may choose to provide contracted services to other legal entities on request.
2010 Customer Conduct
To better serve all library customers, the FCLS Board of Trustees has established standards of acceptable behavior to ensure a positive, welcoming, clean, and safe environment conducive to library use.
2011 Photography, Videotaping
The duty of fulfilling the Library’s strategic plan is the first priority of the Flathead County Library System and the filming and photography described below is allowed only to the extent that it does not interfere with the provision of library services and is consistent with the Library’s strategic plan.
2011-06 Safety of Children
ImagineIF Libraries offer welcoming spaces that encourage children to explore, create and connect. Library staff strive to provide a safe environment but safety cannot be guaranteed.
2012 Face Coverings in the Library
In order to facilitate a safe environment for staff and the public, the Library Board of Trustees supports precautions intended to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Face coverings are to be worn by all people over the age of 5 while inside ImagineIF Libraries’ facilities during Phases 1 and 2 of the library’s reopening plan.
3001 Borrowing Privileges
ImagineIF Libraries will extend borrowing privileges to all residents of the State of Montana as well as to those persons who are temporarily residing in Flathead County. In order to borrow materials, persons must be in possession of an ImagineIF library card or a library card from a participating Partner Resource Sharing Group library.
3002 Circulation of Materials to Organizations
The Library Board of Trustees is committed to providing service to as many as possible of those patrons who are unable to come to the library. Such patrons may include, but are not limited to, those in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, retirement homes and preschool and daycare facilities.
4003 Special Reference
ImagineIF Libraries are committed to providing access to materials that satisfy customer interests and enable lifelong learning. Library staff are available to assist with self-directed research and help customers locate and use relevant research materials and library equipment.
4004 Meeting Room Use
In keeping with the library system’s service priority: Residents will have safe and welcoming physical places to meet and interact with others; the Flathead County Library System provides public meeting space in the Main Library.
4004-04 Marion Branch Meeting Room Use
Small groups of fewer than 10 people may meet in the Marion Branch during hours open to the public. Any group numbering over six people is asked to schedule with a staff member at least 24 hours in advance.
4005 Art Exhibit and Display
The Flathead County Library System welcomes the opportunity for selected artists and groups to exhibit artwork for public viewing in our exhibit spaces. FCLS provides space for artists of diverse media and styles to display their work to the community.
4005-A Art Exhibit and Display Application and Waiver
Apply to be an exhibited artist.
4006 Bulletin Board Posting
The Flathead County Library System provides bulletin boards in some of its libraries for announcements promoting events and services of interest to the community.
5000 Collection Development
The Collection Development Policy contains the policies relative to the selection, retention and withdrawal of materials for ImagineIF Libraries.
5001 Library Programs
ImagineIF Libraries supports its strategic goals by developing and presenting programs that provide additional opportunities for education, connection and 21st century skills building. Programs are an integral component of library service and serve to: Expand the Library’s role as a community resource Introduce customers to Library resources Provide opportunities for lifelong learning Build relationships Expand . . .
6000 Personnel
The Flathead County Policy and Procedures Manual applies to all ImagineIF Library staff members and all matters pertaining to personnel unless otherwise noted in Library Policy.
6003 Continuing Education for Library Staff Members
The Flathead County Library System Board of Trustees believes that continuing education of staff members is vital to the provision of quality library service.
6004 Volunteer
The Library Board of Trustees encourages a volunteer program, designed to supplement and enhance services to the public through effective use of the talents and expertise of volunteers.
Freedom To View Statement
The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression. Therefore these principles are affirmed: 1. To provide the broadest access to . . .
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of . . .
The Freedom To Read Statement
The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label “controversial: views, to distribute lists of “objectionable” books or authors, and to purge . . .