LIBRARY HOURS

Monday - Closed

Tuesday -  10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Wednesday - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

About the Library

Library Cards

Circulation of Materials

Late fees for items not returned by due date are ten cents per day.

Our Collection

Interlibrary Loan

The library participates in the national interlibrary loan program that permits the library to borrow materials for its patrons from other libraries.  This interlibrary loan service is available to all patrons whose record is clear of fines and overdue items.  Books and photocopies of articles from periodicals not owned by the library, or that are otherwise unavailable, may be requested for loan through interlibrary loan.  Recordings, microfilm, and genealogy materials may be requested but are often difficult to obtain.  Items owned by the library, but checked out to another patron, may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan unless the item requested is more than two months overdue.

The library does not charge for interlibrary loan service, however, the patron is responsible for charges or fines imposed by the lending library.  Every attempt will be made to borrow items from libraries that do not charge fees for loaning materials.  If a patron does not wish to borrow an item if charges are imposed (such as insurance fees, lending fees, photocopying charges), this must be stipulated when the request is made.  Fines for overdue materials and processing costs for lost items will vary with the lending library and are the responsibility of the patron.

The library may restrict the number of items requested by an individual patron or “meter” the number of items referred through interlibrary loan when necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and timely service within the constraints of budget and staffing.  This action will only be taken in consultation with the patron and alternative sources for service will be suggested.  Requests that staff determines may violate copyright laws will not be accepted. Photocopies through interlibrary loan will be stamped with a notice of copyright.

This library will charge fifty cents for each day that borrowed material is late. The borrower is responsible for return postage on the item.

Computers

INTERNET ACCESS & COMPUTER USE POLICY & GUIDELINES

Patrons are always urged to try and obtain needed information through the traditional sources, but when this is unavailable, the Internet is a good tool. There are many starting points or links on the homepage of the Bertha Voyer Memorial Library. It should be noted that the library cannot monitor or control material accessed beyond the links on our home page; therefore we cannot guarantee the appropriateness of any pages beyond ours.

Library patrons under age 16 may not access, electronic mail or Usenet newsgroups. No patrons may access Chat functions. including web-based chat rooms).

The Bertha Voyer Memorial Library is not responsible for inadvertent exposure by minors or adults to potentially offensive material accessed by internet users on Library equipment. Because the Library cannot monitor or control the large amount of material accessible through the Internet, it will be the responsibility of individual users to determine the suitability of the content of information received.

Library staff is not responsible for monitoring or controlling children’s use of the Internet. Parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding what library resources are appropriate for their own children, and exercise the same guidance for use of the Internet as they would exercise with other types of information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other types of media. Parents and legal guardians are strongly urged to provide guidance and assist their children while exploring the internet.

The library has 7 public computers. All are equipped with Internet access. They also have other traditional programs for use by the public.

The following guidelines are agreed upon by each patron using the computers:

1. Use of the BVML Internet computers are on a first come-first serve basis. No appointments will be taken.

2. All patrons must sign in before using the computers, and sign out when through. The computers are available for all card-holding patrons of the BVML.

3. The computers are available during all library hours, but will be closed down fifteen minutes prior to closing the library. Users may use the computers for one-half hour at a time, and continue their session if no one else wishes to use the computer.

4. While library staff is happy to assist users in accessing the Internet, each user is nevertheless responsible for their own search. Staff cannot provide in-depth personal training in the use of the Internet or personal computers. If you are not familiar with Windows based software, you may have one person with you the first time you use the computer. After that, only one person at a time is allowed at each computer.

5. Library staff will not perform reference searches on the Internet at the request of telephone customers.

6. The computers are in a public area, and privacy is not guaranteed. You are ultimately responsible for which sites you choose to visit, but be aware that others may be voluntarily exposed to what is displayed. Please show respect for the sensibilities of others at all times.

7. Materials obtained or copied from the Internet may be subject to copyright laws (Title 17, U.S. Code). A work protected by copyright may not be copies without permission of the copyright owners, except as permitted by principles of "fair use." Any responsibility for the consequences of copyright infringement lies with the user.

8. The Library reserves the right to suspend the Internet access or public computer use privileges of any person found guilty of "unacceptable use" of the library’s property.

Examples of "unacceptable use" include, but are not limited to:

*Damaging, tampering with, "hacking" or destroying equipment, software, and data belonging to the library; including adding, altering, or deleting files on the library workstations, hard drives or other library computer equipment. This includes changing any setups in the system software or any applications.

*Violating computer system integrity, including attempts to bypass security functions, obtain passwords, or alter the configuration of the library workstations in any way.

*Using the internet for any illegal activity.

*Harassing others.

*Wasting library resources (including printing without paying).

9. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian during their Internet sessions. Patrons under 16 must have a signed permission form from their parent or guardian, TO BE FILLED OUT IN THE LIBRARY.

10. Due to the possibility of contamination of viruses, you may not use your own software programs on the Library computers. If you wish to save files to a disk, you must purchase a disk at the library. You may not bring disks from home unless you have them checked in the library for a virus. Files may not be downloaded onto the hard drives of the computers.

11. Paper for printing must be paid for by the patron at a cost of TEN CENTS per page. This includes wasted sheets. Printing without paying will result in loss of library computer privileges. Please check with library staff before using any paper other than that supplied by the library.

12. Computer users agree to pay replacement cost of any equipment or materials lost or damaged as a result of carelessness by the user, or malicious destruction of equipment or software.

Patrons using any CD-ROM disks from the front desk are responsible for their
care and safety. They must be returned to the desk when you are through with them.

WARNING TO INTERNET USERS:

It is a criminal offense to do any of the following:

Display obscene material;

Distribute, exhibit or display sexually explicit material which is unsuitable for minors;

Have or promote materials that show child pornography.

Anyone who is found using library facilities or equipment in violation of Federal, State, or local laws is subject to criminal prosecution.

Texas Penal Code 43.22,43.24, and 43.26