Brown Memorial Library Request for Reconsideration of Materials Form
​Public Display and Exhibit Release Form

​AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LINKS

• Library Bill of Rights
• The Freedom to Read Statement​

POLICIES OF BROWN MEMORIAL LIBRARY - BRADFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE​
I.  USE OF THE LIBRARY

A. The library serves all residents of the Town of Bradford. All property owners, renters and those attending the Kearsarge Regional School System (including staff) shall be considered residents. Numbered cards will be issued and must be presented when borrowing materials.

B. Non-residents may borrow materials from Brown Memorial Library by obtaining a non- resident library card for $20 per year. Residents of towns with reciprocal privileges are exempt from this fee.

C. Children may borrow books on their own cards.

1. Children eight years or younger shall at all times be attended and adequately supervised by an adult or mature adolescent.
2. The library assumes no responsibility for unattended children. Parents assume all liability for damage done by their children.

D. Use of the library and its services may be denied by the librarian. Reasons for denial may include: continued disturbance of other patrons, destruction of library property, failure to return library materials, or any other objectionable conduct on library premises. The librarian may take the following steps:

1. The parents of unattended or disruptive children may be notified.
2.  Access to the library may be denied.
3.  The selectmen and/or the police may be called for assistance.

Any other action may be taken which the librarian deems appropriate to the circumstances.
Patrons have the right to appeal any of the above decisions to the Board of Trustees.

E. Material lost or overdue more than 60 days may be subject to payment by the patron. The patron may be charged the replacement value of material lost or damaged.
 
F. The use of the library for community purposes may be permitted at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

II. CIRCULATION
A. All material circulates for two weeks and may be renewed. Items acquired within the last six months may not be renewed if there is a waiting list.

B. Some items in the permanent collection circulate at the discretion of the librarian.

C. Inter-library loan is a service of the library.

III. SELECTION OF MATERIALS
A. In establishing its policy, the library subscribes to the tenets set forth in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association and the Freedom to Read Statement prepared by the American Library Association.

B. The Board of Trustees delegates to the librarian authority for the selection of library materials but retains the ultimate responsibility for their selection. New book selections will be reported to trustees as part of librarian’s report.

C. Discarded materials, gift items, etc. may be sold or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the trustees.

D. Complaints as to the suitability of any book or other material shall be handled as follows:

1. Each complaint must be made in writing on the "Brown Memorial Library Request for Reconsideration of Materials" form, with the complainant properly identified. The complainant must be a legal user of the library.
2. Each complaint will be forwarded by the librarian to the chairman of the Board of Trustees as soon as practicable, along with a statement from the   librarian as to the considerations given in choosing the material for the library collection.
3. The complainant will meet with the Board of Trustees and the librarian to hear the complaint at the next regular meeting of the Trustees.
4. A book or other material will be removed from the library if so voted by the Board of Trustees.
5. Each complainant shall be made aware of these policies.

IV. DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS
A.  Announcement of educational and civic programs may be displayed in the library with the permission of the librarian.

B. No material, leaflets or posters that advocate the election of a candidate, political or otherwise, shall be displayed in the library.

C. No organization or individual shall be permitted to place in the library any box, receptacle of canister which solicits donations, nor shall any poster or display be permitted which advances or solicits consideration of any product or item sold by any commercial or charitable enterprise.

V. GIFTS AND MEMORIALS
A. Books and other materials will be accepted on the condition that the library has the authority to make whatever disposition it deems advisable. All material so acquired must be designated as a gift.

B. Gifts of money, real property and/or securities will be accepted if any conditions attached thereto are acceptable to the Board of Trustees. Mention of gifts may be made on a plaque displayed in the library.

C. Personal property, art objects, portraits, antiques and other museum objects will be accepted and displayed at the discretion of the Board of Trustees upon completion of the “Public Display and Exhibit Release” form.

VI.  LIBRARY HOURS
A.   Library services will be provided during the hours that the Library Trustees feel best meet the needs of the community. Hours will be posted at the library.
B.   The library will be open not less than 22 hours per week. The library will be closed on the following days:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day (observed)
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

1. The library may remain open or closed during a holiday at the discretion of the librarian.
2. The library may be closed for inclement weather at the discretion of the librarian.

VII.  PERSONNEL
Library staff includes the Library Director and library assistants. Copies of their job descriptions and terms of employment are kept in the library office and are available upon request.

 VIII.   MISCELLANEOUS
A. Fee and fine money is to be deposited in the Trustees’ Special Fund.

B. Amendments to these policies may be proposed and acted upon at any regular meeting of the Board. A dated copy of each amendment shall be kept in the Board’s policy file and made available to the public upon request.

IX.  PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS
Brown Memorial Library offers free access to the internet.
Disclaimer: 
The library will not censor material, protect users from information they find offensive, nor attest to the accuracy of the content.
Guidelines:
Children's Internet Access 
The library recognizes parental and societal concerns about children’s safety on the Internet and encourages parents and guardians to take an active role in their children's use of the Internet at the library. The library does not have the authority or responsibility to act in the place of the parent. The library affirms the right and responsibility of parents or legal guardians to guide their children’s use of all library resources, including the Internet. As is the case with all library materials, any restriction of a child's access to the Internet is the sole responsibility of the child’s parent or legal guardian.

The library reserves the right to terminate or restrict the user's internet privileges for violation of any and all applicable federal, state and local laws governing copyright, licensing and content restrictions.

Users may not download material onto the computer’s hard drive. They may download material onto their own flash drive or CD. Users may print from the computer at a nominal cost.

Malicious damage may result in a suspension of library privileges and/or prosecution on criminal charges.  Any damage to the computer or its peripheral devices is the responsibility of the user.  Abuse of the equipment or service will result in the user being denied further access to the service.

Reserving a computer.

1. Patrons may reserve a computer for up to one hour maximum.
2. Patrons may reserve a computer up to seven days in advance.
3. Unreserved time may be used on a walk-in basis for up to one hour.
4. If patrons are more than 15 minutes late, they forfeit their reserved time.
5. If a computer is available and no one else is waiting, a patron may use the computer for more than one hour.

The library staff reserves the right to end any internet session that does not follow these policies and guidelines.

X. Investment Policy

Objectives:
To conform to all applicable state and federal requirements.

To invest principal with the objective of obtaining a reasonable rate of return with a modest amount of risk as outlined in the Prudent Investor Rule (RSA 564-B:9-901-RSA 564-B: 9-906). Under this rule, no category or type of investment is deemed inherently imprudent. Instead, suitability to the overall portfolio’s goals and objectives is considered to be the determining factor. However, while Trustees have greater flexibility in portfolio management, speculation or outright risk is not sanctioned by the rule.

To spend interest or gains from directed trust funds as needed, while leaving principal investment intact.

Investments:
It is the Library Trustees’ intention to invest in mutual funds (or a fund of aggregated mutual funds) that spread risk out over a range of investment categories including US and global equities, fixed income and allocation strategies. A dollar cost averaging strategy may be used to further mitigate risk.

Requirements:
File policy with attorney general’s office annually
Review policy at trustee meeting at least annually

Adopted October 19, 2022 by the Board of  Library Trustees, Brown Memorial Library, Bradford, New Hampshire.

---

BYLAWS OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE BROWN MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Article I: Legal Authorization of Trustees
The duties of the Board of Trustees are to oversee the assets and activities of the Brown Memorial Library and to set Library policies, as provided by the New Hampshire RSA Chapter XVI, Chapter 202-A:11 Powers and Duties. Trustees are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of RSA Chapter XVI, Chapter 202-A:6 and 202-A:10.

Article II: Powers and Duties of Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall consist of seven members, elected by the voters of Bradford, each for a three year term. Trustee terms are staggered so that two or three vacancies occur and are filled each year. If a vacancy or resignation occurs before a term expires, the Board shall recommend a replacement who must be approved and appointed by the Selectmen. The appointed trustee must file at the next election if he/she wishes to complete the term of the retiring trustee. Trustees must serve no more than three consecutive terms. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Brown Memorial Library, hires all staff and determines policies. The Board shall prepare the budget with the cooperation of the librarian. The Board shall maintain a file containing personnel records and job descriptions in the librarian’s office. Annual dues for the membership in the NH Library Association and the NH Library Trustees’ Association shall be paid from library funds. The Board of Trustees may recommend to the Selectmen the names of no more than three persons who may serve as alternate members of the Board who may vote in place of an absent trustee. Alternate members shall be appointed for one-year terms.

Article III: Officers/Duties of Officers
The officers of the Board of Trustees shall consist of the Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary, who shall be chosen annually at the regular monthly meeting in April from the members of the Board. Officers shall hold their office for one year and until others are chosen in their stead. It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to prepare an agenda for, and to preside at all regular and special meetings of the Board and to be the representative of the Board in official capacities. The Treasurer shall serve as the chief financial officer of the Board and shall prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of all monies received and expended for use of the library, shall oversee bookkeeping activities, and shall provide a written monthly financial report to the Trustees at the regular monthly meeting. The Treasurer shall advise the Trustees on financial matters and shall provide appropriate financial reports to auditors and regulatory authorities. The Secretary shall keep records of all monthly meetings and special meetings of the Board and shall post Agendas and Minutes in a timely manner as provided in RSA 91-A:2 II , the NH Right-to-Know-Law. The Secretary shall, on behalf of the Chairperson, provide the agenda and related materials to Trustees for monthly meetings and write correspondence on the behalf of the Trustees, as needed.

Article IV: Meetings
Monthly meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday of the month with the librarian present. At these meetings monthly financial figures and a librarian’s report will be given. Special meetings may also be called by the Chairperson. Trustees are expected to attend all meetings and missing more than three consecutive meetings may be sufficient grounds for review or dismissal. A majority the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all regular and special Trustee meetings. All monthly or special Trustee meetings of the Board of Trustees are public meetings and shall be posted as required by NH laws. Minutes of all meetings shall be filed as required in RSA 91-A:2 II, NH Right-to-Know-Law.

Article V: Conflicts of Interest
The Board of Trustees shall comply with NH RSA 7:19 regarding conflict of interest on any issues before the Board. The statute reads in part “Directors, officers and trustees of charitable trusts shall serve on the governing boards of such charitable trusts only for the purposes of the organization. If such directors, officers, or trustees are serving for any other expressed or intended reasons, they shall not serve on the governing board of the organization.” Trustees of the Brown Memorial Library may recuse themselves from any vote in which there is a perceived conflict. In those cases, the Trustee shall also refrain from any discussion or participation on the issue in question. Questions concerning conflicts of interest shall be presented to and decided by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.

Article VI: Library Staff
Librarian, assistant librarians and library aides and such other appointees that the Board shall believe necessary to the proper operation of the Library shall be appointed at an annual meeting of Trustees and by the majority vote of the Board. Salaries will be fixed by majority vote of the Board. The Librarian shall be an ex-officio non-voting member of the Board of Trustees and shall not count in determining a quorum of the Board.

Article VII: Amendments to Bylaws
These bylaws may be altered or amended by two-thirds majority vote of the full Board at a regular meeting, notice of the proposed changes having been given at the previous meeting and publicly posted in accordance with RSA 91-AA:2 II, NH Right-to-Know-Law.
​
Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
“Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised” shall be the Parliamentary authority in all matters not specified by the Bylaws.
Adopted May 2017