Library Policies

Patron Code of Behavior

The Martinsburg- Berkeley County Public Libraries welcomes everyone into the library. The following rules are established to allow every patron equal and fair use of the facility:

1. Patrons shall obey all reasonable requests of the Library staff.
2. Conduct considered improper in the Library and on the Library grounds includes, but is not limited to:
   • Offensive or abusive language, talking in loud tones or other disruptive behavior
   • Tobacco use and smoking (including e-cigarettes and vaping) ; smoking is prohibited on the Plaza and within 20 feet of all doorways
   • Staring, photographing/video recording, or following staff or other patrons
   • Offensive personal hygiene
   • Panhandling or Soliciting
   • Sleeping or napping
   • Physical abuse or assault
   • Using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs
   • Abusive use of library facilities or equipment (including all outside areas)
   • Eating food in the library
   • Loitering
3. Patrons must wear shoes and shirts
4. Service animals are allowed in the library. No other animals are permitted.
5. Adult patrons may not loiter in the children's area or the young adult in order to maintain a safe and pleasant environment for children, teens, and parents.
6. Library furnishings and materials may not be rearranged by patrons without permission of library staff.
7. Packages, briefcases and any other container may be examined at any time. The maximum combined size of items brought into the library may not exceed 14”x 15”x 22” per patron.
8. Patrons may not leave bags and other personal items unattended. Unattended items are subject to confiscation.
9. The Library is not responsible for personal items that are lost, stolen or damaged in or on the grounds of the Library.
10. Aisles, entrances, or exits may not be blocked so as to impede access to public areas.
11. Unreasonable use of the restrooms, including laundering, shaving, hair cutting or trimming, and bathing is prohibited.
12. Patrons will conduct themselves so that they will not interfere, by their actions or speech, with the legitimate rights of other Library users.

Circulation Policies

Effective August 24, 2023

TYPES OF LIBRARY CARDS

A library card is needed to check out materials from the library or use of the library computers. Library cards are FREE to WV residents, individuals who pay taxes in WV, and educators who work in Berkeley County. Replacement cards are $2.00. Residents of Morgan & Jefferson counties can use their home library card at any Berkeley County Library. Initial checkout for new card holders is limited to 3 items.

Adult Library Card

Applicant must be 18 years of age or older and have a picture ID, such as a driver’s license, is needed to obtain a library card. If the ID does not have a current address, then a second item with name and current address, such as a utility bill or rental agreement, is required.

Child Library Card

Children ages 1-17 are allowed to have their own library card. A parent/guardian must be present (with a picture ID) and will be responsible for all fees and lost items on the child’s account.

Educator Library Card

Educators who live or work in Berkeley County may request that their card status be changed to educator. Educators can check out up to 40 items per card and have up to 40 holds. Items can be checked out for 9 weeks. DVDs and Audiobooks can be checked out for extended periods of time at the discretion of the manager. For more information see library staff.

Out of State Library Card

Patrons living outside of West Virginia who wish to have a library card will be charged a yearly $15.00 fee.

FINES, CHECK-OUT PERIODS, LIMITS and RENEWALS

Books, Audiobooks, Magazines, DVDs, & Blu-rays:

• 21 days check out period
• 2 renewals (cannot renew if item has a hold)
• Fines are $0.10 per day, per item up to $3.00

Item Limits Per Card

• 5 audiobooks
• 2 Videogames per Adult Card
• 5 DVDs/Blu-rays
• 30 Items total per card
• 10 Holds are allowed per card; Holds will be held for ten days to allow for pick-up.
• $5.00 maximum account balance. If you accrue over this amount, you forfeit your library privileges until the balance is paid down to below $5.00.

Lost & Damaged Items

Patrons who have lost or damaged an item can choose one of the following options:

1. Pay the retail price provided by Library Staff
2. Pay the Amazon Price plus a $2.00 processing fee. The Amazon Price must be for a NEW item, not other sellers on the site.
3. Bring in a replacement item and pay a $2.00 processing fee. Replacements must be new and in the same format as the original item.

Videogames

• 7 days check out period
• 1 renewal (cannot renew if item has a hold)
• Fines are $1.00 per day per item up to $5.00
• Can only be checked out on an Adult card

Renewals

Books, Audiobooks, Magazines, DVDs, Blu-rays, and Videogames may be renewed online, in person, or over the phone prior to their due date. Items that are already overdue, may be renewed with the understanding that all fines accrued will be added to the patron’s account.

Holds

Patrons can request items from any Berkeley, Jefferson, or Morgan county library. Please note that items with a NEW status will not be available to patrons outside of their home county. 10 Holds are allowed per card. Once the patron has been notified via email or phone, the library will hold the item for 10 days to allow for pick up.

Inter-Library Loans (ILLs)

• 3 requests at a time
• Cannot be renewed
• Item being requested must be older that 1 year

Donation Policy

Approved by the Martinsburg Public Library Commission on October 25, 2012

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries appreciates and encourages gifts and donations from groups, individuals, foundations, corporations, etc. These contributions are vital to the future of the Library and its services. The Library is prepared to receive material, money, furnishings, and other types of gifts and donations. Once received, the gift or donation becomes the unconditional property of the Library. Gifts and donations are accepted only if the Director or the designee determines that they can be used by or benefit the Library.

The library cannot accept donation of materials with special restrictions such as placement, treatment, retention, audience and so forth.

Acceptance

The Library accepts gifts and donations with the understanding that upon acceptance the gift or donation becomes the property of the Library and is subject to disposition at the Library's discretion.

Acknowledgement

Whenever possible, gifts and donations will be acknowledged with a receipt and a “Thank You” letter.

Tax Deduction

Gifts and donations to the Library are tax-deductible as provided by law. Donors should refer to IRS publication # 561.

Appraisal

As the recipient of a gift or donation, the Library will not assign a monetary value for the donor's tax purposes.

Decisions

The Director of MBCPL or designee has the right to decline gifts or donations and decides when donated material added to the collection will be withdrawn.

Material Donations

The library is happy to accept materials, as long as they are NOT:

• Moldy, musty or water damaged
• Dirty (greasy, food stained, insect infested, etc)
• Marked by pens, pencils, crayons or highlighters
• Physically damaged (has broken bindings, loose or torn pages, or damaged covers, damaged cases)
• Textbooks or Encyclopedias
• Condensed books (for example, Readers Digest Condensed books)

Gifts of donated material, such as books and audio-visual items, may be accepted into the Library's collection after review by Library staff according to established guidelines.

Items received but not used by the Library will be donated, recycled, or discarded. This includes magazine and periodical subscriptions that are made directly by the donor.

The Library is most interested in receiving donations of new or gently used items in excellent condition. Groups or collections of items cannot necessarily be kept together and will be handled like all other donations. Large donations will be reviewed by staff before accepting. Donations valued at more than a $1,000 will be referred to the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development.

Memorial Donations

The Library sometimes receives monies that the donor wants earmarked for the purchase of specific materials, supplies, equipment, or furnishings, according to the library's needs. At other times, donors may ask Library staff to select the appropriate items. The Library's memorial program allows for individuals to contribute funds in memory, for example, of a family member who has passed away. In addition, the Library will, at the donor's request, use funds for or place into the collection approved items that are “in honor of” a person's birthday, anniversary or some other special occasion.

Monetary Donations

Monetary donations are quickly and easily used to supplement and provide additional Library material and services. Though the Library accepts gifts of cash designated for specific purposes, money can be more effectively used when funds are allocated to the areas of greatest need.

Money designated for specific purposes must be approved by the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development Director of Library Services before the Library can accept. This includes the money for the purchase of magazine and periodical subscriptions, special collections, and other items.

Furnishings Donations

The decision to accept furnishings, such as furniture, landscaping items, art, and equipment shall be made by the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development. In most cases monetary donations will be encouraged in lieu of the actual item. The decision to accept is based on need, space, appropriateness, expense, and frequency of maintenance.

Placement of these items will be at the discretion of the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development.

Art work

Acceptance of art work will be determined based on their suitability to the purposes and needs of the library, laws and regulations that govern the ownership of the gift, and the library's ability to cover insurance and maintenance costs associated with the donation. Art work becomes the exclusive property of the library and may be altered, displayed, stored, traded, converted, sold or otherwise disposed of at the sole discretion of the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development.

The following items may be requested by the library: a current appraisal of the value, evidence of bona fide artistic importance and merit of the work and the reputation of the artist. An appropriate deed of gift or similar document transferring sole and exclusive ownership of the art work to the library will be required.

Evidence of provenance and present title of the art work from the donor may also be requested.

Other Donations

Gifts of securities, real property, memorials, bequests, and other types of donations not referred to above will be handled by the Director of the MBCPL or the Director of Development. Once accepted, the Director will work out terms of acceptance that are compatible with the library's policies, the donor's intent, and applicable laws.

Recognition

Bookplates will be placed in materials selected “in honor of” or “in memory of” a specific person or organization. The bookplate will include the date, the donor's name and the person/organization in whose name it was donated. Additional information may be included.

Similarly, plaques may be placed on items of furniture or rooms for which funds have been received.

For donations over $10,000.00, the donor's name will be placed on the recognition wall at the Martinsburg Library or at the library to which the donation was made.

Safe Child Policy

The children's room is reserved for children, their parents, guardians, caregivers and educators. Adults that are not supervising a child or checking out materials will be asked to leave.

Unattended Child Policy

The library encourages frequent visits by children accompanied by their caregivers. It is important to note that the library, including the children's area, is a public space. Library staff cannot provide child care, assume responsibility for children's safety, or be placed in the position of supervising unattended children. Parents, guardians, caregivers and teachers, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior and safety of children visiting the library. All patrons, including children, are expected to abide by the Library's Patron Code of Behavior.

Policy for children ages 9 and under:

• Children ages 9 and younger must have a parent/caregiver in the immediate vicinity of (and in visual contact with) the child. The caregiver must be at least 16 years old.
• If a child ages 9 and younger is found unattended, Library staff will attempt to locate the parent/caregiver in the Library and inform him/her of the Unattended Child policy.
• If the parent/caregiver cannot be found, Library staff will ask the child for the parent/caregivers contact information and try to contact the parent. If the parent cannot be contacted, library staff will contact local authorities.

Policy for children ages 10 and older:

• Children ages 10 and older may use the Library unattended. However the parent/caregiver is still responsible for the behavior and the wellbeing of the child.
• If a child is not able to leave the Library without an adult, he/she should not be in the Library without an adult.
• Unaccompanied children ages 10 and over, failing to adhere to the Library's Patron Code of Behavior, may be asked to leave the Library. Prior to asking child patrons ages 10-12 to leave, library staff will attempt to contact parents, however, if parents are unreachable, Library staff reserves the right to contact the local authorities at their discretion.
• The Library assumes no responsibility for the whereabouts of an unattended child who has been asked to leave Library property.
• Children must know how to reach an adult caregiver in case of emergency and must be picked up from the library before the library closes.

General

• If a child violates the Library's Patron Code of Behavior the child and the parent/caregiver will be informed of the policy. If inappropriate behavior continues, the child and parent/caregiver will be asked to leave the library.
• In any situation involving the safety of children, and specifically whenever the parent/caregiver or police are contacted, staff will complete an Incident Report.

Children's Computers

Computers in the children's area are limited to children ages 15 and younger. It is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver to ensure appropriate use of computers by children. All children, regardless of age, are to be supervised by a parent/caregiver while using computers.

Children's Programs/Events

• Children ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Unless otherwise indicated by staff, the parent/caregiver is required to stay with the child during the program.
• Some programs are age specific and children outside of the age limits for the program may not be allowed to participate. Check with library staff.
• Some programs will require registration to participate. This will be indicated in advertising for the program. For these programs children will not be allowed to participate if proper registration has not been completed.

Cell Phone Policy

1. Cell phones must be silenced in the library.
2. Telephone conversations should be brief and quiet.
3. Library patrons whose cell phone usage creates a disturbance will be asked to conduct their call in the foyer or outside of the library.
4. The Martinsburg Library's top floor is a designated quiet area and no cell phone usage is permitted.
5. Cell phone usage in the computer lab is restricted to brief calls related to computer lab work.
6. High School patrons at the Musselman Community Library will follow the school's cell phone policy.