Library Cards: Library cards are free to residents of the city of Hot Springs. Fall River County residents and those from Custer County within the Hot Springs School District will pay $10.00 for an individual card and $20.00 for a family card. Out of state residents will pay the same fees. These fees are renewed on or after January 2nd each year.

Children, age five and under, will use the card of their parent or guardian.

Children 6 –17 years of age need to have a parent or guardian present when applying for a card.

Patrons 18 and over may apply for their own card.

Current photo identification is required to receive a library card and one of the following:

• utility bill with current physical address
• checkbook with current physical address
• piece of mail with typed address to the applicant at current physical address

Please treat the card with the same care as a credit card. The patron is responsible for everything checked out on the card. Overdue, damaged or lost items will be billed accordingly.

Please bring the library card on each visit to the Library to check out materials and/or use a public access computer.

Cards expire one year from date issued. After the expiration date, personal information will be checked for changes and that card will be renewed.

Patrons are responsible for notifying the Library of any change of name, address, phone number or place of employment. This can be done at the circulation desk or by calling the Library.

Agency Cards: Agency library cards may be issued to agencies requesting borrowing privileges. The application must be completed and the card signed by an agency representative. Agencies will then assume all borrower responsibilities for this card.

Agencies will be defined as, but not limited to; care homes, retirement homes, daycares, schools, and group/foster homes.

Agency cards are covered by the same Library Policies as individual cards.

Circulation:  Materials may only be borrowed with a library card in good standing.
Borrower fees or fines in excess of $5.00 will block borrowing privileges.

Borrower Responsibilities: Library patrons are responsible for all materials borrowed on their card, including payment of fines or charges incurred.

The responsible adult on a child’s card cannot check out materials if the child’s fines are in excess of $5.00.

Library patrons must present their library card each time they borrow materials or use the internet computers.

Replacement cards are $2.00 each.

Lost and Forgotten Cards: Lost or stolen library cards must be reported to the circulation desk immediately or by calling the Library at 745-3151.

Loan Periods:

Books 3 weeks
DVDs 1 week
Audio Books 3 weeks
Magazines 1 week
Current Magazines Not Checked Out
Reference Materials Not Checked Out
7-Day Books 1 Week
Story Bags 1 Week
Renewals Same As Original Loan Period
DVDs Not Renewed
Heritage Room Collection Not Checked Out

Overdue Fees:

Books 25¢ Per Day
Magazines 25¢ Per Day
DVDs $1.00 Per Day
Story Bags $1.00 Per Day
Audio Books 25¢ Per Day
Paperbacks 25¢ Per Day
7-Day Books 25¢ Per Day

Fees:

Interlibrary Loan $3.00 Per Title
Computer Printed Copy 25¢ Per Page
Computer Printed Color Copy 50¢ Per Page
Replacement Library Card $2.00 Per Card
FAX Service $1.00 Per Page

Material Returns: During library hours, materials are returned to the foyer in designated Audiovisual and Book drops.

At all times, drop boxes are available on the outside of the building for Audiovisual and Book returns.

Renewals: Material may be renewed. DVD may NOT be renewed.

Items on Hold may not be renewed. Materials may be renewed a second time, but must be brought to the Library.

To renew an item, bring it to the circulation desk, call the Library 745-3151, or create an account here on the library website. From that account, you can view the catalog, renew items, and place holds. If there is a fine or your account is expired, you will not be able to renew.

Reserves: Items may be placed on hold at the circulation desk, by calling the Library 745-3151 or create an account here on the library website. From that account you can view the catalog, renew, and place holds. If there is a fine or your account is expired, you will not be able to place a hold.

DVD may not be reserved.

Items are held for 7 days after the patron has been notified.

Interlibrary Loan: Interlibrary loans are available at a charge of $3.00 per title.

A patron requesting interlibrary loan services must be a Hot Springs Public Library cardholder in good standing.

The patron must fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request Form and payment will be made at the time the material is received at the Hot Springs Public Library.

The lending library determines the loan period.

Interlibrary loan materials will not be renewed.

The lending library determines fees for materials, which are lost or damaged.

The material will be labeled with the return date to the Hot Springs Public Library.

Reference Materials: Materials designated as Reference Materials do not circulate but may be used in the Library. A coin operated copy machine is available for making copies.

Lost and Damaged Materials: A phone call and/or notice will be sent to the patron concerning a lost or damaged item.

This phone call and/or notice will list the cost of replacing or repairing the item.

A note is also written on the patron’s record.

If the patron pays for lost material and later returns the material in good condition, the cost of the material will be refunded.

Confidentiality of Library Records: All public library records containing personally identifiable information are confidential. Any information contained in Library records may not be released except by court order or upon request of the parent or guardian of a child who is under eighteen years of age.

Unattended Children: Children are welcome in the Library, however, parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for the behavior, safety, and supervision of their children at all times while in the Library and on Library property.

An adult must accompany children under the age of 10.

The Library Staff is not responsible for the safety, care, or supervision of children of any age at any time whether in the Library or on Library property.

Should it be determined that a child has been left at the Library without a ride or assistance home at closing time, every attempt will be made to contact an adult or family member. Staff members are not permitted to remain after hours with an unattended child nor give him/her a ride home.

If an adult or family member cannot be reached, the Hot Springs Police will be called to escort the child home or keep the child until parents can be reached. Staff members will then remain with the child until the police have arrived.

The Library Director will be informed whenever this action becomes necessary. The Director will contact the child’s parent or guardian to explain the Library Policy and why the action was required.

Patron Behavior: The Hot Springs Public Library seeks to provide quality library service to all patrons. All persons using the Library are to behave so as to allow others to enjoy the Library safely and without interference. To this end, the following behaviors are examples of those actions which are prohibited:

  • Harassment towards Library Staff or other patrons
  • Loud talking or other noise
  • Physical threats or abuse toward anyone
  • Running or loitering in the building
  • Abusive or foul language
  • Abuse or misuse of Library furnishings, equipment or materials
  • Criminal activity
  • Being under the influence or using or possessing alcohol or illegal drugs in the Library or on Library Property

Violation of this policy may result in a temporary or permanent revocation of library privileges. At any time, law enforcement officers may be contacted. If the patron is a minor, a parent will be notified of the disciplinary action.

Eating, Drinking, Smoking: Eating and drinking is not allowed in the Library. Smoking is prohibited in the Library.

Pets: Working dogs are allowed in the Library. All other pets are prohibited.

Cell Phones: Patrons must respect other patrons in the use of cell phones. Cell phones should be put on vibrate. Calls need to be received and made in the foyer or meeting rooms.

Public Internet Use: The Hot Springs Public Library provides Internet access for research, educational, and social purposes.

Scope of Internet Access: It is the goal of the Library to provide the greatest possible access to the Internet within the limits of available resources. The Internet offers access to a wealth of information that can be personally, professionally and culturally enriching.

Intellectual Freedom: Content: The Library recognizes the right of individuals to determine what is most appropriate for their needs. Users should be aware that information accessed via the Internet maybe controversial, inaccurate or dated. Because the Internet is a vast and unregulated information network, it also enables access to ideas, information, images and commentary beyond the confines of the Library’s collection, mission, selection criteria and collection development policies. Because of this access and because sites on the Internet change often, rapidly and unpredictably, the Library can not protect users from information and images which they might find offensive or disturbing.

Children’s Use of the Internet: As with other Library materials and services, parents or legal guardians, not the Library or its Staff, are responsible for the information selected or accessed by their children – and only their children. Under South Dakota law, parents or legal guardian are responsible for their children until the age of 18.

Internet Use: Library Rules: The same principles that guide the use of other Library resources apply to the use of the Internet. The Library expects patrons to use the Internet in a responsible manner respecting the rights of others and Library rules of behavior. Use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and unacceptable use will result in suspension or cancellation of the privilege. The length of the suspension is at the discretion of the Library Staff. There may be an assessment of charges for damages, system restoration, or unauthorized copying.

The following behaviors include but are not limited to:

  • Degrade or disrupt equipment or system performance
  • Vandalize the data of another user
  • Gain unauthorized access to resources or entities
  • Invade the privacy of individuals
  • Access, view, or download pornography
  • Violate Federal, State, or Local Law regulations
  • The use of sounds or visuals which might be disruptive to others

Limitations: Additional Conditions of Use: Time, printing, and downloading limits may be placed depending on volume of use or other conditions.

Assistance/Training: Library Staff is available to introduce Internet access and provide initial instruction on its use (not in-depth training). To ensure the equitable delivery of all library services, the amount of time staff has available to provide Internet instruction is limited.

Liability: The Hot Springs Public Library assumes no responsibility or financial obligation for any damage, direct or indirect, that users or anyone else may suffer through Library access to the Internet. This Public Internet Use policy is posted in the Computer Room.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Hot Springs Public Library is to create and maintain an environment in which the people of our community can readily share resources which are the cultural, educational, and recreational expressions of society.

Gifts: Gift materials are subject to the same selection principles which govern purchased materials.

“The Library acknowledges the great importance of gifts and donations to the Library’s future development and growth. The Library welcomes gifts of money, library materials, furnishings, or real property. These gifts help enrich and improve the Library’s resources.

No gifts are accepted unless given to the Library without restriction. All gifts may be utilized, sold, or disposed of in the best interest of the Library. All donations are accepted only if the Library Director or the Library Board of Trustees determines that they can be utilized by, or benefit the Library.

The Library Board of Trustees on the advice of the Library Director shall make the decision as to the acceptance of furnishings and equipment. Among the criteria on which the decision shall be based is need, space, impact on staff time, and expense and frequency of maintenance.

The Library Board of Trustees shall make the decision as to the acceptance and location of gifts of landscaping items. The major criteria on which the decision shall be based is the appropriateness of the offered gifts to the landscaping plan for the building.

The Library Board of Trustees on the advice of the Library Director shall make the decision as to the acceptance and location of gifts of exterior ornamentation, sculpture and signage.”

(The above statements were adopted by the Board on May 31, 2007)

Bulletin Boards: The Library will make space available for literature, either as handouts or posted notices, for non-profit organizations or governmental agencies engaged in educational, cultural, intellectual or charitable activities.

Meeting Room / Study Room: The rooms are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis for use by nonprofit groups and government agencies.

Library programs will receive first consideration in scheduling events.

To schedule a meeting room, a group representative can come to or call the Library.

Meetings will be free and open to the general public at all times.

Meetings will be held during regular open hours of the Library, unless other arrangements are made with the Director.

The group using the meeting room will be responsible for the set up and clean up.

Use of a meeting room will be subject to the approval of the Director.

Discarding – Retention – Replacement:

Collection Maintenance: To maintain a useful and attractive collection, materials may be repaired, rebound, or removed from the Library when they become badly worn, damaged, out-of-date, over-duplicated or unused.

Final responsibility for removal of these materials, and the manner of disposition rests with the Library Director. The Director may delegate this authority to Library Staff in their various areas of responsibility.

Selection Authority: Final responsibility for material selection rests with the Library Director who operates within the framework of polices determined by the Library Board of Trustees. The Director may delegate this authority to Library Staff in their various areas of responsibility.

In selecting materials, the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights guides the Library and the principles outlined in the Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements of the American Library Association.

The Library attempts to meet the needs of the total community, recognizing that individual citizens may view some materials as controversial. It is the responsibility of the individual library user to select those materials that suit his/her taste. Supervising the use of library materials for a minor is the responsibility of the parent or guardian, not of the Library Staff.

Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, and no materials are sequestered, except for the purpose of protecting them from injury or theft.

Criteria for Selection: Materials must be considered in terms of their own merit and intended audience.
Varieties of tools are considered prior to selection:

  • Standard review sources
  • Bibliographies
  • Publisher’s catalogs
  • Direct examination
  • Patron requests

All selections must meet at least some of the following criteria for selection:

  • Needs and interest of the Library’s users
  • Value of the material for information, recreation, or education
  • Contemporary significance or permanent value
  • Accuracy
  • Authority of author
  • Relation of work to existing collection and balance of viewpoints expressed in the collection
  • Price, format, ease of use
  • Scarcity of information in subject area
  • Availability of material elsewhere in the community
  • Popular demand
  • Artistic excellence
  • Vitality and originality of thought

This criterion applies to materials for all ages and in all formats, to include print, audio, visual ad electronic resources.

Patron Recommendations: Requests for specific titles or subjects are subject to the same principles which govern other purchased materials. Every attempt will be made to accommodate patron wishes. Final responsibility rests with the Library Director.

Challenges and Controversial Material: In keeping with the Library Bill of Rights, this policy is guided by the following interpretation that has been adopted by the American Library Association; “Challenged materials which meet the criteria for selection in the materials selection policy of the Library should not be removed under any legal or extra-legal pressure.”

The Library Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals to question materials in the Library collection. Whenever a patron objects to the presence or absence of any library material, the complaint will be given hearing and consideration. All complaints to Staff Members will be referred to the Library Director who will discuss the matter with the complainant.

If not satisfied, the complainant will be given a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form to complete. The completed form will be given to the Library Director who will then meet with the Staff to evaluate the material in question.

The Library Director and Staff will consider whether the material meets the selection criteria outlined in this policy. A recommendation will be made to the Library Board of Trustees at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

The Board will then decide whether or not Library Policies have been followed and whether to add or withdraw the material in question.

Materials subject to complaint shall not be removed from use and circulation pending final action.

Material under court consideration will remain available to patrons until a final ruling is made.