CIRCULATION & LIBRARY POLICIES
The Annenberg Center for Learning and Research is designed to be a safe, pleasant, and academic environment, and the following policies are in place to ensure that the library can be so for all community members.
LOAN PERIODS
Any members of the Chapin community - students, faculty, and staff - are eligible to borrow and access the physical and digital resources available at the Annenberg Center for Learning and Research.
Lower School Students
Middle School Students
Upper School Students
Professional Community
CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS
The library supports the Freedom to Read Statement from the American Library Association, and also references it in our collection management policies. The Library upholds the right of the individual to access information, even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox or unacceptable to others. However, the reading and viewing activity of children is ultimately the responsibility of parents, who guide and oversee their own children's development.
In the event that there are questions regarding the purchase, holding, or check out of a particular title or resource, please contact the Director of the Annenberg Center, Liza Oldham. In the case of challenges, as noted in the library collection management policy, the Director will make the final decision on whether to keep or de-accession the material.
RENEWALS
All circulating material - except for reserves - may be renewed once if there are no prior requests.
RECALLS AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY
Circulating items are subject to be recalled if they are requested by another member of the Chapin community. Collaboration, respect for others, and respect for resources are vital components of the library's mission and values, and all borrowers are expected to share the resources made available to them through the library.
If a book you need is checked out, please see one of the librarians. The librarian will reach out to the community member that currently has the item, and inform you when said item has been returned to the library.
OVERDUE, DAMAGED, AND LOST ITEMS
All community members are individually responsible for returning or renewing library material by the date due. Overdue notices are sent out regularly via email to the address(es) associated with the library account, which includes the email addresses for the parents of LS and MS students. The library does not charge overdue or late fines, preferring instead to rely on our school's values of equity and collaboration to encourage community members to return books in a timely fashion.
Borrowers are also entirely responsible for returning in good condition all library materials, regardless of circumstances that may occur over the period of the loan. The following conditions do not constitute normal wear and tear, and will result in replacement charges:
Items are thoroughly checked by library staff upon each return, so the damage will be deemed the responsibility of the last borrowing patron upon discovery.
Items are considered "lost" if they have not been returned within 60 days of the return date.
If a borrowed item is deemed damaged or lost, the borrowing student will be held responsible for the replacement cost of the item. The library will reach out to the student and parents to inform them of the replacement cost. The Business Office will subsequently charge the borrower’s account on TADS.
If in the rare instance a lost item is found after the replacement cost has been charged, the borrower has the option to keep the item or donate it back to the school. The replacement cost will not be refunded.
NOISE AND BEHAVIOR
Quiet conversation is allowed.
Extended conversations and loud talking must be taken outside.
Headphones are required to listen to music, audio, and video.
No running.
Do not misuse spaces, resources, or furniture (e.g. do not sit on tables or in windows, do not move materials, and do not race chairs).
Librarians and faculty members have the final say on appropriate library behavior.
FOOD, DRINKS, AND TRASH
Students are not permitted to bring food of any kind into the library, including before and after school hours. Those with food will be asked to dispose of it immediately or leave the library.
Drinks with lids are permitted.
Dispose of trash, recyclables, and beverage containers properly.
PRIVACY POLICY
Protecting user privacy and confidentiality has long been an integral part of the intellectual freedom mission of libraries. The right to free inquiry as assured by the First Amendment depends upon the ability to read and access information free from scrutiny by the government or other third parties. In accordance with New York State law (NY CPLR Section 4509) and our own commitment to the privacy of both students and professional community members, information about materials that users check out and information that users access is kept confidential.
Students and professional community members obtain a library account upon their matriculation to the community. Upon creating such an account, we require certain personal information, such as a name, email, grade/division, and role (i.e., Lower School Student; Middle School Student; Professional Community Member). We hold onto this information and keep the account for only as long as that user is an active part of the Chapin community. This information is used strictly for the Chapin educational purposes, and isn't shared with any third-party organizations, unless required by law.
While users have an account at the Library, our system only retains the information about borrowed materials for the time during which those items are on loan to that individual. The records of those loans are deleted as soon as borrowed materials are returned.
As an educational institution, Chapin recognizes that students' and minors' First Amendment rights to free inquiry and privacy must be balanced against both the educational needs of the school and the rights of the parents. As such, parents and guardians of children under the age of 13 may view their children’s current Library loans upon request. Parents and guardians of children between the ages of 13 and 17 (inclusive) may also view their children’s current Library loans, but require their children’s consent to do so.
When overdue notices are sent out via email, however, they will be sent to the email addresses on file for parents of LS and MS students, as well as to those MS students who have a Chapin email address. If a borrowed item has been deemed damaged or lost, the borrowing student/family will be held responsible for the replacement cost of the item. The library will reach out to the student and parents via email to inform them of the replacement cost.
