American Library Association's Guidelines for Library Policies

Publicly supported libraries exist within the context of a body of law derived from the U.S. Constitution, defined by federal, state, local, and tribal law, and implemented by regulations, policies, and procedures established by their governing bodies and administrations. These regulations, policies, and procedures establish the mission of the library; define its functions, services, and operations; and help ascertain the rights and responsibilities of the individuals served by the library.

All library policies, regulations, and procedures should be carefully examined to avoid denying or restricting access or creating barriers to access. All policies should:

1. be developed and implemented within the legal framework that applies to the library (including the U.S. Constitution, especially the First Amendment, and those provisions addressing due process and equal and equitable treatment under the law as provided in the amendments to the U.S. Constitution and all other applicable federal, state, local, and tribal law).
2. cite statutes or ordinances upon which the authority to make that policy is based, when appropriate.
3. be developed and implemented within the framework of the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretations.
4. be based upon the library’s mission and objectives.
5. avoid restrictions on the access to or use of library resources, services, or facilities unless those restrictions are necessary to achieve the library’s mission and objectives.
6. tailor prohibitions or restrictions narrowly, in the rare instances when they are required, so they are not more restrictive than necessary to serve their objectives.
7. balance competing interests and avoid favoring the majority at the expense of individual rights.
8. avoid arbitrary distinctions between individuals or classes of users and denying or abridging a person’s right to use library resources, services, or facilities based upon arbitrary distinctions such as origin, age, background, or views.¹;
9. not target specific users or groups of users based upon an assumption or expectation that such users might engage in behavior that will materially interfere with the achievement of substantial library objectives.
10. be clearly stated so that a reasonable person will have fair warning of what is expected.
11. provide a means of appeal.
12. be reviewed regularly by the library's governing authority and legal counsel.
13. be communicated clearly and made available to all library users in an effective manner; and
14. be enforced evenhandedly and not in a manner intended to benefit or disfavor any person or group in an arbitrary manner.

ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee recommends that publicly supported libraries use the above guidelines, based on constitutional principles, to develop policies, regulations, and procedures.

¹ In the Library Bill of Rights and all its interpretations, it is intended that “origin” encompasses all the characteristics of individuals that are inherent in the circumstances of their birth; “age” encompasses all the characteristics of individuals that are inherent in their levels of development and maturity; “background” encompasses all the characteristics of individuals that are a result of their life experiences; and “views” encompasses all the opinions and beliefs held and expressed by individuals.

Adopted by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee June 28, 1994; revised January 19, 2005; March 29, 2014; and June 24, 2019.

 

Please Note: The policies listed here are samples only. This is not a list of "best policies," and inclusion on this list does not constitute a recommendation by the Connecticut State Library. This list should assist librarians and trustees in creating or revising policies for their libraries. Every library is unique and sample policies should never be copied. Instead, use the ideas and organization of many samples to help create policies most suitable to your library's unique situation. Also seek legal and/or professional advice whenever appropriate.

To contribute your CT public library's policies to this page, Contact Us.

Go to Strategic/Long-Range Planning for Public Libraries for samples of long-range plans.

Connecticut Sample Policies:

Full Library Policies Alcohol - See Meeting Room Book Discussion  Bylaws Cell Phones Circulation and Patron Registration Code of Conduct Collection Development Computer Use Confidentiality & Privacy Conflict of Interest Discards Donations, Gifts, and Memorial Funds E-Readers & Media Players Exhibit and Bulletin Board Food and Beverage Financial Development, Foundations, Investment & Endowments History Room Holiday Decorations Home Delivery Interlibrary Loan Internet Polices Job Sharing Makerspace Media Policy

Meeting Rooms Mission Statements Museum Passes Notary Personnel Petitions/Soliciting Proctoring                                          Professional Development Program Public Relations Re-Opening - Covid Security Cameras Service Animals Social Media Soliciting on Library Premises Staff Development Staff Use of Computers and the Internet Study Rooms Technology Plans                                  Tutoring Unattended Children\Vulnerable Adults (See also: Code of Conduct) Volunteer Policy Warming/Cooling Station Weather Closings Whistleblowers

** = POLICIES SHARED FEBRUARY 2022

Connecticut Full Library Policies  
**Avon
**Madison - Scranton Library 
**Norwalk
**Ridgefield
**Salem

Bethel
Granby
Greenwich
Hartford
Wallingford
Westport
West Hartford
Wethersfield

 Book Discussion
**Norwalk

Bylaws

Cell Phones

Circulation and Patron Registration
**Avon                                                                                                                                              
**Madison – Scranton
**Norwalk
**Norwalk - Children Card
**Norwalk - E-Reader
**Norwalk – Laptop
**Norwalk -Wifi Hot Spot
**Ridgefield - Kindle Fire for Kids
West Hartford
Westport

Code of Conduct/Behavior
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
Burlington
Greenwich
**Madison - Scranton 
**Madison - Scranton - Temp addendum due to covid
**Norwalk
**Ridgefield
**Salem
Westport

Collection Development
**Avon           
**Easton - see PDF below                                                                                                                                  
 **Madison – Scranton
**Ridgefield
**Salem
**Salem - material reconsideration
West Hartford
**Westbrook - See PDF below
Westport

Computer Use
**Madison – Scranton
**Ridgefield

Confidentiality & Privacy
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
**Madison – Scranton
**Madison - Scranton - Website privacy
**Norwalk
**Ridgefield
Westport

Conflict of Interest
Westport

Discards
Greenwich

Donations, Gifts, and Memorial Funds
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
**Madison – Scranton
**Norwalk

E-Readers & Media Players

Exhibit and Bulletin Board
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
**Madison – Scranton
**Norwalk
**Salem
**Salem - application / release form
Westport 

Financial Development, Foundations, Investment & Endowments
Westport 

Food and Beverage
Greenwich

History Room
**Avon                                                                                                                                               

Interlibrary Loan
**Avon                                                                                                                                                                          
Internet Polices
**Avon                                                                                                                                             

Danbury
**Easton - See PDF below
**Madison - Scranton - Internet/Computer Use
**Madison - Scranton - Internet Safety
**Ridgefield
**Westbrook - See PDF below

Job Sharing

 Makerspace/3D/VR
**Avon - 3D Printing
**Avon – VR
 

Media Policy

Westport

Meeting Rooms
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
Greenwich
**Madison – Scranton
**Madison - Scranton - Temp addendum due to covid
**Westbrook - See PDF below
Windsor

Mission Statements

Museum Passes

Notary
**Madison - Scranton

Personnel

Petitions/Soliciting
Greenwich

Proctoring
**Madison - Scranton

 Professional Development
**Avon

Program
**Avon                                                                                                                                               
**Madison – Scranton
**Salem - permission slip
West Hartford

Public Relations

 Re-Opening – Covid
**Norwalk

Security Cameras
**Avon
**Madison - Scranton

Service Animals
**Easton - See PDF below

Social Media
**Avon
**Madison - Scranton
Milford
**Ridgefield
West Hartford 

Soliciting on Library Premises
Greenwich

Staff Development

Staff Use of Computers and the Internet

 Study Rooms
**Madison - Scranton

Technology Plans
Putnam

 Tutoring
**Avon
**Easton - See PDF below
**Madison - Scranton

Unattended Children/Vulnerable Adults (See also: Code of Conduct)
**Avon
**Easton - See PDF below
**Madison – Scranton
**Ridgefield
**Westbrook - See PDF below
More Unattended Children Policies

Volunteer Policy
**Avon
**Madison – Scranton
West Hartford

Warming/Cooling Station

Weather Closings
**Ridgefield
Westport

Whistleblowers
Greenwich

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