San Leandro Library Policies

Library Cards

Library cards are not transferable, and are issued to an individual only. No family, group, or organization cards will be issued. All cards are subject to renewal. Conditions for continued service may be modified at any time.

How to Obtain a Library Card

1. Fill out a short application form available at the Circulation Desk of any San Leandro library branch.
2. Bring a valid photo identification (see below).
3. Bring a valid verification of residence (see below).
4. For minors (under 14 years), a parent or legal guardian must be present when applying to sign the application and give permission for Internet access.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

• California Drivers License
• California Identification Card
• United States Passport
• United States Military Identification
• Student Body Identification Card

Acceptable Forms of Verification of Residence

• Printed bank checks with current address
• Paychecks with current printed address
• Utility bills with current printed address
• Rental agreements
• Property tax statements, mortgage papers or escrow papers
• Current automobile registration
• Mail with current postmark (less than 2 weeks old)

Lost Cards

Remember, you are responsible for all materials checked out on your library card. So, if you've lost your library card, call the Circulation Desk immediately at (510) 577-3970. The Library will block the account so that no one else will use it. You will need to provide a photo identification to obtain a replacement card. The cost of a replacement card is $3. 

Card Types

• Resident
  No Charge
  Permanent residents within the incorporated limits of the City of San Leandro are eligible for a free library card. A photo identification and verification of residence are required.
  
• San Leandro Property Owner
  No Charge
  Persons owning property within the incorporated limits of the City of San Leandro are eligible for a free library card. Limited to taxpayer, spouse and minor children. A photo identification and verification of residence are required.
  
• Student
  No Charge
  Any student enrolled at a kindergarten through 12th grade public or private school in the incorporated limits of the City of San Leandro or a designated school serving San Leandro residents may receive a free library card. Library card applications must be signed by a parent or legal guardian for anyone under the age of 14. To use the Internet, a parent must also sign a special permission form. Forms are available at the Circulation Desk.
  
• Teacher
  No Charge
  Any teacher teaching kindergarten through 12 grade at a public or private school in the incorporated limits of the City of San Leandro or a designated school serving San Leandro residents may receive a free library card. A photo identification and verification of employment at the school are required.
  
• Non Resident
  $50 per year
  Patrons not living within the City of San Leandro, or do not meet any of the above requirements must purchase a non-resident library card. Paid cards are valid for one year from the date of issue. All members of a family living at the same address are included. A photo identification and verification of residence are required.
   
• Non Resident, but Full-time San Leandro Employee
  $25 per year
  To qualify, you must work full-time (40 hours per week) within the incorporated limits of the City of San Leandro. Paid cards are valid for one year from the date of issue. Limited to worker only. A photo identification, verification of residence, and verification of full-time employment (i.e. paycheck stub) are required.

Loan Policies

* There is a total limit of 60 items per library account.

Exceptions

• San Leandro Unified School District Teachers are able to check out up to100 items for use in the classroom. Loan period for teacher's materials is 6 weeks, no renewals.
   

• Patrons are allowed a once a year "vacation checkout" of 6 weeks for books only. This does not apply to the New Books collection.

Fees &  Fines

Fees and fines are payable with cash, check, debit card, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. There is a $5 minimum when paying with debit or credit cards. Library accounts will be blocked if fines exceed $10.

Overdue Fines

Format	Fine	Maximum Fine
Adult Materials	25¢ per day	$10.00  per item
Juvenile Materials	15¢ per day	$10.00  per item
Uncataloged Items  (paperback books, magazines, pamphlets)	Adults: 25¢ per day  Juvenile: 15¢ per day	$6.00  per item
Videos, DVDs, Blu-Rays (Non-rental)	$1.00 per day	$15.00  per item

Lost & Damaged Material Fees

When an item is lost or damaged beyond repair, the list price plus a non-refundable processing fee will be charged. Damaged materials will have fees assessed by staff at the time of check in.

Material	Non-refundable  Processing Fee
Cataloged Items	$10.00
Uncataloged Items	$6.00
Plastic Case for Video, DVD, or CD	$3.00
Book Cover	$2.00

Fees for Special Services

Service	Fee	Notes
Rental Books	50¢ per item, per day	$1.00 minimum.   Check out day counts as Day 1.
Rental Videos & DVDs	$3.00 per item, for 3 days	$1.00 per day thereafter.   Check out day counts as Day 1.

Library Cards

See the Library Card Policies above for more information about qualifications.

Patron Type	Fee
San Leandro Resident	No Charge
San Leandro Property Owner	No Charge
San Leandro Student (K-12)	No Charge
San Leandro School Teacher	No Charge
Non-resident of San Leandro	$50.00 per year
Work Full-time in San Leandro	$25.00 per year

San Leandro Public Library Rules of Conduct

The San Leandro Public Library endeavors to provide all of its customers with a safe and pleasant library experience. The following rules of conduct have been adopted to ensure the welfare and safety of every person in the Library.

Minor children visiting the San Leandro Public Library are the responsibility of their parents or guardians. The Library does not serve in loco parentis. The Library cannot accept responsibility for the safety and supervision of minor children. The Library may require minors to be accompanied by a parent or guardian when visiting library facilities.

Any persons violating the Library's Rules of Conduct may have their Library privileges revoked or suspended. Length of suspension will be determined by Library Administration.

The following activities are PROHIBITED:

• Leaving minors without adult supervision
• Eating or drinking in the Library
• Using cell phones
• Using electronic devices at volumes that disturb others
• Harassment
• Disruptive behavior
• Shouting, cursing, using obscene or abusive language
• Physical altercations including threats, assaults, or violent acts
• Loitering or sleeping in the Library or outside the Library property, including the plaza and parking lot
• Misusing public restrooms, including such things as bathing
• Sexual misconduct
• Theft or attempted theft, including Library materials
• Monopolizing Library resources, including computers
• Moving Library furniture
• Mutilating Library property
• Reconfiguring or hacking Library computer hardware and/or software
• Displaying obscene texts or graphics for public view
• Using controlled substances in the Library
• Smoking within 20 feet of the Library
• Using bicycles or any sort of “transportation” equipment in the Library.  This also includes roller skating, skate boarding, or scootering.
• Possessing weapons
• Vandalism
• Graffiti
• Littering
• Distributing leaflets or posting notices not authorized by the Library staff
• Soliciting or unauthorized selling in or around the Library

When the above listed behaviors are observed or other behaviors not listed that appear to be threatening, abusive, or disruptive to person and/or property, Library staff may impose limits on the use of the Library services or facilities.  Library staff may call local law enforcement officers to assist in the enforcement of this policy.

Personal hygiene shall conform to the standard of the community for public places.  This shall include the repair or cleanliness of garments.  Persons whose bodily hygiene is offensive so as to cause a nuisance to others shall be required to leave the building.  Customers are expected to wear appropriate clothing while using library facilities, including shirts and shoes.

Library staff has the discretion to discard personal items left unattended on Library property.

Minors who are in violation of these policies shall be required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian during visits to the Library for a period to be determined by Library Administration.

Disruptions that create hardship for Library neighbors are included in this Policy.

Approved by Library-Historical Commission and

San Leandro City Attorney, June 2006

San Leandro Library Internet Policy

The Internet is unregulated and the Library cannot guarantee its accuracy. The Library provides assistance and training, but parents and guardians are responsible for setting guidelines and restrictions for their minor children. All computers are located in public areas where minors are present. The law prohibits "every person who, with knowledge that a person is a minor, knowingly...exhibits or offers to distribute or exhibit by any means, matter which is deemed "harmful to minors." (Penal Code 313 et seq.) The law also prohibits the exhibition of obscene matter to any person. (Penal Code 311 et seq.) 

Education is the key to responsible, safe and intelligent Internet use. To help educate users, the library provides assistance, handouts and training in using the Internet. The Library recommends specific web sites suitable for different ages such as children and teens. Children's computers have a commercially produced filter product which attempts to block sites possibly objectionable. The Library cannot and does not guarantee that the filter will always block objectionable sites. Each library sets and posts rules to manage its available Internet resources. All users are expected to be respectful of others in using the Internet.   

Approved by Library/Historical Commission October 2000.

Instant Message (IM) Reference Policies

Who May Use

Anyone with a home computer and an IM account may utilize this service.

Types of Questions

IM reference service is designed mainly to answer short, factual questions.

Examples might include:

• Who was the 14^th President of the United States?
• When and how did Marilyn Monroe die?
• Who are the Kiwanis and what do they do? Is there a Kiwanis organization in San Leandro?

For complex questions, the librarian on duty may refer the patron to another librarian with expert knowledge, a specialized library, or make a referral to another appropriate organization. The librarian on duty may also recommend that the patron come into the library to inquire at the Reference Desk or utilize print resources only available at the library.

Tax consultation, legal advice, or medical opinions are NOT provided by the Reference staff, neither in person, by phone, nor via instant messaging.

Turnaround Time

The Reference staff will try to respond to IM questions as soon as possible.

Confidentiality

The San Leandro Public Library respects its patrons’ privacy, but it cannot guarantee the privacy of files, email, or other information stored or transmitted electronically.  Please do not submit sensitive factual information to the library via email or instant messaging.  When providing virtual reference, the San Leandro Public Library will only collect the minimum personal information necessary for providing effective reference.

Rules of Conduct

The San Leandro Public Library reserves the right to refuse to answer questions that are offensive and/or inappropriate, in concordance with the library’s rules of conduct. If a patron does not abide by these rules, the session will be terminated and the screen name blocked.

San Leandro Public Library Mission Statement

The employees of the San Leandro Public Library, are dedicated and committed to serving the citizens of this community. We strive at all times to achieve the highest professional standards, to communicate a vision of the future, and to enhance the quality of life for every citizen. We strive to meet the library information, education, literary, and leisure needs of every community resident.