SAUGUS — The library has updated two policies regarding circulation and inclement weather.
The new policy will dictate how the library circulates materials.
“Who can get a library card, how the card is obtained, how it’s maintained, what it means when you have the card, (and) loan periods. All of those things are in this policy,” Director Alan Thibeault said during a Library Board of Trustees meeting.
Thibeault noted that this was the first time they’ve done a policy rewrite since 2020.
Changes have been made to the documents that govern what the library does, primarily the borrower’s card policy, which is dictated by NOBLE (North of Boston Library Exchange).
“That’s really the place where all the libraries come together to do the circulation, so their policy is the one that kind of rides the rest of it,” he said.
The library has brought in a new section of information called “What is needed,” which lists out the things needed for someone to obtain a library card.
“They have to be able to prove who they are, and they have to be able to prove where they live. As long as we have that, then we can give it to them,” Thibeault said.
The last change to the policy is under “Lost and Found.”
“In the past, when somebody would claim they lost an item, and they paid for it, we’d give them 30 days to find it after that. And if they had it at home and they brought it in within those 30 days along with the receipt for the payment, we would refund the money,” he said.
Now, the library has been recommended to stop doing it this way and to instead make sure people do a “thorough job” looking for the item before declaring it as lost.
The policy sets into place that once a book is declared lost and paid for, it’s yours if you find it.
Thibeault next explained the updated inclement weather policy, which focuses mainly on instances where the library can’t open, even if it does not involve bad weather.
“What we did here is we cleaned up some of the language in it… Also, the mention of town wide parking ban. That’s always been a thing that triggers public buildings to be closed. It was never included in this policy. So, I decided to put it in,” he said.
Thibeault explained that if the schools are closed or have a delayed opening, the library won’t open until at least noon. It is then determined during the morning whether the building should open at all, which is typically decided around 10 a.m.
“Sometimes the parking ban might be lifted, but in consultation with the town manager, I’ll find out that he’d really rather we stay closed through the day to facilitate snow cleanup and stuff like that,” he said.
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved both policies.
