1. Hours of Operation : Library hours are posted at the door, on the Library website, Facebook page, and in the local newspaper.  The Library will be closed on legal and city holidays.  Closing dates will be posted one week in advance.

2. Patrons: Library cards/accounts are issued at no charge to residents of the City of Columbus Junction, rural Louisa county, and to residents of the contracted cities of Columbus City, Conesville, Fredonia, and Cotter. The library also participates in Iowa’s Open Access program, allowing anyone within the state of Iowa to obtain a library card for the use of that library’s physical (not digital) collections.

3. Library Cards: Individuals register for a library card/account by filling out a patron application and providing a photo ID with current address. Photo IDs will be kept in the electronic patron file, with only staff having access to this information. A parent/guardian signature and parent photo ID is required for a child under the age of 14 at the time of registration. Library cards can be reissued; however, a library card is not required for library use, as all patrons are registered on an automated system that allows easy access to patron accounts. CJPL is an open access library. Other Iowa library card holders may borrow materials under the State Library’s open access program by providing identification.              

4. Circulation of Materials

         a. All books, STEM kits, kindles, and technology,may be checked out for two weeks. There is no limitation to the number of items checked out. However, the Director is able to limit item check out at his/her discretion, dependent on the patrons’ return history, fines, or missing materials. Full privileges are returned once issues are resolved

         b. DVDs may be checked out for one week with a maximum of twelve items at one time.                

         c. Downloadable audio books and ebooks are available for check out through the Library’s membership in Bridges, a downloadable database. Checkout period is determined by the database.

         d. The library has a number of non-circulating materials that are available for use in the Library. Examples of non-circulating materials are genealogy resources and reference materials. All non-circulating materials have a non-circulating status marked on the material.

5. Renewals

         a. Material renewal may be done in person, over the phone, or electronically.

         b. Renewals are granted as long as there’s not a current reserve on the item and granted for the same as the original circulation period. Library technology that circulates follows its own policy.

         c. Materials that are on a reserve list for other patrons are not eligible for renewal.

6. Reserves: Library materials may be reserved in person, over the phone, or electronically. Materials must be picked up within seven business days of notification by phone or email. If material is not picked up in seven business days, the next person on the reserve list will be notified or the material will be made available for general check out. Patrons can request items be placed in the Smart Locker system for pick up outside the library’s regular hours; these items will remain in the locker for 7 days and then be removed and passed on to the next waiting patron.

7. Overdue materials: Fines are no longer assessed for overdue materials. The library asks that patrons return materials in a timely manner, so that all patrons interested may read and access the materials. Overdue letters are sent quarterly regarding overdue materials. 

8. Lost or damaged materials: Patrons are responsible for replacement costs of lost or damaged materials. If fines exceed the cost of the material, only the replacement cost will be assessed.

9. Interlibrary Loan: CJPL will abide by the interlibrary loan policies set forth by the State Library of Iowa. 

a. Library staff will process patron requests immediately. 

b. Patrons will be notified by CJPL when the borrowed material has arrived.  Patrons have seven business days to pick up the loaned material. 

c. If the material is not picked up during the seven business day period, the material will be returned to the loaning Library. 

d. Library staff will return borrowed materials immediately when material is returned to CJPL and package material properly in order that no damage will occur during the mailing process.

e. Because of the IAShares routes and timeframes, it may take up to 3 weeks to receive an item on ILL.

10. Computer/Internet:

         a. Computers are available to patrons on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

         b. Computer time can be reserved for testing and homework. Appointments can also be reserved with a staff person for one-on-one technology assistance as available.

         c. Patrons using the internet in the Library are expected to abide by the CJPL Internet Policy. This policy is posted at each computer center.

         d. Laptops are also available for in-library use and check out.

11. Wireless Internet:

         a. The library offers free wireless internet service. The network name and password are available at the circulation desk.

         b. Security for personal wireless devices is the responsibility of the owner of the device.

         c. CJPL wireless service may not be used for unauthorized, illegal, or unethical purposes. No one may send or receive or display text or graphics that may reasonably be construed as obscene or violent.

D. Hot spots are also available for check out, and follow all the same policies and procedures as using the library’s internet on site. 

12. Copy machines, printers, scanning:

         a. CJPL provides copy machine, and printer for public use.

         b. Copy/printing fees: 0.25 cents per page (black/white or color). Double sided copies count as one page.

         c. Copyright notice is posted at the copy machine.

         d. Special event printing/copying (such as bridal or baby shower, first communion, or weddings, as examples), or other specialty printing is not accepted and will be referred to the nearest copy shop. Design services are not available for these types of prints either. Staff will monitor use of free printing (citizenship/school) to ensure service isn’t unnecessarily taken advantage of.

         e. CJPL offers a scanning service. Materials scanned will be saved to a flash drive only and deleted after use.

13. Meeting Rooms:

a. The library accepts reservations in person, over the phone, and electronically for the upstairs conference room and study room. Reservations of other rooms within the building should be directed to City Hall.

b. To meet our goal of being an active participant in our community, use of our meeting rooms is encouraged and supported.

c. Meeting rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for programs, education/ICN classes, committee meetings, and testing sites. Meeting rooms are not available for commercial use or for profit events.

d. Food and drink are allowed in all meeting rooms. Individuals/groups using the meeting rooms are responsible for clean up after events and leaving the meeting room in good order. The individual/group using the meeting room is responsible for any damages.

14. Proctoring:

         a. In keeping with our goal and mission of serving our community, CJPL offers proctoring service to students who are able to test off site and over the internet.

         b. Arrangements (with at least 2 business days notice) are made by the student and teacher with the Library Director, who will serve as the proctor.

15. Suspension of borrowing privileges:

1. The library anticipates that all patrons will treat library materials with the care and consideration they deserve in order to ensure a long life of the material for many patrons, thus maximizing the library’s return on investment.

2. Should materials be returned to the library in poor condition, beyond the scope of regular use, the library will speak with the patron about how to proceed. If the library is able to fix the item internally, staff will do so without charge to the patron. Should a replacement copy or outside services be required (such as for technology items that circulate), patrons will be expected to pay those replacement/repair costs. Regular use is defined by: bent pages, spine breakage, wear and tear on the front cover/corners, slight tearing of pages that can be fixed with tape.

3. Payment arrangements can be made, and as long as concerted efforts are made to adhere to the payment arrangement, borrowing privileges will not be suspended.

4. However, should items be consistently returned in poor condition, no payments made, payment arrangements abandoned, or being unresponsive to requests for materials to be returned, borrowing privileges will immediately be suspended.

   1. In order to resume borrowing privileges, payment in full must be received, if appropriate.

   2. If materials are not returned after two overdue letters, borrowing privileges will be suspended until the return of all materials.

   3. If materials are inter-library loan, suspension of those borrowing privileges will be placed until patron returns items, pays necessary fees to lending libraries, and shows follow through with returning CJPL’s library materials.

5. The library is routinely sprayed for many types of bugs, including cockroaches. Bedbugs, however, cannot be sprayed for. Should any items be returned where staff question the presence of infestation, the following will be implemented:

   1. Immediate removal of the item from the library and its collection, so as to avoid the spread of any further bugs.

   2. Pictures will be taken and uploaded into Insignia system to document the state the item was in upon return, and attached to patron’s account.

   3. Replacement costs will be assessed for the item and placed on patron’s account.

   4. In the event of bed bugs, certified letter will be sent to patron to inform them of suspension of services and asking them to not return any further items, should any be on their account. Suspension of services will remain in place until patron provides a letter/invoice from certified company showing treatment of the home. 

 

Written February 2000

Adopted April 2000

Revised June 2002

Reviewed March 2009

Amended January 2016

Amended December 2019

Amended November 2022

Amended September 2025

Amended March 2026

Confidentiality of Patrons Policy

Circulation and internet records, photographs and other methods of identifying the names of CJPL users with specific material, Internet usage, and all services are confidential in nature. Such records shall not be made available to an individual, or agency of state, federal or local government except pursuant to such process, order or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority, of federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedure or legislative investigatory powers.

Upon receipt of such process, order or subpoena, CJPL Board of Trustees will consult their legal counsel to determine if such process, order or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance; if the process, order or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, they shall insist that such defects be cured.

 

adopted 5/9/2012 (with credit to North Liberty Community Library)

Reviewed January 2016

Reviewed November 2019

Reviewed September 2025

Reviewed March 2026