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S-838 - 12/12/1995 - LIBRARY - Ordinances ORDINANCE 95-LY-E1-S-838 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A LIBRARY REFERENCE POLICY ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVISION OF REFERENCE SERVICES FOR THE OAK BROOK FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY WHEREAS, during the 1980's, the Illinois State Library prepared Avenues to Excellence, a document which recommends standards for public libraries in the delivery of quality services for their patrons; and WHEREAS, one of the chief recommendations contained in the Avenues to Excellence report is that each library governing board adopt written policies for the operation of their libraries; and WHEREAS, on August 9, 1994, the Board of Trustees passed and approved Ordinance 94-LY-E1-S-778, adopting a General Policy for the Oak Brook Public Library; and WHEREAS, on September 12, 1995, the Board of Trustees passed and approved Ordinance 95-LY-E1-S-830, adopting a Collection Management Policy for the Oak Brook Public Library; and WHEREAS, on November 28, 1995, the Board of Trustees passed and approved Ordinance 95-LY-E1-S-835, adopting a Youth Services Policy for the Oak Brook Public Library; and WHEREAS, in keeping with the Avenues to Excellence II report, the staff of the Oak Brook Public Library has developed a Reference Policy which provides guidelines for the provision of reference services; and WHEREAS, the attached Library Reference Policy has been reviewed and approved by both the Oak Brook Library Commission and the Library Administrator; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Village of Oak Brook that the attached Library Reference Policy be adopted. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK, DU PAGE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS as follows: Section 1: That the provisions of the preamble hereinabove set forth are hereby adopted as though fully set forth herein. Section 2: That the Oak Brook Free Public Library Reference Policy, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A, is hereby approved and adopted in its entirety. Section 3: That the Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish this ordinance in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law. Ordinance 95-LY-E1-S-838 Adopting a Reference Policy, Page 2 Section 4: That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after passage and approval pursuant to law. Section 5: That all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. PASSED THIS 12th day of December, 1995. Ayes: Trustees Bartecki, Kenny, McInerney, Payovich, Savino and Shumate Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None APPROVED THIS 12th day of December, 1995. Village President °a ATTEST: > i 1'd& ,Clobrk • x' yd� J-Y t & rpved as to Form: .. Village Attorney Published 12-13•-95 Pamphlet form Date Paper Not Published EXHIBIT A OAK BROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY REFERENCE POLICY PURPOSE Reference service is a major role of the Oak Brook Public Library. Every effort will be made to encourage Library patrons to seek the assistance of professional staff to meet their informational needs. The following policy is designed to ensure that the highest possible level of service is provided on an equitable basis to all Oak Brook residents, persons with Oak Brook cards, or organizations with Oak Brook courtesy cards. Limited reference service will be provided to individuals who do not hold Oak Brook Public Library cards as outlined below. SERVICE TO OAK BROOK PATRONS I. Availability of service Reference service will be provided by trained staff to all patrons regardless of age during all hours that the Library is open. The entire collection will be available for reference purposes to patrons of all ages. All requests for information will be handled impartially and with confidentiality. Reference service will be provided in response to all forms of inquiry, including telephone, fax and mail. Due to time constraints and the difficulty of accurately communicating large amounts of data, only a limited amount of directory, stock price, or statistical information will be provided by telephone. Individuals requesting large amounts of information by telephone will be asked to come to the Library. In general, if telephone transactions cannot be completed within five minutes, the patron will be called back with the desired information. Up to five pages of reference information may be mailed or faxed to Oak Brook patrons at the discretion of a librarian. II. Service priorities In-person requests will take precedence over other requests. There is not a set limit to the amount of time which may be spent on a reference question; the librarian will decide when all reasonable sources have been exhausted. When other patrons are waiting, staff will generally defer complex questions to a less busy time. Patrons will be notified by telephone of the outcome of the search. III. Sources and types of information provided Reference staff will use all available sources of information to answer questions subject to policy limitations. This includes, but is not limited to books, periodicals, electronic databases, government agencies, associations, and individual authorities. Long- distance telephone calls may be made to access-these sources. A librarian's personal opinion will not be given as fact, nor will a librarian offer interpretation of information or legal, medical, or tax advice. Citations to sources of information will be given with responses to questions. If it is not possible to answer a question by using in-house resources, Oak Brook reference librarians will offer to refer the question to our contract agency or another appropriate agency for assistance. Staff will guide people doing extensive research to appropriate sources. Post-secondary students will be directed to their college or university library when the resources of this library are insufficient and for academic interlibrary loans. If an Oak Brook patron requests a book which is not on the shelf or not in the Library's collection, staff will offer to reserve the book or request the book through Interlibrary Loan. If a book is needed immediately, staff will try to locate it in another Iibrary and have it held for the patron to pick up. Every reasonable effort will be made to fill each request and answer each question fully and accurately. Reference staff will not research questions which are known to be part of a contest or game, but will suggest possible search techniques. IV. Fees Reference service will be provided free of charge except when charges are levied by a supplying agency. Such charges may be passed on to the patron. Fees may be charged for interlibrary loans and/or electronic searches. SERVICE TO NON-OAK BROOK PATRONS As time permits, limited reference service will be available to non-Oak Brook patrons. Non-residents who visit the Library will be guided in finding resources, but will be referred to their local libraries when the information sought is not readily available at the Oak Brook Public Library. Up to five pages of information may be faxed to non-Oak Brook requesters if total cost does not exceed $5.00 including photocopy, mail and/or telecommunications fees. PERIODIC REVIEW This policy will be reviewed and/or revised biennially by the reference staff, Library administration, and the Library Commission, although changes may be made as the need arises. This policy and all subsequent revisions are subject to approval by the Village of Oak Brook Board of Trustees. The quality of reference service will be evaluated periodically by Library staff.