Fall/Spring Hours:
  September 6

  Mon - Wed: 9am-6pm
  Thurs: 9am-5pm
  Friday: 9am-2pm
  Saturday: 9am-1pm   Sunday: Closed

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  Contact Information:

  Phone: (870) 633-5646
  Fax: (870) 633-5647
  Email:
    forrestcitylibrary.org
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Forrest City Library Board of Directors
Robin Jayroe, Chairman  3rd Term 1/07-12/11  Ward 3
Lindsay Hodges  1st Term 02/06-12/09  Ward 4
Brad Beavers  3rd Term 12/04-12/08  Ward 3
Marshall James  1st Term 01/08-12/12  Ward 2
Eva Pickett  2nd Term 02/06-12/10  Ward 1

Forrest City Public Library Rules of Conduct Policy

1. The defacing or mutilation of any library property or materials is prohibited.

2. Shoes, shirts and proper attire must be worn at all times.

3. No eating or drinking in the library building except for refreshments that are part of official library programming.

4. No children under the age of ___ shall be unaccompanied in the Library.  Parents or guardians are responsible for transportation of unaccompanied children age ____ or under at time of library closing.  The police department will be called if unaccompanied children are left at library building at closing time.

5. The Library is a drug and tobacco free environment.  No use of any illegal substance or tobacco product is allowed.

6. Obscene or profane language, running, climbing, or violent, riotous or disorderly behavior in the library or on library premises is strictly prohibited.

7. No sleeping is allowed in the library.

8. Animals are not permitted, except service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those used in conjunction with library programming.

9. Conversation that is above an acceptable noise level or is disturbing to other patrons or library staff is prohibited.

10. No soliciting is allowed.

11. All computer and library materials use policies must be followed.

12. The Director and staff shall have discretion to request that patrons/visitors cease and desist any other activity deemed improper or inappropriate at any time. Failure to follow the rules of conduct after a warning by the staff, or a serious infraction, will result in immediate removal from the library and revocation of library privileges for a period of six (6) months. If necessary, the police will be called for assistance. If it is necessary for the police to be called for assistance, the revocation of library privileges shall be for a period of twelve (12) months. If an arrest and conviction related to the conduct occurs, then the revocation shall be for a period as set by the Court, but not less than twelve (12) months.

Inclement Weather Policy

It is the policy of the Forrest City Public Library to recognize that on occasion, inclement weather or other conditions may prevent the library from opening or postpone opening. The primary factor of any decision made will be the safety of staff and library patrons. However, maximum effort will be made to maintain regular library operating hours. The Forrest City Street Department and/or Forrest City Police Department will be called upon for advice concerning impending road conditions. If hazardous road conditions occur, the library director will call the Library Board chairperson to advise him/her of the situation. In the event of inclement weather, employees will be permitted not to report to work or leave work early in the interest of their safety, when approved by the library director. All staff members are paid their regularly scheduled hours for any day (or part of a day) where weather conditions prevent them from working. If a decision is made to close or postpone opening, the local radio station will be called to make the necessary announcements. FCPL Board approved: 05-14-07.

Guidelines for Use of Library Computers

1. The Library provides free access, for library cardholders (patrons), to the computers and Internet services as part of its mission.  Patrons MUST have a CURRENT Forrest City Public Library card to use the computers.   “Current” means no outstanding fines, fees, etc.  Parents must sign a computer police for each child giving them permission to use the computers.  Parents shall be responsible for each child’s use of the computers and compliance with the policy.

2. Misuse of the computer or Internet will result in the loss of computer privileges and shall also be governed by the Rules of Conduct Policy.  Use of chat rooms and inappropriate sites are not allowed.  Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.

3. Use of the computers will be on a first come, first serve basis.  A time limit of 1 hour per day will be enforced.  Patrons will have a maximum of one hour at a computer station, regardless of the waiting list. Children have priority over adults for the juvenile computers. Elementary through High School students using computers for school projects shall have priority over adults during non-school hours.  If there is no other patron waiting at the completion of the one hour limit, up to a maximum of one additional hour may be used by the patron.  No patron shall use library computers for more than a cumulative total of two (2) hours on any day.

4. Library staff will be happy to assist patrons in using the computers.  Because of the many applications available over the Internet, Library staff may not always be familiar with specific programs patrons wish to use.  In these cases, the patron is responsible for learning how to use the program.

5. Access to various sites on the Internet may be difficult at times, for the following reasons: there may be too many visitors at the site and the host computer has limited or closed access, the host computer has changed its address or has closed down,  the Library’s Internet connection may be inoperable due to technical difficulties.  These are corrected as quickly as possible.

6. Under no circumstances may patrons use their personal software on Library computers.  No software may be downloaded from the Internet without prior approval of the Library Director or the Director’s designee for computer services.  Software downloaded from the Internet may contain computer viruses.  Every user is responsible for maintaining virus-checking software on his/her home computer.  The Forrest City Public Library is not responsible for damage to any users’ disk or computer, or any loss of data, damage, or liability that may occur from patron’s use of the Library’s computers.  Diskettes may be available at the circulation desk for a reasonable price.

7. If users experience any problems with the computer or programs, they should notify Library staff immediately.

8. Any use of the computers for special projects that may fall outside these policies should be requested, in writing, in advance, to the Library Director and must be approved, in writing, before being initiated.

9. Non-residents of St. Francis County may utilize the computer services if computers are available (no card holders waiting).  Such non-residents must:  9.1. Agree to be subject to and sign a copy of these Guidelines.  9.2. Provide a picture I.D. proof of identification and allow a photo copy to be made and attached to the signed Guidelines.  9.3. Non-resident use is limited to up to one hour per day for no more than five (5) consecutive days and/or ten (10) non-consecutive days in a calendar year.  If such use is exceeded a non-resident card holder fee must be paid.  9.4. Non-resident use under this section (9) is specifically intended for tourists and guests in the area for limited times and use, to access email and similar computer use, and not for any other or extended purposes.   FCPL Board approved: 5-12-08..

Weeding Policy and Procedures

1. POLICY OVERVIEW
The Forrest City Public Library is committed to maintaining a collection that supports the educational and recreational needs of the community. Weeding is an essential aspect of maintaining a relevant and up-to-date collection. It is the policy of the Forrest City Public Library to withdraw materials in accordance with the American Library Association’s Guide to Review of Library Collections: Preservation, Storage, and Withdrawal.

2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLECTION
Final authority for the determination of the policies in this document is vested in the Forrest City Library Board of Trustees. They have delegated the responsibility of implementing this policy to the Library Director. The Library Director will delegate to staff the responsibility of reviewing specific areas periodically, but recommendations are subject to final review by the Director. Weeding will be done without bias by staff, whose personal preferences or interests will not reflect the weeding criteria.

3. WEEDING CRITERIA
Materials are candidates for weeding if they are: • Worn or damaged beyond repair (e.g. mildewed, falling apart, etc.) • Duplicate titles no longer in demand • Outdated or factually inaccurate information (technology, health, medical, law, etc.) • Unused, based on circulation reports (except classics or books with historical significance) • Scratched and incomplete audiovisual materials.

4. FREQUENCY OF WEEDING
The American Librarian Association suggests that 5% of the collection be weeded annually. The following section is intended as broad guidelines only and the Forrest City Public Library recognizes that there will be many exceptions to these “rules”: • Fiction, Young Adult & Juvenile Fiction – unpopular titles that have not circulated in five years • Non-Fiction, Adult & Juvenile – outdated materials, with exceptions to historical significance • Encyclopedias – every five years • Dictionaries – every ten years – older copies will not include the latest meaning of words or new words added in the latest editions • Children’s Picture Books – worn copies • Audiovisual materials – same as Fiction • Periodicals – six months to a year, depending on magazine • Newspapers – every two weeks (except for Times Herald).

5. DISPOSAL
The Forrest City Public Library reserves the right to determine how materials are disposed. Staff will attempt to locate family members of books donated in the memory of a loved one. Any materials that are severally damaged will be disposed of immediately. The library will attempt to recycle any disposed materials through the library’s ongoing used book sale or by donating to local organizations. When all other options have been exhausted, disposed materials will be offered to the community “free of charge.” FCPL Board approved: 05-14-07.