Understanding Library Policies in Mississippi
Library policies in Mississippi play a crucial role in supporting the mission of the library system, clarifying staff responsibilities, and safeguarding the rights of individuals. Essential policies cover operations, collection development, personnel, and Internet use, ensuring consistency with principles of intellectual freedom and privacy rights. Tips for policy development emphasize creating versatile policies that can address various situations. Resources such as the Mississippi Public Library Policy Development Guide are available to aid in policy creation and maintenance.
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TRUSTEE SHORTS Library Policies Library Policies Mississippi Library Commission
What are policies? Policies are written statements that become administrative documents that serve to: support the mission, goals and objectives of the library system; clarify responsibilities of the library system staff and trustees; and protect the rights of individuals, both staff and customers.
Why do we need policies? Policies administrative library board of trustees governs the public library system. are the instruments through which the
Essential policies In Mississippi the essential policies are discussed in the Mississippi Public Library System Accreditation Manual. The library system board adopts written policies for operations, collection development and management, personnel, and Internet use. Policies are consistent with principles of intellectual freedom and the right of privacy as found in such documents as the U.S. Constitution and the Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated. The board reviews all policies at least every three years. All policies are available to staff and to the public.
Tips Don t write a policy because of one incident or one group of library customers the exception is a Child Safety Policy. Write policies that can cover multiple situations and exigencies. Consider limiting specific information that is likely to change to an attachment.
What if? Try to envision what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. Is there behavior that is so egregious that a customer would be banned temporarily or even permanently?
John Q. Public Policies are an attempt to normalize behavior among a wide section of society. Everyone is welcome as long as they follow the rules.
Resources Mississippi has two resources that are all ours. 1) First there is the all directors list. 2) Don t forget about Mississippi Public Library Policy Development Guide. I have also found wonderful information on the Internet and in MLC s Resource Collection.
Questions and Formal Training for Trustees? Mississippi Library Commission 1-800-647-7542 Contact Mac Buntin at the Mississippi Library Commission mbuntin@mlc.lib.ms.us 601-432-4035
