ALA Statement of Professional Ethics

1. Librarians must provide the highest level of service through appropriate and
   usefully organized collections, fair and equitable circulation and service
   policies, and skillful, accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all
   requests for assistance.
2. Librarians must resist all efforts by groups or individuals to censor library
   materials.
3. Librarians must protect each user’s right to privacy with respect to
   information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed, or
   acquired.
4. Librarians must adhere to the principles of due process and equality of
   opportunity in peer relationships and personnel actions.
5. Librarians must avoid situations in which personal interests might be served
   or financial benefits gained at the expense of library user, colleagues, or the
   employing institution.

 

ALA Ethics Statement for Public Library Trustees

1. Trustees must promote a high level of library service while observing ethical standards.
2. Trustees must avoid situations in which personal interests might be served or financial
   benefits gained at the expense of library users, colleagues, or the institution.
3. It is incumbent upon any trustee to disqualify himself or herself immediately whenever
   the appearance of conflict of interest exists.
4. Trustees must distinguish clearly in their actions and statements between their personal
   philosophies and attitudes and those of the institution, acknowledging the formal
   position of the board even if they personally disagree.
5. A trustee must respect the confidential nature of library business while being aware of
   and in compliance with applicable laws governing freedom of information.
6. Trustees must be prepared to support to the fullest the efforts of librarians in resisting
   censorship of library materials by groups or individuals.
7. Trustees who accept appointment to a library board are expected to perform all of the
   functions of library trustees.

 

The library does not allow the consumption or serving of alcoholic beverages anywhere on library property. The board may provide exceptions only for after-hours, library-hosted fundraising events with prior approval by the DHCLS Board of Trustees, with said approval provided during a regular board meeting prior to the event, using a licensed vendor and in compliance with applicable regulations.

The goal of the Dothan Houston County Library System is to ensure that all patrons be able to enjoy their visit on library property responsibly and safely. Your presence is an agreement to act courteously toward all staff /patrons by adhering to the following DHCLS Rules of Conduct. Violators may be asked to leave. Refusal to comply with a request to leave may be subject to criminal trespassing and/or legal action (up to and including arrest).

Click Here to read the Library Card Eligibility policy.
Click Here to read the Code of Conduct policy.

 

The Dothan Houston County Library system maintains several bulletin boards at its branches, in an effort to provide government, non-profit, and non-commercial organizations involved in educational, civic, cultural or charitable activities the opportunity to display notices and flyers that promote awareness of resources, services and events of interest to library users and the community.

Please click here to view the Community Information & Bulletin Board Policy.

Click here to read the Collection Development Policy.

The Dothan Houston County Library System has established a use policy dictating allowed use of DHCLS computers and internet connections. Any patron who uses a DHCLS-owned computer or internet connection is subject to applicable policy. By signing your library card application, you agree to follow all applicable library computer policy. If you have any questions, please contact the Circulation Desk or the Technical Services Manager.

Please click here to view the Computer and Internet Use Policy.
Please click here to view the Temporary (Guest) Pass Policy.

To check out Connect Pass items, a patron must have a valid Dothan Houston County Library System card with current address and no outstanding fines greater than $20.00. A valid government-issued ID with picture and current address must also be presented at the time of checkout.

Borrowers must be 19 years of age or older with an adult library card. The library card used to make the reservation must be brought to the library and used to borrow the pass/ticket.

Passes/tickets must be picked up at the Main Library in Downtown Dothan.

Multiple instances of passes/tickets being reserved and not picked up or canceled could result in a library card being blocked from using the pass reservation system.

An email confirmation of your reservation is NOT a pass or voucher to any location.

Patrons may reserve one pass/ticket per month.

All tickets, passes, and items are first come, first serve basis.

Patrons must pick up their reserved passes/tickets within the reservation month or they will be forfeited.

Pass/tickets are released monthly or as they come available. The Library reserves the right to modify this at any time.

The Library is not responsible for any glitches or malfunctions produced by the ticket reservation software. Patrons agree to adhere to the policies outlined regardless of examples of double reservations, etc.

The library welcomes and encourages gifts of materials (including but not limited to books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, records, and other print and audiovisual media), with the following conditions:

• The Library retains unconditional ownership of all items donated to the library.
• The Library makes the final decision regarding the use or other disposition of any donation.
• The Library will not accept any materials whose state or condition would pose a threat to human health and safety (for example, books with mold or other dangerous pathogens).

Prospective donors may contact the Library to discuss donations and procedures before bringing them to the Library.

At the request of the donor, the Library will provide documentation acknowledging its receipt of donated materials. The Library will not provide an assessment of value for any gift of materials, whether for tax purposes or for any other reason.

Please click here to view the Filming & Photography Policy.

Please click here to view the Library of Things policy.

A maximum of 40 items may be checked out on a single library card at one time. An item cannot be renewed if another patron has placed a hold on that same item.

Only patrons with an Adult card may borrow Subject-in-a-Box kits. Only patrons who have been in possession of a valid library card for 30 days may borrow items from the Library of Things.

Reference, Local History, and Microform materials cannot be checked out. They are for in-house use only; patrons may make photocopies of these materials for use outside of the library (printing charges apply). For Microfilms, a microfilm reader is available for use at the Main Library. Please inquire at the Main Library Circulation Desk for more information.

Type of Material	Loan Period	Checkout Limit	Daily Fine Per Item	Maximum Fine Per Item	Holds Allowed
Books	21 Days (2 renewals)	40	25¢ per day	$15.00	20
7-Day Books	7 Days (2 renewals)	5	25¢ per day	$25.00	20
Lucky Day Books	7 Days (no renewals)	5	25¢ per day	$25.00	0
Large Print Books	21 Days (2 renewals)	40	25¢ per day	$25.00	20
Paperbacks	21 Days (2 renewals)	40	25¢ per day	$10.00	20
Juvenile Books	21 Days (2 renewals)	40	10¢ per day	$10.00	20
DVDs	7 Days (2 renewals)	5	$1.00 per day	$20.00	20
Audio Books	21 Days (2 renewals)	5	$1.00 per day	$25.00	20
Videogames	14 Days (2 renewals)	1	$1.00 per day	$70.00	1
Juvenile Kits	21 Days (2 renewals)	5	$1.00 per day	$10.00	20
Subject in a Box	21 Days (2 renewals)	2	$1.00 per day	Cost of Replacement	20
Mobile Hotspots	14 Days (no renewals)	1	$10.00 per day	Cost of Replacement	1
Library of Things	7 Days (no renewals)	2	$10.00 per day	Cost of Replacement	2
Connect Pass	Monthly, or as available	1	$0.00	$0.00 Repeated offenses of unfulfilled reservations may lead to barring from program.	1
Launchpad	7 Days (no renewals)	1	$10.00 per day	Cost of Replacement	1
Laptop	2 Hours	1	$0.00	Cost of Replacement	0
Study Rooms	1 Hour (renewals upon availability)	1	$0.00	$0.00	0
eBooks (SEADL)	14 Days	5	$0.00	$0.00	5
Freegal Music	Yours To Keep	5	$0.00	$0.00	0

The Main and Westgate branch libraries have meeting rooms available for public use, subject to applicable policy. For more information, please see the “Reserve a Meeting Room” page under “How Do I…” above.

Please click here to view the Meeting Room Policy.

The Dothan Houston County Library System  strives to protect the patron confidentiality in relation to items used in the Library or checked out, and to information sought through library systems or the Library’s reference services. In accordance with Alabama state law, registration and circulation records are confidential, and disclosure of these records is limited to the patron him/herself or to that person’s designee as indicated in writing, and to Library staff in the performance of their duties(ii). All other disclosure of these records is permitted only by court order.

Protection of confidentiality does not extend to records of outstanding fines or fees; payments for the use of Library premises or equipment; or communications directed to the Library regarding Library services.

Please click here to view the Unattended Child Policy.