Adopted August 1, 1994
Updated September 8, 1998, October 5, 1998,
December 20, 2007.

I. General Library Policy
A. American Library Association has officially adopted two statements which express library aims and principles: Freedom to Read and the Library Bill of Rights. The Library Board endorses these statements and herewith adopts as basic to the policy of the Bella Vista Library.

II. General Library Objectives
A. To assemble, preserve and administer in organized collections, books and related material in order to meet the personal needs of its users; to encourage and support lifelong learning; to improve organizations and professional groups and to provide information for an effective self-governing society.
B. To serve members as a center of reliable information.
C. To seek continually to identify user needs.
D. To provide opportunity for recreation through the use of literature, music, film and other art forms.

III. Who May Use the Library

A. Memberships are issued on an annual basis. Persons who live permanently in the city of Bella Vista will be issued a card free of charge.
Persons who live outside the city of Bella Vista will pay an annual fee of $25.
Children who live permanently in the city of Bella Vista will be issued a card free of charge.
Patrons must pay $2. per week rental on DVDs and videos and $2. for three weeks' rental on CD-books and audio cassettes.

B. Temporary memberships are available to visitors with the following conditions:
1. Must live at least 150 miles from Bella Vista
2. May be from 1-3 months--is not renewable for more than a total of 3 months per calendar year @ $5. per month.
3. Temporary members will have the same privileges as out of city members.

C. The use of the library services can be denied for due cause, such as, but not limited to, failure to return books, disturbance of other patrons, and/or objectionable conduct. The Director, or a person designated by the Director, shall have the authority to determine when behavior is inappropriate and shall have responsibility for enforcing discipline within the Library.

IV. Services of the Library
A. The Library will select from available materials those books and materials which best meet the needs of its patrons.
B. Periodic review will be made of Library services to determine whether the needs of its patrons are properly met.
C. As funding is available, the Library will provide any materials which will help meet its objectives
D. The Library will initiate programs, exhibits, book lists, etc. to stimulate the use of Library materials
E. The Library will cooperate with other community agencies and organizations to determine and meet the needs of the community.
F. The Library will lend to other libraries materials which are requested for patrons.
G. Patrons of this Library have priority in the use of materials.
H. The Library will provide internet access to its patrons for informational and/or email needs.

V. Principles for Materials Selection
A. The Director is responsible for selection of all Library materials.
B. The Library collection is intended to meet the needs and interests of patrons with widely differing tastes, interests and reading levels.
C. Books will be chosen on the basis of favorable reviews, reputations of authors, personal and/or reliable recommendations and personal examination by the Director. With not-so-favorable reviews, the book may be purchased if requested by several patrons or obtained through interlibrary loan.
D. The Library collects videotapes that represent the recreational, educational and cultural interests and needs of the community. The video collection emphasizes classic films, outstanding and award-winning titles.
E. Audio cassette tapes and CDs are chosen with the same guidelines as books.
F. Periodical selection is based on the needs and interests of the community. The Library strives to maintain a broad, balanced representation of views.
G. Materials which are no longer useful in the light of stated objectives will be systematically weeded from the collection according to acceptable library practice.

VI. Reconsideration of Materials
A. An item will not be removed a the request of persons or groups until a specified reconsideration process has taken place. Challenged materials will not be removed from the shelves during the reconsideration process.
B. A Request for Reconsideration form will be provided the complainant.
C. The completed request must be submitted to the Director who, after consultation with Library Board, will provide a written response within thirty (30) days.
D. If the Request for Reconsideration is denied, the complainant may request further consideration by the Library Board.
E. The Board of Trustees must review the request and make a decision within ninety days. The complainant is welcome to attend the Library Board meeting.

VII. Gifts
A. Books and/or other materials will be accepted on the condition that the Director has the authority to make whatever disposition he or she deems advisable.
B. Gifts of money, real property, and/or stock will be accepted if conditions attached thereto are acceptable to the Library Board.
C. Personal property, art objects, portraits, antiques, and other museum objects will be accepted only with approval of the Library Board.

VIII. Bella Vista Library Board of Trustees Duties
A. The Board of Trustees shall consist of 13 members, all of whom shall be members of the Corporation and reside in the Bella Vista Village Community
B. Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Corporation to be held in the month of October of each year, commencing with the year 1990, at the time, place and date provided in the Corporation's by-laws.
C. The Trustees shall hold office for terms of three (3) years and until their successors are elected.
D. The Library Board of Trustees will develop Library policy, rules and regulations governing Library services and by-laws governing its organization and conduct of its affairs.
E. The Library Board of Trustees shall be responsible to hire a Library Director and determine the compensation for any paid staff.
F. The Library Board of Trustees shall be responsible for funding and housing the Library.
G. The Library Board of Trustees shall seek and accept funds and support for the Library from members, Friends of the Library, businesses, organizations or any other possible source to meet the future needs of an expanding Bella Vista Village.

IX. Internet Use Policy
A. The internet is available for Bella Vista Library patrons to use for information retrieval.
B. Patrons are responsible for using discretion in both accessing and evaluation of information that is available on the internet. Information is not filtered, evaluated, approved, monitored or supervised by the Library staff members. Information on the internet may be erroneous and/or biased.
C. Supervision of a minor's use of the internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
D. Library staff members may assist patrons in accessing the internet; however, training in computer usage is the responsibility of the patron.
E. The Library staff reserves to right to end an internet session if the internet search is causing a disruption of library services or if the behavior of the patron becomes inappropriate for a library setting.
F. If other patrons are waiting for internet access, sessions are limited to one-half hour.

Approved March 1, 1999 by the
Bella Vista Library Board of Trustees.
Revised December 14, 1999 by the
Bella Vista Library Board of Trustees.

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