Smoking
Hastings Public Library provides smoke-free facilities and grounds, pursuant to a Hastings City Council resolution passed May 14, 2007.
Community Room
Purpose: As a community service, the Library makes its Community Room available for use by nonprofit and civic groups when it is not being used for library-related activities. The library also makes selected other spaces available for reservation including the Children’s Area, Teen Area, Study Room, Michigan Room and Literacy Room. Separate applications are provided for those reservations with all Community Room policies applying to those spaces. The Study Room and Literacy Room have additional policy requirements.
Community Room Use:
1. Non-profit and civic groups may use the Community Room for meetings or to present programs for the general public. Programs which are open to the general public must be open to all and must be non–soliciting. Groups using the Community Room must not disrupt the normal functions of the Library.
2. All groups should reserve the room at least one month and no more than three months in advance at the Library’s customer service desk. Telephone reservations will not be permitted but groups may telephone to check on room availability. Person filling out the reservation form will assume full responsibility for any damages to the facility or equipment and must be a registered library patron. This person may not be less than 18 years old. Library-related activities will be given priority when rooms are being scheduled. The Library should be notified about cancellations ASAP. The Library reserves the right to cancel any meeting due to inclement weather.
3. Reservations will be held one-half hour past the scheduled time before the room is released for other uses. Parties who abuse the reservation system by not arriving for their reserved times and not notifying the library will lose reservation privileges.
4. Reservation of the roof garden use must be indicated when scheduling a room.
5. The Library will provide tables and chairs required by the group or organization. If set-up is needed, complete the diagram on the reservation application. Do not move the room divider without staff present.
6. Library audio/visual equipment use must be requested on the reservation application. Library films used must be obtained for use through normal library circulation procedures.
7. Meetings may not begin before the Library opens for normal business and must be concluded 15 minutes before the Library closes. Meetings cannot be held on days that the Library is closed. Occasionally events may be held outside library hours with prior arrangements for staffing approved by the Library Administrator.
8. No fee is charged for the use of the Community Room; however donations will be accepted to assist in the cost of maintaining the Community Room facility.
Rules and responsibilities:
1. Hastings Public Library provides smoke-free facilities and grounds.
2. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Library.
3. The storage of any materials in the Community Room is prohibited unless the group has made prior arrangements with the library staff.
4. A kitchenette is used solely for library programming/activities.
5. Refreshments provided must be eaten inside the Community Room.
6. Adult supervision is required when minors are using the room.
7. Normal operation of the Library is not to be disrupted by users of the Community Room.
8. Groups may not exceed the capacity of the Community Room.
9. Users of the roof garden must not walk on garden and must stay off the wall.
10. Materials are not to be attached to walls, windows, doors, or furnishings except at the direction of authorized Library staff.
11. Promotional or informational materials may not be left in the Community Room and the name, address or telephone number of the Hastings Public Library may not be used as the contact person in any informational material.
12. Groups are prohibited from making statements that indicate library sponsorship.
13. Parking is available on State Street, the north side of the library, and the city lot by the fire station.
Responsibility:
1. Violations of this policy will result in cancellation of Community Room privileges.
2. The Library is not liable for injuries to people, damage to their property, or loss of property belonging to individuals or groups using the Community Room.
3. The Library will maintain statistics on meeting room use.
Study Room
Purpose: To provide a quiet area for individual or small group study sessions.
Study Room Use:
1. The Study Room is available free of charge during Library hours.
2. The Library’s right to schedule these rooms for its own use takes precedence.
3. Anyone wishing to reserve the Study Room must sign-up at the Information Desk.
4. The room may be reserved up to three days in advance.
5. The Study Room is limited to two people studying together at a time. With the approval of the staff person at the Information Desk, three people may conference.
6. The Study Room will be scheduled in, up to, two hour blocks. Additional time may be added if scheduling permits.
7. After one-half hour, if the Study Room has been reserved and the scheduled occupant does not arrive, the Library may reassign the Study Room to another user.
Rules and responsibilities:
1. The Study Room should not be used for social activities.
2. Noise must be kept to a reasonable level and disruptive behavior is not allowed.
3. Limited cell phone use is permitted.
4. Room must be left in a clean and orderly condition.
5. Drinking beverages in a spill-proof container is permitted.
6. Anyone failing to abide by the policies governing the use of the Study Room may be denied future use of the room.
Literacy Room
Purpose: It should be understood that the Literacy Room was specifically funded to provide space for continuing education. The Director of the Literacy Council has extended this to include collaborative partnerships and legal dispositions for groups of four or less.
Rules and Responsibilities:
1. No food or beverages may be consumed in the room.
2. Phone calls using the Literacy Line are not permitted.
Green Cleaning Program
Hastings Public Library has designed its new building so that air quality will be excellent. To that end, the library has specified that the HVAC system supply a high standard of air quality. Furthermore, the Library has chosen interior products, including paints, adhesives, flooring, insulation, upholstery, that do little or no “off-gassing.” The health and safety of staff and library patrons is of utmost importance and takes precedence over all policies and to insure this safety the library administrator shall review this policy and its implementation annually
Whenever possible, Hastings Public Library will eliminate toxic chemicals that create hazards to staff, library patrons, and the library’s environment. Some chemicals used in common cleaning products have been shown to cause adverse health effects and negatively affect indoor air quality. Research suggests that to minimize the potential for health and safety risks from cleaning products, the least toxic product that can perform the job should be purchased. In addition, toxic chemicals require special handling, storage, and disposal, which might add to the cost of using, keeping, and disposing of these products.
Hastings Public Library will endeavor to meet the following health and environmental requirements:
o Undiluted product must not be toxic to humans.
o Undiluted product must not contain any ingredients that are carcinogens or that are known to cause reproductive toxicity, unless present in concentrations below the applicable maximum contaminant levels of drinking water.
o Undiluted product must not be corrosive to the skin or eyes, nor be a skin sensitizer.
o Undiluted product must not be combustible.
o Product as used must not contain substances that contribute to poor indoor air quality. ANY VOC (volatile organic compound) of the product used be less than 0.1% by weight. The product used must not be toxic to aquatic life.
o Each of the organic ingredients must be readily biodegradable.
o The product as used must not contain more than 0.5% by weight of total phosphorus.
o The product must be a concentrate.
o Manufacturers must identify any fragrances on their MSDS sheets.
o The product must not contain: Heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium, or ozone-depleting compounds.
o All products including carpet cleaning, disinfectants, and floor care products must meet the Green Seal standards (GS-37, GS-40) or comparable standards.
o Hand soaps must not be anti-microbial, although a low-level preservative is permissible to prevent bacterial growth.
The Hastings Public Library will use the following green cleaning practices:
o The entryways and entryway mats, inside and out, will be cleaned frequently. Dirt will be trapped and removed before it enters the building.
o Cleaning solvents will be applied directly to the cloth rather than sprayed on the surface to be cleaned to minimize particles and chemicals in the air.
o Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label approved vacuums and bags will be used.
o Vacuum bags will be emptied frequently for more efficient operation.
o There will be a focus on implementing measures to prevent accidents and any accidents will be cleaned up quickly.
o Microfiber dusting cloths and flat mops will be used.
o Touch-points, items that people come in contact with, such as door handles and fixtures will be a focus for cleaning.
o Environmentally sensitive paper products, such as recycled tissues and towels bleached without the use of chlorine will be used.
o Maintain an effective recycling program.
o Publicize the green cleaning program so that staff and library users understand the importance of their contribution to the success of the process. It’s essential that everyone help ensure a healthy facility by properly reporting spills, cleaning-up foods and debris, and eliminating clutter.
