Including Links to Wisconsin Public Library Policies on the Web

This page provides resources to help Wisconsin public libraries develop local library policies. Inclusion of links to particular policies does not constitute DLT endorsement. Links to sample library policies are provided as a resource to help libraries develop and refine their own policies. The library board of each public library must establish library polices that are legal and that meet the needs of their community. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for additional links. Walter Burkhalter, Public Library Administration Consultant

Policy Development

Development of Essential Policies for Public Libraries

The development of policies is covered in Trustee Essential #10 of the Wisconsin trustee handbook: Trustee Essentials: a Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees. In addition, Trustee Training Module #2 is the PDF file of a presentation that covers the issues to be considered in developing public library policies.

Sample Public Library Policies

• Sample Policies for the Small Public Library. These sample polices were developed by the Small Library Committee of the Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians, 2nd Edition, Revised by David L. Polodna, 1999.
• Public Library Policies and Plans Online. A directory of Washington State Public Library policies and planning documents published on WebJunction.
• Sample Library Board Bylaws for Wisconsin Public Libraries. These sample board bylaws were developed by DLT staff and may be freely adapted for local library use.
• Sample Policy on Privacy of Library Records and Use .This sample policy is not intended as a recommended policy, rather it is intended to be a starting point for development of a local library policy—ideally to be developed with the assistance of the municipal attorney (or library counsel). More information is available in "Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance With the Parental Access to Library Records Law".

Links to Wisconsin Public Library Policies on the Web

Each of the public libraries listed immediately below has posted fairly comprehensive policies on the web. Links are also provided directly to a sampling of specific types of policies.
Please contact Walter Burkhalter if you know of additional library policies you would like listed.

Policies by Library

Policies by Type

ADA Compliance • Behavior • Bulletin Board and Literature • Circulation, Loan • Computer Use • Confidentiality • Disaster Emergencies, Inclement Weather • Exhibits and Displays • Gifts, Donations, Investments • Harassment • Homebound, Outreach • Internet Use • Materials Selection, Collection Development • Meeting Room • Personnel • Reference/Information Services • Public Relations • Social Media • Theft and Mutilation of Materials • Unattended Children • Volunteers

ADA Compliance

• ADA Compliance Regarding the Delivery of Services -Eau Claire
• Procedure for ADA Service Compliance Resolution -Eau Claire
• ADA Compliance Regarding Employment -Eau Claire
• ADA Compliance -Kenosha
• Requests for Accommodation & Complaints about Accessibility -Manitowoc

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Behavior (often includes solicitation & canvassing)

• Rules of Conduct -Appleton
• Conduct on Library Property -Eau Claire
• Customer Rights and Responsibilities -Eau Claire
• Code of Conduct for Public Library Behavior -Fort Atkinson
• Public Code of Behavior -Janesville
• Rules of Conduct -Kenosha
• Behavior Policy -Madison
• Public Behavior -Manitowoc
• Petitions and Solicitations -Manitowoc
• Appropriate Library Behavior -McFarland
• Code of Conduct -Menasha
• Rules of Conduct -Menominee County
• Appropriate Library Behavior -Middleton
• Code of Conduct in the Library -Monona
• Library Rules -Oshkosh
• Policy of Patron Behavior -Racine
• Appropriate Library Behavior Policy -Reedsburg
• Public Behavior -Ripon
• Safety -River Falls
• Who May Use the Library and Patron Responsibilities & Conduct -Rusk County
• Code of Conduct -Waukesha
• Public Rules of Conduct -Waupaca
• Patron Rules of Conduct Policy -West Bend

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Bulletin Board and Literature

• Handouts, Bulletin Board Postings, Notices & Petitioning Policy -Appleton
• Exhibits, Displays, Bulletin Boards and Pamphlet Racks -Eau Claire
• Activities and Conference Rooms, Bulletin Boards, and Exhibit & Display -Kenosha
• Posting of Public Notices -Madison
• Programs, Displays & Brochures -Manitowoc
• Bulletin Board s -McFarland
• Bulletin Board -Middleton
• Bulletin Board -New London
• Bulletin Boards -Oshkosh
• Literature Distribution -Oshkosh
• Use of Public Bulletin Boards -Racine
• Public Literature Shelves -Racine
• Public Notice Bulletin Board -Rusk County
• Materials for Posting or Distribution -Waukesha
• Bulletin Board -Waupaca

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Circulation, Loan

• Charges to Customers for Lost or Damaged Items -Eau Claire
• Circulation of Materials and Addendum -Eau Claire
• Identification Required for Library Cards -Eau Claire
• Library Cards -Eau Claire
• Using Other Peoples Cards for Check Out -Eau Claire
• Circulation Policies, A201b-A209b -Janesville
• Circulation Policy -La Crosse
• Access & Borrowing -Manitowoc
• How to Get a Library Card -Manitowoc
• Borrowing Rules -McFarland
• Materials Circulation Policy -McFarland
• Overdues/Fines/Billing -McFarland
• Patron and Circulation -Menasha
• Circulation Policy -Menominee County
• Loan Periods & Fines -Milwaukee
• Collection Agency Policy -Neenah
• Access to Materials and Services -Oshkosh
• Fines and Fees -Oshkosh
• Library Cards -Oshkosh
• Circulation Policy -Ripon
• Circulation of Library Materials and Overdue Schedule -Waupaca
• Library Materials Loan -Westfield
• Teacher Card -Westfield

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Confidentiality, Privacy

• Privacy Policy -Appleton
• Confidentiality and Privacy -Janesville
• Confidentiality -Kenosha
• Confidentiality of Library Records -Madison
• Confidentiality -Manitowoc
• Privacy -McFarland
• Privacy of Library Records and Library Use -Monona
• Confidentiality -Oshkosh
• Confidentiality of Library Records -Reedsburg
• Confidentiality -Waupaca

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Disaster, Emergencies, Inclement Weather

• Emergency Closings -Eau Claire
• Adverse Weather -Janesville
• Emergency -New London
• Disasters -Rusk County
• Evacuation -Waupaca
• Severe Storms -Waupaca

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Exhibits and Displays

• Exhibits -Appleton
• Exhibits, Displays, Bulletin Boards and Pamphlet Racks -Eau Claire
• Exhibits and Other Displays -Janesville
• Activities and Conference Rooms, Bulletin Boards, and Exhibit & Display -Kenosha
• Exhibit -Middleton
• Displays -River Falls
• Displays & Exhibits -Rusk County
• Exhibit Room -Waupaca
• Library Exhibits, Postings And Display Cases Policy -West Bend

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Gifts, Donations, Investments

• Financial Policy -Appleton
• Donations of Money -Eau Claire
• Gifts of Materials -Eau Claire
• Fiscal Policy -Kenosha
• Materials Donation -McFarland
• Gift and Special Accounts Policy -Middleton
• Gift Policy -Menominee County
• Trust Fund Policy -Neenah
• Gifts of Art -Oshkosh
• Gift Policy -Reedsburg
• Donations and Gifts -Waukesha
• Gifts, Bequests, Memorials, and Endowments -Waupaca
• Donations -West Bend

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Harassment

• Harassment -Janesville
• Harassment in the Workplace -Manitowoc
• Sexual Harassment Policy -Oshkosh

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Homebound, Outreach

• Outreach Services -Dane County Library Service
• Extension Services -Janesville
• Homebound/Special Services -Verona
• Outreach Services -Waukesha
• Outreach -Waupaca

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Internet and Computer Use

• Internet Policy -Appleton
• Computer and Internet Use -Eau Claire
• Electronic Communications -Eau Claire
• Internet Safety -Eau Claire
• Internet Use -Fort Atkinson
• Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines -Janesville
• Internet -Kenosha
• Internet Use Policy and Guidelines -Madison
• Internet -Manawa
• Internet Service Policy -Manitowoc
• Public Computer Acceptable Use -McFarland
• Internet -Menasha
• Internet Use -Middleton
• Computer Use Guidelines -Milwaukee
• Internet Access -Monona
• Computer Use and Gaming Equipment -Mount Horeb
• Internet Use -Mount Horeb
• Internet Acceptable Use Policy -Neenah
• Internet Use -New London
• Internet Access -Oshkosh
• Internet Access Policy -Racine
• Printing from Electronic Sources -Racine
• Wi-Fi Access Policy -Racine
• Internet & Computer Use Policy -Ripon
• Internet -River Falls
• Internet Use -Rusk County
• World Wide Web Access Policy -Waukesha
• Computer and Internet Use -Waupaca
• Acceptable Internet Use -West Bend
• Wireless Internet Policy -West Bend
• Internet Use -Westfield

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Materials Selection, Collection Development, Challenged Materials, Weeding

• Material Selection Policy -Appleton
• Collection Development and Management -Eau Claire
• Collection Development Plan -Janesville
• Withdrawn Editions -Janesville
• Materials Selection Policy -Kimberly-Little Chute
• Collection Development -Madison
• Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials -Madison
• Collection Development and Maintenance -McFarland
• Challenged Materials -Manitowoc
• Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials -Manitowoc
• Selection of Materials -Menasha
• Material Selection Policy -Menominee County
• Collection Development Policy -Middleton
• Challenged Materials Procedure-New London
• Selection Policy -New London
• Materials Selection -Oshkosh
• Collection Development Policy -Racine
• Web Site Collection Development Policy -River Falls
• Material Selection/Collection Development Policy -Rusk County
• Materials Selection Policy -Waukesha
• Materials Selection -Waupaca
• Material Review -Waupaca
• Materials Selection & Reconsideration Policy -West Bend

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Meeting Room

• Meeting Room -Appleton
• Meeting Rooms -Eau Claire
• Meeting Room Rental Fees -Eau Claire
• Meeting Rooms -Fond du Lac
• Meeting Room -Fort Atkinson
• Meeting Rooms -Janesville
• Meeting Rooms: Branch Libraries -Madison
• Meeting Rooms: Central Library -Madison
• Group Study Room -Manitowoc
• Meeting Room Policy -Manitowoc
• Group Study Rooms -McFarland
• Meeting Room -McFarland
• Meeting Rooms -Middleton
• Meeting Room -Neenah
• Meeting Rooms -Monona
• Meeting Rooms -Oshkosh
• Meeting Room Use -Racine
• Meeting Room Policy -Ripon
• Meeting Rooms -Rusk County
• Meeting Room Policy -Waukesha
• Meeting Room -Waupaca
• Meeting Room Policy -West Bend
• Meeting Room -Westfield

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Personnel

• Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Actions with Policy Statement -Eau Claire
• Personnel Policies, B101b-B601b -Janesville
• Equal Employment Opportunity & ADA -Manitowoc
• Staff Educational Development -New London
• Personnel Policy—Addendum -New London
• Personnel Policy -Rusk County
• Personnel -Waupaca

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Public Relations

• Public Relations -Rusk County

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Reference/Information Services

• Reference & Reader's Advisory Policy -Appleton
• Reference Services -Fort Atkinson
• Reference Assistance Madison
• Information Services Policy -Manitowoc
• Reference Services -Middleton
• Reference Services -Mount Horeb
• Reference Services for Residents and Nonresidents -Racine
• Reference Service Policy -Richland Center
• Reference Service Policy -Rusk County
• Reference Services -Waupaca

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Social Media

href="http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/images/aboutus/policies/Customer_Relatio...">Social Media Guidelines -Eau Claire
• Social Media Policy -Neenah
• Social Media/Permission to Record -Waupaca

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Theft and Mutilation of Materials

• Theft & Mutilation of Materials -Sheboygan

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Unattended Children

• Unattended Children -Appleton
• Unattended Children -Eau Claire
• Unattended Children -Fort Atkinson
• Lost or Unattended Children -Manitowoc
• Unattended Children -Menominee County
• Safe Child Policy -Racine
• Unattended Minor -Waupaca
• Unattended Child -West Bend

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Volunteers

• Volunteers -Appleton
• Expenses of Library Volunteers -Eau Claire
• Volunteers -Menasha
• Volunteers -Middleton
• Use of Volunteers -Waukesha
• Volunteers & Friends -Rusk County
• Volunteer and Community Service -Waupaca

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