RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GATES PUBLIC LIBRARY USERS

•  Users have the right to receive full library services without regard to age, sex, religion, race, social class, economic status or language. (However some services to non-residents may have limitations per existing reciprocal borrowing agreements.)

• Users have the right to prompt access to library staff and resources during library service hours, subject only to budgetary restrictions.

• Users and library staff have the right to be treated with politeness and respect including the use of names and courtesy titles in addressing one another.

• Users have the right to have the names and roles of all persons concerned with their service explained to them.
  
• Users have the right to privacy during library services, subject only to unavoidable limitations due to space restrictions.
  
• Users have the right to complete current information concerning their service request in terms the user can reasonably be expected to understand, as well as any administrative or financial policies affecting their requests. Users should participate actively wherever possible in search strategies affecting their reference questions or in decisions relating to their service needs and should understand their responsibility to be as informative to all concerned so as to realize the quality level of service desired by user and staff.
  
• Users have the right to know the Library's rules and regulations that apply to their conduct as library users. Such rules and regulations are distributed to new card holders and are distributed liberally in informational outlets throughout the building.
  
• User services are fully confidential. Details of services to minors are only revealed to parents or legal guardians and the details provided are limited to the parent/guardian's responsibility for UNpaid financial use. In the absence of a letter of emancipation parents/guardians are held responsible for all use made of the library by their minor children and are strongly encouraged to supervise their children's use of the library. A parent/guardian may withdraw his/her permission for their minor children to borrow materials upon formal request to the library clerk of librarian on duty.
  
• Users have the right to be informed of any potential charges which they may incur through library use in advance of such service and they should receive a full explanation of any bills.
  
• Users have the responsibility to respect the rights and comforts of other users and library staff, particularly in such areas as privacy, noise and confidentiality.
  
• Users have the responsibility to abide by established circulation procedures re borrowing materials for off-site use and by established procedures for on-site use of public access equipment. Users also have the responsibility to abide by the Rules of Conduct adopted by the Library Board April 20, 1988.
  
• Users have the right to express complaints about the service provided by the library and to have the library investigate such complaints, and to report their findings of the investigation in writing upon request. If Gates residents are not satisfied, they are urged to address their concern first to the Library Director and secondly to the Library Board of Trustees.