Newport Public Library

Librarian’s Report to the Board

Librarian’s Office, July 18, 2007

SUMMER READING

We have more than 400 children and teens registered for the summer reading programs. It’s wonderful to see so many interested in reading and proudly coming to the counter to count their reading books and hours. Use of Literacy Park is just as terrific as we’ve been saying it is – and you’ve seen photos in the local newspaper, the library’s Reading Edge, and the Rotary newsletter. Another record-breaking year, thanks to our incredible staff and their links with the schools and other learning agencies for children.

LITERACY PARK

The grass is greening and flowers blooming. Road and Driveway will be paving the pathway to the seating. And a very special bench by Max Turner, bronze sculptor will be placed near the dedication. It will not be the one that is in our lobby, however. That bench is so popular with the children of Newport Library, that the donors have made a gift of it to the Library and will purchase a different bench for the park.

HARRY POTTER

Our Harry Potter party begins at 10:30 this Friday night and ends at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. We have crafts and entertainment for older children and teens planned until 11:30 when prizes will be given out and a raffle drawing will determine who will get to check out a book. At midnight, we will check out books and Seatowne Books will sell books.

LIBRARY2GO

Beginning August 1, downloadable audio books will be available through our catalog to patrons for downloading at home. Sheryl Eldridge is teaching staff to use the system for downloading so we will be able to help patrons who are downloading at home. Books will “check out” for 10 days, then be unusable on the home computer. If you have downloaded it to an MP3 player, you can still finish the book before erasing it.

LITERARY FLICKS

Thanks to our City Manager, Sheryl will kick off the series with an exciting program. Lu Huntley, who saw much of the filming of The Color Purple as it occurred on her grandfather’s farm, is a literature professor who has an excellent visual presentation on the subject. She is a friend of the O’Neal’s. Sheryl will show the film the week before and Ms. Huntley will present the program on the The Color Purple on September 11 at our library.

POLICY CHANGE

The State Librarian advised review of policy on disclosure of library patron information with the enactment of Senate Bill 950 that now includes exemption of patron email addresses (bill attached) from public records that must be disclosed.  It seemed a good time to simplify the statement in our policy manual. I asked for City Attorney Gary Firestone’s help and propose the following change in our policy manual.

READS NOW

2.1  Newport Public Library respects the privacy of all library patrons, including minors, and will treat all library patrons, transactions, and records nonjudgmentally and confidentially.  The Library and its staff members will not use circulation or registration information for any purpose other than carrying out standard library operations.  Library Director may respond to immediately executed warrants if they conform to current law and will abide by the conditions placed on the librarian by law.

2.1.1  Circulation Records

In accord with ORS 192.501, the Library will not disclose any circulation record linking a patron with specific materials "unless the public interest requires disclosure in the particular instance" and such public interest is clearly documented, as with a subpoena.

2.1.2  Patron Registration Records

The Library will not disclose patron registration information.  In an urgent matter of health or safety, the Director or designee may disclose registration information; every effort will be made to consult with the Board prior to disclosure and the Board will be promptly notified about any such release of information.

PROPOSED CHANGE TO 2.1.2

ORS 192.502 allows library records of patron name linked with address, phone number, or email to be exempted from public records disclosure.  Newport Public Library will not disclose such patron registration information except in an urgent matter of health or safety, or unless the public interest requires disclosure in the particular instance, as determined following public records law procedure or as required by court order.