NYSL: A Guide to Membership and Use of the Library

A GUIDE TO MEMBERSHIP

The Library welcomes all readers. Anyone 18 years old or over may become a member. Membership applications are available at the front desk. A household membership includes everyone living in the same household and listed on the application. The Library also offers individual and educational memberships. Members are expected to abide by all Library rules.

Hours and Holidays

www.nysoclib.org

Books

Checking out books: Members have access to the Library's open stacks and each membership may have a total of ten books out at a time. Books and materials to be borrowed are checked out at the front desk and should be returned there. Books from the stacks or the Children's Library circulate for four weeks. New books or seasonal books may be limited to one- or two-week loans. Old or fragile materials may have restricted circulation. Periodicals and books designated "reference" may only be used within the Library. Marking or annotating books or other materials in any way is against Library policy.
Renewals: Most items, aside from current bestsellers and other books in demand, may be renewed once for two additional weeks provided that no other member has requested them. Members may renew books in person, by phone, or online. Overdue fines (currently $.15 per item per day) will be charged after a brief grace period.
Reserving books: Members can reserve current bestsellers or books checked out, and may reserve books in person at the front desk, by phone, by mail, or online. They may also mark them on the monthly New Books List, add their name, and return the list to the circulation staff. When an item becomes available, notification is sent. Reserve books are held for 10 days from the date of notification. There is no limit on the number of holds per membership.
Requesting a book not in the collection: To request that the Library purchase a book, fill out a call slip at the front desk. The Library always welcomes suggestions by members for additions to the collection and considers them for purchase.
Interlibrary loan: The Library offers this service for items not available in its collection or through the New York Public Library System. Ask at the front desk for a request form or download the request form here.
Lost books: Members are responsible for books checked out under their name. Members may replace a lost book with an exact copy or pay a replacement cost to be determined by the Library.
Paging: Paging services are available upon request.
Audio Books: Recently acquired books on tape and books on CD are shelved in the lobby; earlier acquisitions are found on Stack 9. A list of audio book holdings is available at the front desk and on the website.
Periodicals: Current issues are in the Members' Room; back issues can be found on Stack 11. Adult periodicals do not circulate; Children's magazines may be checked out at the front desk.
Closed stack: To request a book listed in the catalog as located in a closed stack or Stack 8, fill out a call slip at the front desk. A staff member will retrieve the book. Some books in a closed stack may not circulate.
Rare books: Use of materials in the rare book stack ("Z" in the catalog) is limited, and must be arranged by appointment. Please ask at the front desk for a copy of "Policies regarding the use of Rare Book Materials."
Books by mail: Members may set up an account for receiving books by mail. Contact the front desk for details.

Reading and Study Spaces

Reference Room: The Reference Room, on the first floor front, is open to the public, as well as members, for reference, reading, and catalog access.
Members' Room: The Members' Room, on the second floor front, is open for reading and silent study. Laptop use is not allowed. Current newspapers and periodicals are located here. The Members' Room occasionally closes for Library events; notification is posted on the door on the day of the event.
Whitridge Room: The Whitridge Room, on the third floor front, is also open for reading and silent study. Children and families may use this room for reading aloud weekday afternoons from 3 to 5. This room is used for children's programs and other events; a monthly calendar is posted on the door.
Large Study Room: The Large Study Room, on the fifth floor front, is open for quiet study and laptop computer use.
Writing Rooms: The Library has two individual study rooms for writing and laptop use on the fifth floor. These are available by reservation at the front desk or by telephone. Please ask at the front desk for "Writing Room Regulations."
Other Study Spaces: Other small study spaces include the Green Alcove in the rear of Stack 12 and individual desks throughout the stacks. The Children's Library also provides reading space. Laptop use is allowed only in the Green Alcove, the study rooms on the 5th floor, and in designated areas in the stacks. All laptops must be used with audio and sound devices turned off.
Lockers: Members may request the use of a day locker or a six-month locker. Tokens for day lockers are available at the front desk. Six-month lockers are reserved by a form also available at the desk.

Catalog and Research Technology

Catalogs: Catalog access is available through terminals in the Reference Room on the first floor and Internet terminals throughout the building. Catalog access from offsite is also available through the web site. The card catalog in the Reference Room is limited to author, title and subject cards for books acquired before March 1989.
Internet Access: Internet terminals are located on Stack 1, in the Children's Library, and on the fifth floor. Users are limited to thirty minutes and 10 printed pages per day. All members are expected to follow the posted rules concerning appropriate internet use.
Laptop Internet Access: Internet access is available for personal laptops in the fifth floor study rooms. Instruction materials on connecting can be found on the bottom shelf of the audio book area in the lobby.
Online resources: The Library subscribes to various online resources. A list is available on the catalog page. Members may access these sources through terminals in the Library or offsite. Consult the website for further information. Use of these databases may be restricted by vendor licenses; members must abide by the terms of licenses as stated.
Copy machines: A self-serve copy machine is available in the building. Copies cost 10 cents per page. The machine accepts any currency or copy cards, which may be purchased at the front desk. As an alternative, the staff will copy materials for thirty cents per page. Ask at the front desk. Fragile materials may not be copied, and all photocopying must comply with current copyright law.
Microfilm reader: A microfilm reader is located in the microfilm room on the fifth floor outside the Large Study Room. Members may view or print from the New York Times (through 2002) or various periodicals on microfilm. Printing costs 25 cents per page.

Library Publications

New Books List: This list of newly acquired books arranged by subject is available monthly at the front desk.
Library Notes: The newsletter, mailed to members five times a year and available at the front desk, contains a special events calendar, Library news, technology information, and features.
Children's Calendar: The Children's Calendar, listing regular programs for children and grandchildren of members, is mailed monthly to interested members and is available at the front desk.
Annual Report: The report is mailed to members annually; it contains a summary of Library activities and lists donors for the preceding year.
www.nysoclib.org: Extensive information about the Library and links to the catalog and other resources are available through the Library's website. All Library publications are also available on the website.

Events

Events: The Library sponsors a regular calendar of lectures, workshops and special events, which are listed in the Library Notes and on the website. Registration is required for all programs unless otherwise stated; see listings for more details. Fees not included in membership dues are charged for some events.
Children's events: Regular children's events take place in the Children's Library; see the monthly Children's Calendar for details. Registration is required.

Other Facilities

Restrooms: Restrooms are located next to the lobby, on the second floor beside the Members' Room (women) and on the landing between the second and third floors (men), and next to the Children's Library.
Water: A water cooler is located in the cloakroom next to the lobby. Cups are also available in restrooms.
Coats and strollers: Coat racks are located in the cloakroom next to the lobby, outside the Members' Room, in the stack entrance to the Children's Library, and in the stack entrance to the fifth floor. Strollers can be parked unfolded in the entry hall or folded in the cloakroom.
Telephone: A coin-operated phone is located in a booth on the main stair landing between the second and third floors. This phone should be used for brief outgoing calls only. Cell phone use is not permitted in this booth or anywhere else in the Library.

Termination or Suspension

Suspension or termination may follow violation of Library rules. The Library shall notify the member in writing of the Library's election to suspend or terminate the member's Library privileges and the reason for it. Notice shall be given by certified mail to the member at the address given in his or her subscription application.

Any member wishing to discuss or contest the matter of suspension or termination should notify the Librarian within ten days following the Library's notification and arrange for an appointment.

Any member wishing to dispute the Librarian's decision to suspend or terminate a membership may appeal in writing to the Board of Trustees.

Rules of the Library

The Library strives to provide an appropriate atmosphere for reading, study, writing, and research. All users should respect this overriding goal in their behavior and the manner in which they enjoy the Library.

Silence should be maintained in the reading and study rooms and in the stacks.
The use of cell phones or any electronic listening devices is prohibited throughout the Library. This rule will be strictly enforced by the staff. Please be sure to turn off your cell phone when you enter the building.
Food and beverages are not permitted anywhere in the building, including the study rooms and stacks.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Library.
Appropriate dress (including footwear) must be worn at all times.

Bags, briefcases, and backpacks are subject to inspection by the Library staff.
Items of personal property are brought into the Library at the owner's risk, and the Library cannot accept responsibility for loss of such items or for theft or damage.
Use of photocopiers, computers, and printers must comply with copyright laws.
Only members of the Library are admitted to rooms other than the Reference Room on the main floor, except by permission of a librarian.
All users of the Library must vacate the stacks and reading and study rooms fifteen minutes before closing time. The Library closes promptly at 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Library staff reserve the right to call a halt to all activities deemed to be inconsiderate or disorderly, and to ask anyone whose behavior is deemed inappropriate to leave the building.