Policies

Welcome to the White Haven Area Community Library, located in the restored and renovated historic Engine House in the Borough of White Haven. Founded in 1997 as a free public library dedicated to serving both residents and visitors, the library provides the community with an array of print, audio, visual, and electronic resources; including WiFi. It also offers special programming for children, students, and adults.

The library is staffed largely through community volunteers who take pride in serving the needs of their neighbors and visitors. Please ask our volunteers for any assistance you may need in locating materials and using resources.

This page provides an overview of services and policies established to enable professional and efficient use of all library materials and services in accordance with the mission of the White Haven Area Community Library.

The mission of the White Haven Area Community Library is “to serve local residents with a vast and varied collection of information, technology and programming to enrich the learning experience and to preserve and promote local history, lore and legacy. We will offer children, adults, seniors, tourists and teachers a permanent, barrier-free environment conducive to education, recreation and socialization.”

In compliance with Pennsylvania Act 90, the Library Confidentiality Act, staff will not reveal names of patrons or the nature or specific titles of materials used by patrons of the library to anyone, except by court order in a criminal proceeding.

Membership is free to all residents included in the White Haven area zip code (18661). There are five levels of membership:

1. Adult
2. Child—preschool through elementary school age children. A parent or guardian must sign authorization for children to check out books and use computers. Please see Policy on Parental Responsibilities for details.
3. Student—students from middle-school age to eighteen. A parent or guardian assumes responsibility for students’ appropriate behavior and proper use of all library facilities, resources, and materials, including computers, by providing signed authorization for the student’s membership. Please see Policy on Parental Responsibilities for details.
4. Temporary—patrons who may spend a month or longer in the area but do not have a permanent local address. A temporary local address must be provided as well as a telephone number, if available. A driver’s license or other identification with a permanent address is required, as well as a non-refundable $10.00 registration fee.
5. Non-resident—patrons living in the region but outside the 18661 zip code. A driver’s license or other identification with a permanent address is required, as well as a non-refundable $10.00 registration fee.

Members at all levels will be asked to provide proof of residency or a permanent address.

Membership must be renewed in person every three years.

In accepting membership, patrons agree to comply with all policies outlined in this page .

Parents or guardians assume responsibility for compliance of minors with all library rules and policies.

• A library card must be presented to check out items in circulation.
• Books circulate for a three-week period. They may be renewed for one additional three-week period. Extended loans may be arranged through application to the staff.
• Checked-out items may be renewed in person, by phone, or by email during regular library hours unless there is a “hold” on materials to be renewed.
• A maximum of 2 DVD’s may be checked out for 1 week with NO renewal option and no grace period. Fines are $1.00 per open library day. The maximum fine is $20.00.
• Reference materials, periodicals, and newspapers do not circulate.
• Special collections designated by the library, i.e. local history, do not circulate.
• Five books can be checked out at a time.
• Items that are not returned or renewed on or before their due date are fined at $.25 a day, seven days a week. Fine balances exceeding $5.00 will result in suspension of library privileges until the fine is paid.
• The outside book drop is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for patrons’ convenience.
• Patrons assume responsibility for returning items on time and in good condition, and for overdue fines and replacement costs for lost or damaged items. Replacement charges are based on the cost of the same or a similar item.
• Lost library cards may be replaced for a fee of $5.00.
• All obligations may be paid in cash, money order, or check.

The library is equipped with Wi-Fi, computers, and printers to provide patrons with access to the Internet and word processing programs. Access to these services is intended to complement the informational, educational, and recreational resources available in the library in more traditional formats. A copy machine and a fax machine are also available. The following policies govern the use of these services:

• Patrons must present a valid White Haven Area Library card and register at the Circulation Desk to use library computers and printers.
• Visitors who are not members must present a valid form of identification and register at the Circulation Desk to use library computers and printers.
• Child and Student cardholders must have a Parental Authorization form on file to use library computers.
• Inappropriate use will terminate the user’s privilege of access to library computers.
• There is a charge of $ .25 a sheet for printing.
• There is a charge of $ .25 a sheet for copies.
• There is a charge of $ .50 a sheet for faxes

In keeping with the informational, educational, and recreational mission of the library to provide patrons with a safe and comfortable place in which to read, study, work in privacy, and participate in scheduled programming, the following policies and rules are enforced to insure respect for the rights of all patrons:

• As a non-smoking facility, the library prohibits smoking anywhere on the premises.
• The use of cell phones, pagers, and other communication devices in a manner that disturbs others is prohibited. Audible devices without headphones may not be used without permission, and headphones must be set at a volume that does not disturb others.
• Patrons conversing in tones louder than the general noise level will be asked to lower their voices.
• Boisterous, threatening, or deliberately distracting behavior and language will not be tolerated. Offenders may be asked to leave the library immediately.
• Food and beverages are allowed only in designated areas.
• Proper attire, including shirts and shoes, is expected in the library.
• Behavior that may result in damage to the library’s building, fixtures, furnishings, equipment, and materials is prohibited.
• Loitering and sleeping in the library are prohibited.
• Intruding on the privacy of patrons in any way, including campaigning, petitioning, proselytizing, or soliciting, is prohibited.
• Interfering with the access of staff or patrons to the library, including placement of bicycles, skateboards, backpacks, and other items to interfere with free access, is prohibited.
• Pets, except for service animals, are not permitted in the library.

Violation of any of these policies and rules may result in a request to leave the library immediately. A repeated pattern of offenses may result in the suspension or loss of library privileges or access.

The library will be closed if Crestwood School District is closed.

In case of a delay, morning children’s programs will be cancelled.
In case of early dismissal, evening children’s programs will be cancelled.

If roads are hazardous on non-school days, during evening open hours, or for adult programs, closing is at the discretion of the supervisor(s).

For more information, visit our website or our Facebook page.

The White Haven Area Community Library, Inc. welcomes the opportunity of serving the public in meeting its need for library and informational services. In that endeavor, the Board of Directors and those individuals representing the library, will not discriminate in the delivery of those services on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender or belief.