Policies

Circulation Policies

Your Library Card

Your library card is good at all 21 locations of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County. With it, you will have free access to more than 740,000 books, 19,000 books on tape, and 4,000 music CDs -- with new titles arriving daily. You will also have access to more than 12,000 recreational and educational videos.

Library cards are free to all residents of Davidson County, employees of Metro government, and persons living within the Goodlettsville city limits. To obtain a library card, you must present an I.D. with your current address (call 862-5790 for details). Cards are also available to nonresidents. The annual fee for nonresident membership is $50.

Please treat your card with the same care you would a credit card. You are responsible for everything checked out on it. Damaged or lost items will be billed according to the Library's Replacement Policy. If your card is lost or stolen, contact the Library immediately. For the most convenient service, always bring your card to check out materials.

Checkout

• You may have up to 25 items (including a maximum of 10 DVDs and/or videos) of your choice checked out on your card.
• Checkout period is 3 weeks for books, books on tape, audiocassettes, CDs, and CD-ROMs.
• Checkout period is 7 days for videos and DVDs.
• You may return your materials to any branch or book drop.
• Identification is needed to check out materials if you forgot your library card.
• Loan rules may vary for special services such as Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or Bookmobile.

Renewals

• You may renew books, books on tape, audiocassettes, CDs, and CD-ROMs 3 times, if there are no holds on them.
• You may renew DVDs and videos (if no holds) once.
• You may renew your materials at any library, from a computer with WWW access, or by telephone at 862-5890. This is the library's automated 24-hour patron account system. You will need your library card number and the barcode numbers of the books or other materials you wish to renew.
• Items cannot be renewed when your card is not active (if you haven't used it in more than a year), when there is a hold on the item, or when the computer system is down.

Overdues

Please return your materials on time. Overdue fines are:

• Cataloged adult books: 10¢ per item, per day. $5 maximum per item.
• Cataloged children's (j) books: 10¢ per item, per day. $2 maximum per item.
• Playaways: 10¢ per day, per item. $5 maximum per item.
• Audiobooks on tape/CD: 10¢ per item, per day. $10 maximum per item.
• Music CDs: 10¢ per day, per item. $5 maximum per item.
• Videos/DVDs: $1 per item, per day. $10 maximum per item.
• Uncataloged books (i.e., paperbacks), board books, and Adult New Readers: 10¢ per item, per day. $1 maximum per item.
• Damaged or lost items are billed at full price plus a processing fee. Replacements are accepted only if they are unused, and identical to the material lost or damaged. Please talk with a staff member to learn more about purchasing replacement materials before you buy!
• Delinquent materials and fines are automatically routed to an outside collection agency after 45 days.
• You can renew overdue items to stop accruing fines.

The Library reserves the right to refuse further service until overdue materials are returned and account balances paid.

Picking up Holds

Held items must be borrowed with the same card they were placed on hold with. Others may not checkout your items without your card. See approved users for more information about assigning others to pick up holds. Holds are not transferrable to other library cards.

Holds are limited to 10 items.

Public PC Policies

Internet Safety Policy

The Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County makes the Internet accessible in accordance with our mission to provide information resources and services to ensure that all residents have free and open access to ideas and information. In this role, the Library provides access to information resources available on the Internet. The Library has no control over the information obtained through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content or accuracy. It may contain materials which some find offensive or inappropriate. Library users access the Internet at their own discretion.

In accordance with the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (Pub. L. 106-554), all library computers are equipped with filtering software. The software is set to screen out sites which may reasonably be construed as obscene, as that term is defined in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code; or child pornography, as that term is defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code; or harmful to minors as defined in section 1703, Pub. L. 106-544. Users 18 years of age and older may request that a staff member disable the filtering software for research purposes. The software will not be disabled for users 17 and under for any reason.

As with other library resources, restriction of a child's use of the Internet is ultimately the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian, within the confines of the law.

The Library assumes no responsibility for damages, direct, or indirect, for the use of the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, damage to personal or office computer equipment caused by virus-laden material downloaded from any Internet site. Users are encouraged to purchase and use a virus detection program on their home and office computers.

Internet users should be aware that it is not a secure medium. It is possible for third parties to obtain information regarding an individual user's search activities. Users should be very cautious about providing personal information over the Internet.

Ethical Use

All users of electronic information resources such as the Internet are expected to use these resources in a responsible manner, consistent with the educational and informational purposes for which they are provided. It is unacceptable to use the Library's computer system and Internet resources for any of the following:

• For any purposes which violate applicable U.S. or state laws. Users must respect all copyright laws and licensing agreements pertaining to software, files and other resources obtained via the Internet.
• Destruction of or damage to equipment, software, or data belonging to the Library.
• Disruption or interference of network users or services. Such interference or disruption includes, but is not limited to: distribution of unsolicited advertising, harassment, libeling, or slandering of others; propagation of computer worms or viruses.
• Sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics which may reasonably be construed as either obscene or child pornography by community standards.

Violations of the Internet Safety and Ethical Use Policies

Users violating these guidelines will be advised of the Library's policy for ethical use and asked to comply. Users who repeatedly violate these guidelines after previous warnings will be restricted from using the Library's online services on that occasion. The Library reserves the right to prohibit violators from future access or use of the online services. Illegal acts may subject violators to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.

Guidelines for Public PC Use

1. Public PCs are available to all Nashville Public Library customers.
2. To support access for all customers, the library will enforce time limits on public PCs.
3. The customer must leave the public PC once his/her session has expired.
4. In accordance with the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (Pub. L. 106-554), all public PCs are equipped with filtering software. The software is set to screen out sites which may reasonably be construed as obscene, as that term is defined in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code; or child pornography, as that term is defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code; or harmful to minors as defined in section 1703, Pub. L 106-544. Customers 18 years of age and older with proof of age may request that library staff disable the filtering software. The software will not be disabled for customers 17 and under for any reason.
5. Filters on public PCs in the Children’s and YA areas will not be disabled for any reason.
6. Problems with public PCs must be reported immediately to library staff. Do not try to disconnect, reconnect or remove any equipment or otherwise fix problems.
7. Only software owned and installed by the library may be run on any of the public PCs.  Customers may not load software from any source (diskettes, CD-ROMs, Internet, etc.) or change any settings.
8. Customer owned headphones may be used with public PCs where headphone jacks are easily accessible.  Computers may not be physically moved in order to use headphone jacks.
9. Except for headphones and storage devices (floppy discs, flash/jump drives, etc.), only hardware owned and installed by the Nashville Public Library may be used with the public PCs. You may not connect any other devices such as, but not limited to, modems, joysticks, mice, printers, digital cameras, scanners to library equipment.
10. The library is not responsible for damage to or loss of data from power interruption, PC viruses, hard disk failure, faulty software, or any other cause. The use of library computer equipment and the entering of personal information or data (e.g., credit card numbers, home address) are at your own risk.
11. It is unlawful to duplicate copyrighted or licensed software for use beyond that specified in the licensing agreement. No unauthorized or illegal duplication of software will be allowed on library equipment.
12. Material not saved to storage devices (floppy discs, flash/jump drives, etc.) before the end of a session will be lost.  Customers must supply their own disks for downloading and saving data.
13. One person per computer. Exceptions may be made by library staff. Permission will not be granted to persons conducting for-profit computer instruction
14. Library staff will provide informational documents concerning computer hardware, software and wireless Internet as requested.
15. Library computer equipment and software must be used in a responsible manner.  Excessive sound levels, deliberate misuse, hacking, introduction of computer viruses, or any other inappropriate uses are not permitted.
16. Customers may not take food or drink to PC workstations.
17. The Nashville Public Library provides Catalog-Only PCs for patron use. Catalog-Only PCs do not require a card or a ticket.
18. Catalog-Only PCs do not access the Internet, Microsoft Office applications, or other library computer resources.
19. Requests for Equal Access Accommodations may be made to library staff.
20. Failure to comply with the above guidelines may result in suspension of library privileges per the “Rules of Conduct Governing the Use of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County.”

Guidelines for Obtaining Computer Tickets

1. Nashville Public Library Cards provide both public PC use and full material checkout privileges.
2. Fines do not affect public PC use.
3. A customer with an expired library card must renew his/her library card or obtain a computer ticket to use the public PCs.
4. Any customer without an active library card may acquire a computer ticket.  The library will require no identification for a computer ticket.
5. Computer tickets will expire after one day.
6. Computer tickets allow the use of public PCs but do not allow visitors to check out materials.
7. Computer tickets are intended for personal use, and may not be shared.
8. A universal barcode and PIN will be used when accessing wireless Internet.  This will be given by a library staff member and will differ per location.  There is no time limit on wireless Internet use.
9. All public PCs will shut down 15 minutes before closing time.
10. Print jobs must be sent to the print release station before the customer’s reserved time has expired.
11. Failure to comply with the above guidelines may result in suspension of library privileges per the “Rules of Conduct Governing the Use of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County.”

Guidelines for Time Limits

1. The time limit for library PC use is 1 hour.  Customers must make a reservation for each session.
2. Customers are allotted a five minute grace period to sign on to their reserved computer at the appropriate time.
3. Customers may be offered a 30 minute time extension at the end of their session if there are enough available PCs.
4. There is an exception to the operating procedures at the main library; the express PCs in Popular Materials have a time limit of 30 minutes.
5. Once a customer’s session is over, the public PC will automatically end the session. Any data not saved to customer’s storage device (floppy discs, flash/jump drives, etc.) will be lost.
6. Customers must supply their own storage devices for downloading and saving data.
7. Logging-off ends a session; any outstanding minutes will be lost.
8. Each public PC will display a floating clock to alert customers to the amount of PC time remaining in each session. One pop-up warning will appear 6 minutes prior to shutdown.
9. Failure to comply with the above guidelines may result in suspension of library privileges per the “Rules of Conduct Governing the Use of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County.”

Guidelines for Print Station Use

1. Customers wishing to print from public PCs must have their library card or computer ticket available to scan at the print release station.
2. Black-and-white printouts cost $0.15/page. Color printouts, where available, cost $1.00/page.
3. Free printing is available in the Main Young Adult, Pruitt, and Edgehill Homework Centers for students in grades K-12.  The library reserves the right to limit free printing to 10 pages per day, per person, unless authorized by Young Adult staff to print more than 10 pages for homework or other educational materials.
4. Problems with print stations must be reported immediately to library staff. Do not try to reload paper, disconnect, reconnect or remove equipment, or otherwise fix the problem.
5. Customers must use library-supplied paper for printing. Manual feed or other use of personal paper is not allowed.

To print, customers should do the following:

1. Make sure the correct printer is selected by checking the settings under the Print option on the File menu.
2. Send the print job to the print release station by selecting the Print icon on the PC screen and clicking OK at the print cost pop-up window.
3. Go to the print release station and scan your library card or computer ticket; a list of your waiting print jobs will appear on the monitor at the print station.
4. Select the appropriate job from the list and click the Print button.
5. Deposit money into the vending device when prompted, then click OK.
6. The job will print at the printer and when appropriate, change will be dispensed at the vending device and a confirmation message will appear on the screen.  Click OK.
7. If customer wishes to print more copies of the same job, click reprint jobs. Select the appropriate job and follow the prompts as indicated.
8. Customers can permanently delete print jobs by selecting the appropriate job and clicking delete.
9. Print jobs not deleted will expire after 2 hours.
10. If there are no more jobs to be printed, click done.
11. Vending device will not  return your change when the message screen says “Insert Exact Change Only.” Customer must use exact change.

Failure to comply with the above guidelines may result in suspension of library privileges per the “Rules of Conduct Governing the Use of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County.”