General Information

Library cards can be obtained at any Alexandria Library facility by completing an application and showing photo identification and proof of current address.

• Apply Online
• See details about Loan Periods and Fees

Identification & Proof of Address

Acceptable examples of photo identification for adults include:

• Driver's license or DMV identification
• Employee identification or work badge
• Military identification
• Passport
• Recreation identification
• School identification
• Social Services identification

Acceptable examples of current proof of address for adults include:

• Driver’s license or DMV identification
• Checkbook or bank statement
• Car registration
• Lease or rental receipt
• Postmarked utility bill or other mail

Post Office Boxes cannot be used to establish proof of residence.

Eligibility

Every resident of the City of Alexandria is eligible for a free library card regardless of age. A resident is defined as any person who:

• Lives within the City of Alexandria
• Owns property within the City of Alexandria
• Owns a business within the City of Alexandria
• Attends school within the City of Alexandria
• Works within the City of Alexandria

The City of Alexandria maintains reciprocal borrowing agreements with the following cities/counties and any members of the Washington Council of Governments: Arlington, Charles, District of Columbia, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Prince William.

Children

• Children of any age may obtain a library card.
• Parents/guardians of children under 16 years of age will be required to sign their child’s application form, accepting responsibility for their child’s choice of materials and agreeing to pay fines or fees.

Card Types

Business/Institution:

Businesses or other organizations located in the City of Alexandria are eligible to apply for a Business/Institution Card, which may be used by individuals who work for that organization. Individuals on the approved list may use the card or a current ID to borrow library materials. Items are checked out for standard loan periods and may be renewed. This card also entitles users access to the Library’s digital/online resources.

In order to obtain a Business/Institution Card the following is required:

• A request on company letterhead stating the name of the individual responsible for the materials borrowed. Fines and fees will be assessed to the individual designated in the letter.
• This letter should also list any individuals allowed to borrow items on the account.

Educator:

The Educator Card supports the Library’s goal of playing a key part in academic achievement and lifelong learning. Public and private school teachers, teacher assistants, school media specialists, childcare providers, homeschool teachers and preschool teachers who work in the City of Alexandria are eligible for an Educator Card. This card is for professional use only and should not be used in place of a personal library card. In addition, educators may also hold a standard library card account. Fines and fees will be assessed to the individual cardholder for late and/or lost or damaged materials.

In order to obtain and maintain an Educator Card the following is required:

• Valid photo identification.
• Eligible users must provide proof of their status as an educator working in the City of Alexandria. Qualifying documents include: a letter on school letterhead, daycare provider certification, homeschool certification, or similar documentation.
• Educator cards will expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed annually by submitting proof of status as an educator working in the City of Alexandria.
• Educator Cards will only be renewed if the account is in good standing.

Educator Card benefits include:

• Borrowing up to 25 items
• A nine-week checkout period (no renewals) and
• Access to the Library’s digital/online resources.

Educator Cards may not be used to borrow audio-visual materials, adult fiction, or Interlibrary Loans.

Student Card (ConnectED):

The Student Card supports the Library’s goal of playing a key part in academic achievement and lifelong learning. Public and private school students who attend a K-12 institution within the City of Alexandria are eligible for a Student Card. ConnectED cards are issued in partnership with the educational institution.

Student Card benefits include:

• Borrowing up to 3 items
• A nine-week checkout period (no renewals)
• Access to the Library’s digital/online resources and
• No fines and fees will be assessed to the individual cardholder for late materials.

Student Cards may not be used to borrow audio-visual materials or interlibrary loans.

Note: Student Cards with lost materials will be frozen until materials are returned or associated fees are paid. Student Cards can be upgraded to a standard library card with parental permission by visiting any library facility, completing a library card application and showing valid photo identification and proof of address. Once upgraded to a standard library card, regular rules apply, including overdue fines.

Reciprocal Borrower:

The City of Alexandria maintains reciprocal borrowing agreements with members of the Washington Council of Governments. Reciprocal borrowers are entitled to the same borrowing privileges as Alexandria residents, including access to digital/online resources and computer use. Reciprocal users are governed by the policies of the Alexandria Library, but do not qualify for interlibrary loan or homebound services.

In order to obtain a Reciprocal Card the following is required:

• The applicant must present proof of current address and valid photo identification (see above for acceptable examples--note include web link).
• Parents/guardians of children under 16 years of age will be required to sign their child’s application form, accepting responsibility for their child’s choice of materials and agreeing to pay fines or fees.

Temporary Resident:

Any person residing in Alexandria for six months or less may have a temporary resident card, which expires 6 months from date of issue. The user may borrow 10 items, up to 5 of which may be audio-visual materials (including CDs and DVDs). These cards also permit access to public computers and the Library’s digital/online resources. Temporary Resident users are governed by the policies of the Alexandria Library, but do not qualify for interlibrary loan or homebound services.

In order to obtain a Temporary Resident Card the following is required:

• The applicant must present proof of current address and valid photo identification (see above for acceptable examples--note include web link).
• A nonrefundable fee of $10 that must be paid upon registration.

Temporary Shelter Resident:

Shelter residents in the City of Alexandria are eligible to receive a Temporary Shelter Resident Card, which expires 3 months from the date of issue. There is no charge for a Temporary Shelter Resident Card. The customer is allowed to borrow 10 items, up to 5 of which may be audio-visual materials (including CDs and DVDs). These cards also permit access to public computers and the Library’s digital/online resources.

In order to obtain a Temporary Shelter Resident Card the following is required:

• Proof of shelter residence is required; a letter from the shelter staff, on letterhead, is acceptable.

Replacement Cards:

There is a $2.00 fee for a replacement library card.

For your protection, remember to promptly report lost cards and address changes. If you are replacing your card, you may need to update your account for other services, including digital library services.

Updated June 2019

One of the missions of the Alexandria Library is to meet the informational, educational
and recreational needs of the citizens of Alexandria by providing access to a comprehensive
collection of materials.

The Alexandria Library selects materials through a committee made up of Library
professionals.

The Library Director is ultimately responsible to the Board for selection of materials and
the development of the collection. Acting on behalf of the Director, the selection committee is
urged to use its best judgment, as professional librarians, in making selections. The committee's
choices should be guided by evaluation of the materials' literary merit, authenticity, and honesty
of presentation.

If a library patron feels materials owned by the Alexandria Library have not been selected
according to the policies and guidelines in the Library Bill of Rights, they may ask that the
materials in question be reconsidered. There is a form to be filled in to ask for this
reconsideration.

Basic document guides for the philosophy of the Alexandria Library book selection are
the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Declaration (see sections below under "General Policies").

Reviewed 1/05

Materials withdrawn from the Alexandria Library may be sold to the public. The sale of
books is basically an auction process, thus the library conforms to the law governing the disposal
of public property. The prices posted are a starting figure in the auction process, so if a patron
offers a higher price for a book, it should be accepted.

Reference books are not usually sold to the public. Under some circumstances, a
reference book may be sold with the permission of the Branch Manager. The sale price may vary
as it is based on the original cost of the book.

Reviewed 1/05

ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY INTERNET POLICY AND RULES

POLICY

The Internet is a global electronic information network. The Alexandria Library’s access to the Internet is provided and maintained, in part, by Comcast. Due to heavy traffic on the information highway, the Alexandria Library and Comcast cannot guarantee the Internet
will operate optimally.

All Internet resources accessible through the library are available to all library users. PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, NOT THE LIBRARY STAFF, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTERNET INFORMATION SELECTED AND/OR ACCESSED BY THEIR CHILDREN.

It is the policy of the Alexandria Library Board that patrons not use any library Internet terminal or wireless connection to access or display any obscene material. Violations of Library Policies may result in loss of library privileges. In regard to this policy, the following provision of the City Code should be noted:

“IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO POST, PUT UP OR EXHIBIT ON THE STREETS OR ANY PUBLIC PLACE IN THE CITY, ANY INDECENT OR IMMORAL PRINT, PICTURE, FIGURE, OR DESCRIPTION...” City of Alexandria Code Sec. 13-1-18.

Further, the following Act to amend and reenact 42.1-36.1 of the Code of Virginia (effective July 1, 2007) requires state-funded libraries to adopt a policy requiring “…THE SELECTION, INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION OF, ON THOSE COMPUTERS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, A TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE TO FILTER OR BLOCK INTERNET ACCESS THROUGH SUCH COMPUTERS TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AS DEFINED IN 18.2-374.1:1, OBSCENITY AS DEFINED IN 18.2-372, AND, WITH RESPECT TO MINORS, MATERIALS DEEMED HARMFUL TO JUVENILES AS DEFINED IN 18.2-390. SUCH POLICY SHALL PROVIDE THAT A LIBRARIAN AUTHORIZED BY THE LIBRARY BOARD SHALL DISABLE OR OTHERWISE BYPASS THE TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION AT THE REQUEST OF A PATRON TO ENABLE ACCESS FOR BONA FIDE RESEARCH OR OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES.”

The original code provides that a “policy shall contain provisions which (i) are designed to prohibit use by library employees and patrons of the library's computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading illegal material via the Internet, (ii) seek to prevent access by library patrons under the age of eighteen to material which is harmful to juveniles, and (iii) establish appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy.”

RULES

ACCESS: The Alexandria Library provides access to the Internet for all patrons without stops on their library accounts. Fines, fees and lost book charges are settled at the Circulation Desk before using the Internet. Library card holders with fines of $25 or more or with other blocks on their accounts will not be able to use the Internet computers. Please see the circulation desk to clear your account. One guest pass per day is available for library visitors for no cost. Visitors must show an ID to obtain a guest pass. Patrons may request turning off the Internet filter by showing an ID at a service desk proving that they are eighteen or older.

SIGN-UP: Patrons are allowed to use the Internet for one hour per day with an extended session of another hour until the system becomes busy. Only one person per station is allowed. Telephone reservations will not be taken. Patrons may not use the library cards or personal identification of others.

INTERNET INSTRUCTIONS: The library staff offers limited assistance on using the Internet. The library schedules basic Internet classes. Contact your local branch for information.

DOWNLOADING AND PRINTING: USBs may be available for purchase (for $8.00 including tax) at the circulation desk. Downloading to USBs is available. Software and documents downloaded from the Internet may contain viruses. Patrons should run USBs through a virus checker before loading on any computers. Printing is available at all branches. IMPORTANT: When using the Pharos system, PATRONS MUST SEND AND RETRIEVE THEIR PRINT JOB AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PRINT JOBS ARE DELETED FROM THE PRINT QUEUE AFTER TWO HOURS. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS SHUT DOWN AT CLOSING, ALL DOWNLOADING AND PRINTING MUST BE COMPLETED BY PATRONS. The Alexandria Library is not responsible for damage to a patron’s USB or computer, or for any loss of data, damage or
liability that may occur from patron use of the Library’s computers.

UPLOADING: Uploading of programs or data, including eAudioBooks, is not permitted on Alexandria Library equipment.

HEADPHONES: Patrons may bring in their own headphones or purchase earphones at the Circulation Desk for $3.00.

PATRON CONDUCT AT THE INTERNET STATIONS: Patrons shall not engage in conduct which is in violation of the RULES
GOVERNING USE OF THE ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY. Patrons shall not use any of the Library’s Internet stations or wireless connection in a manner that would constitute a violation of any of the following provisions of the Virginia Code (1950), as amended: (a) Sec. 18.2-374, which prohibits, among other things, the possession of any obscene item (as defined in Virginia Code Sec. 18.2-372) with the intent to distribute or transport it, and which makes the possession of any such item in a public place prima facie evidence of a violation of the section. (b) Sec. 18.2-374.1, which prohibits various types of conduct involving sexually explicit visual
material that utilizes, or has as a subject, a person less that 18 years of age, including the electronic transmission of such material and the possession of such material with an intent, among other things, to sell the material, to give it away, to distribute it or to electronically transmit it; (c) Sec. 18.2-374.1.1, which prohibits the possession of any sexually explicit visual material utilizing or having as a subject a person less that eighteen years of age. (d) Sec. 18.2-374.3, which prohibits the use of any communications system, including computers, computer networks, bulletin boards and other electronic means of communicating, for the purpose of procuring or promoting the use of a minor for any activity in violation of Virginia Code Sec. 18.2-370 (taking indecent liberties with a minor) or Sec. 18.2-374.1 (using a person less that 18 years of age in sexually explicit visual material).

VIOLATION OF RULES: A patron’s use of an Internet station in a manner that violates any of these rules or above policy may result in the patron being asked to leave the library and/or the suspension of the patron’s library privileges.

This policy has been approved by the City Attorney in 2007 and reapproved by the Alexandria Library Board on 6/16/14.

More Information about Internet Use in the Library

Patron Electronic Disclosure Policy (PEDP)

Under the USA Patriot Act (see http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/patriot.pdf), the
Alexandria Library's (the Library) public computer workstations and network system are for use
by authorized library patrons, who are subject to the rules of our Internet Policy and Rules (IPR)
and the laws of government agencies.

The Library does not routinely inspect, monitor or disclose content but may do so in the course
of "plain sight" resource inspection, system management and maintenance.

Patrons are advised that any evidence of criminal activity may be disclosed to or seized by law
enforcement and government agencies. Individuals using the computer workstations and
network contrary to the Library’s IPR are subject to the penalties stated in the IPR and the laws
of government agencies.

Policy adopted 3/03, Reviewed 1/05, Reviewed March 2019

Public Computer Use

• The Alexandria Library (the Library) provides access to public computers for all customers on a walk-in basis. Public computers can be accessed with library account login information by customers in good standing. For those customers not eligible for library cards, computer guest passes can be purchased at the Information Desk. Customers must show a picture ID to purchase a guest pass.
• Patrons are allowed to use the Internet for one hour per day with an extended session of another hour until the system becomes busy. Customers can access computers directly. Sign-up may be required at the sign-in station if there is a queue.
• Staff members are available for limited computer help. There are times when library staff will teach computer courses. Additional courses are available at Alexandria’s Workforce Development Center. Check at the Information Desk for a schedule of library computer classes and other technology training resources.
• Black and white printing is available for a cost to the customer. Printing can be done on the public computer stations, directly from a USB, or sent wirelessly. Documents sent from public computers are held in the print queue until midnight on the day they were sent to the printer. Documents sent wirelessly from a mobile device or personal computer will be held in the print queue for seven days. Printing can be paid for by cash, coins or credit/debit. Please note that the print station only gives change in coins.
• Public computers can be used to view files on USB drives. USB drives are available for purchase at the Circulation Desk. Headphones may be connected to library equipment and are available for purchase at the Circulation Desk. While customers may be able to upload and download documents, customers may not download software onto the public computers.
• Customers shall not engage in conduct that is in violation of the Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library. Failure to comply with these rules or abuse of the personal computer service may result in the individual being asked to leave and, in the instance of repeated violations, suspension of library privileges.
• The Library is not responsible for damage to a customer’s USB, or for any loss of data, damage or liability that may occur from customer’s use of the Library’s computers.

More Information about the Library's Computers

Revised January 2023

A person may be banned from the Library according to rules established by the Alexandria Library Board. When a person is banned from one library, this is a system-wide banning. The other libraries should be notified in writing when a person has been banned.

See Policy 15.6, Rules and Regulations Governing Use of the Alexandria Library.

Revised 6/99, Reviewed 1/05

At its discretion, the Alexandria Library will provide reasonable space for announcements and
notices. Bulletin boards are provided in libraries for the purpose of informing the public of:

• Events and programs sponsored by the Library, Alexandria Library Board, Alexandria
  Library Foundation or The Friends of the Alexandria Library.
• Postings from the City of Alexandria and other government agencies.
• Events of a civic, cultural, informational, or recreational nature held in the area served by
  the Alexandria Library and sponsored by community or non-profit organizations or
  neighborhood groups.

PROCEDURES:

1. A physical copy of all items intended for posting on a library bulletin board must first be
submitted for approval by a manager or staff member in charge. Materials left for consideration for posting cannot be held or returned. Due to time constraints, staff is unable to follow-up regarding posting status.
2. Approval will be granted based upon library policy and subject to available space. Dimensions may be restricted to maximize space.
3. All efforts will be made to approve submitted items within 48 hours of the time of submission.
4. Approved items will be dated and removed when they are no longer timely, or when space is required for more current items.
5. Items posted without approval will be removed and discarded.

EXCLUSIONS:

The following items/types will not be approved for use on bulletin boards:

1. Political campaign materials of a partisan nature urging people to vote for or against a
person or an issue.
2. Postings designed for individual or commercial profit or gain.
3. Postings containing content that could be considered discriminatory or harassing based on a group or individual's protected status or which advocates in any way for such discrimination.
4. Undated materials.

The staff is unable to monitor bulletin boards. No assurances can be made that notices will
remain posted for a specific period.

Exterior windows are reserved for the exclusive use of the Library, Alexandria Library Board,
Alexandria Library Foundation or The Friends of the Alexandria Library.

The Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of organizations permitted to post or
distribute information on its bulletin boards. The Library accepts no responsibility for loss or
damage to any item accepted for posting or for the accuracy of the information displayed.

In the event that a group or individual would like to challenge the staff’s decision not to display
an announcement/notice, a written appeal may be sent to the Library Director.

Revised March 2019, Approved by the City Attorney’s Office May 2019, Approved by the
Library Board June 2019

Bulletin Board Notice:

The Alexandria Library provides space for announcements/notices as a service to the public. All
notices must receive staff approval prior to being posted. The Library does not advocate or
endorse the viewpoints of organizations permitted to share information and accepts no
responsibility for the accuracy of information being displayed.

CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phone use is permitted in all Alexandria Library facilities, but customers are advised to
silence their cell phones by setting them to vibrate or mute. Discernible obscene, abusive,
threatening or insulting language while speaking on the phone will not be tolerated, either in
buildings or on library grounds.

Disruptive noise levels resulting from cell phone conversations and/or phone ringtones will be
addressed on a case by case basis as a noise-related issue. Library staff may direct any cell phone users to designated cell phone areas if staffers reasonably believe they are disturbing others. Staff reserves the right to ask customers to leave any Library building if cell phone use is overly disruptive.

Revised November 2018

Displays and Exhibits

The Alexandria Library (the Library) creates displays and exhibits that inform the community
and highlight library collections. The primary purpose of exhibits is to extend the Library’s role
as a cultural, educational and community-centered organization. Display space varies at each
location and display themes change year-to-year based on reading interests, current events and
other trends.

Due to limited space, display space is reserved for those exhibits sponsored by the Library and
created by library staff. At times, the Library will partner with organizations to host professionally designed exhibits of an educational nature. Approval for such exhibits must be
arranged through Library Administration.

Adopted 12/19/91 after review by City Attorney, Reviewed 1/05, Revised April 2019

FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS POLICY

All funds received at the Circulation desk must be deposited immediately into the Smart Money
Manager register. Staff members must login to Smart Money Manager using their unique login.
Records of funds received are reconciled daily, with any error properly documented.

Fines, fees and donations can be made by cash, check or charge.

Customers paying with a credit or debit card:

• The card will be processed through our secure charge machine.
• No copies of the customer’s account number, expiration date or CVV security code will
  be kept.
• A receipt is given to customers for every charge transaction showing the date of the
  transaction and the amount charged to the customer’s card.
• Alexandria Library does not accept credit or debit card charges by phone or by mail.

Customers paying with cash:

• Change can only be made from registers to allow customers to pay for services at
  Comprise kiosks. Not more than $20 per customer may be exchanged.

Customers paying with a check:

• Starter checks can be accepted with picture ID. The customers’ name and address must
  be written on the check.
• Customers will be charged a $25 service charge for a returned check plus any additional
  charges required by the Library’s bank.

Refunds for lost items:

• Once a lost item is paid for, a refund for the cost of the item (not the processing fee) can
  be refunded within 30 days, with the receipt.
• This refund option does not apply to leased books or audiovisual materials.
• To receive a refund, a Patron Refund Form must be completed.
• Refunds for meeting room reservations:
• Cancelling within seven days of the reservation will result in a $5 administrative fee for
  processing a refund.
• Refunds are returned to the customer’s credit card.

Refunds for the sale of library goods:

• Fees for library goods (i.e., flash drives, umbrellas, headphones) can be refunded up to
  three days from the date of purchase, with the receipt.
• To receive a refund, a Patron Refund Form must be completed.

All other fines and fees are nonrefundable.

Revised and approved by the Library Board June 2019

Alexandria Library Meeting Room Policy

Alexandria Library (the Library) offers meeting room space at the Beatley Central, Burke Branch and Duncan Branch Libraries. Please read and acknowledge this policy before you complete your reservation.

Eligibility:

To reserve a room, an applicant must have an active Alexandria Library adult card free of fees and blocks.

Applicants must reserve meeting room space using the Room Reservation System provided on the Library’s website.

Reservations:

Reservations are accepted up to three months in advance.

The Library will respond to your request as soon as possible and normally within three business days.

Reservations are limited to a maximum of one per seven day period and may be limited to no more than one per month at the Branch Manager's discretion to ensure equal access to space. Reservations can be made for up to 4 consecutive hours.

Meeting Room Regulations:

When not in use for library events or business, the Library’s meeting rooms are available to individuals and organizations for events of an educational, cultural or civic nature.

Library sponsored programs will receive first priority after which other applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. The Library reserves the right to cancel a meeting or reschedule if circumstances warrant, but will make every effort to accommodate groups or make alternative arrangements.

The fact that a group is permitted to meet at the Library does not in any way constitute an endorsement of the group’s policies or beliefs. Advertisements or announcements by any group implying such endorsement are not permitted.

Groups promoting non-library programs may include the Library’s name and address but not the Library’s telephone number. Advertisements cannot suggest Library sponsorship of the organization’s program or contain the Library’s logo.

The Library is not responsible for taking registrations for events.

Rooms may not be used for personal or commercial interests, including paid tutoring, or electioneering. No fees can be charged to attendees and suggested donations are prohibited.

No financial transactions may take place in the rooms or the Library, with the exception of sales by or through The Friends of the Alexandria Library or sponsored by the Alexandria Library Board or Alexandria Library Foundation.

No private parties are allowed in Library meeting rooms. This includes showers, receptions, birthday parties and purely social gatherings.

Groups must check-in and check-out with staff.

Rooms are held for 30 minutes after the scheduled reservation start time and then are considered unclaimed and will be made available to others.

An attendance count must be reported to staff during or immediately following the reservation.
No petitions may be circulated in library buildings.

Nothing may be attached to the walls or ceilings.

Rooms may not be locked while in use, nor can groups deny Library staff members entrance to the room at any time during their reservation.

Groups must vacate the room promptly at the end of their reservation. Groups that stay longer than their scheduled reservation will be charged additional fees.

Customer Responsibilities:

Users of the Alexandria Library meeting rooms must comply with the Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library and City of Alexandria, Administrative Regulations, 7-21, Prohibited Conduct and Behavior in City Facilities.

Groups with members under the age of 18 years must have one adult sponsor present at all times and children must be under direct supervision.

Group members are asked to leave the meeting room quietly to minimize disruptions for other customers.

Groups are responsible for room set-up and for leaving spaces clean, neat and orderly. Groups are responsible for any damage to or loss of library property.

Groups must agree to provide any accommodations that are requested in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Rooms and Hours Available:

Rooms are available from opening until one hour prior to closing.

Room Capacities:

• Beatley Large Meeting Room: 150 maximum capacity
• Beatley Small Conference Room: 10 maximum capacity
• Burke Meeting Room: 90 maximum capacity
• Duncan Meeting Room: 70 maximum capacity

The capacity of each room is determined by fire regulations and must not be exceeded.

Rental Fees:

Meeting Room $25 per hour
Conference Room (Beatley only) $10 per hour

*Requests made less than three days in advance will be charged an additional $5.00 per hour.

Payment:

Rooms are free of charge for individuals, governmental, and non-profit groups. For-profit organizations will be charged a modest fee for use of the room.

All required fees must be paid in-person on the day of your reservation before it begins. Fees are charged by the hour with half hours pro-rated.

Meeting Room Equipment, Food, Drink:

Contact the individual branch for details regarding available equipment. Library staff cannot provide IT support during meetings or programs.

The Library is not responsible for interruptions to the wireless connection.

The Library is not responsible for a user’s equipment or materials.

Covered drinks are allowed, but food is not permitted. Alcohol is prohibited on Library property.

Meeting Room Cancellations:

Reservations can be managed online and may be cancelled at any time up to seven days prior to room use.

Contact the individual branch to cancel within seven days of the reservation.

Groups are responsible for contacting the Library during inclement weather to determine if the Library will remain open. The Library posts closures on its phone lines, website and social media pages.

Failure to notify the Library of cancellations may result in denial of future reservations.

The Library reserves the right to cancel a meeting or reschedule if circumstances warrant.

Parking:

Parking is limited at the Libraries and carpooling is encouraged.

Failure to observe these regulations may result in expulsion and denial of future reservation requests. The Library reserves the right to amend the meeting room policy as needed.

Revised August 2024

Petitioning, Campaigning and Free Speech Activities

Alexandria Library (the Library) allows free speech activities in specific outdoor areas on library
properties. Free speech activities include, but are not limited to petitioning, leafleting and/or
campaign activities.

• Petitioning, canvassing and passive citizen engagement initiatives designed to contact,
  survey, gather signatures, share information and inform citizens about various topics are
  only allowed within designated areas outside of library buildings. See the attached maps
  which indicate where such activities may take place.
• No petitioning, canvassing or similar types of citizen engagement initiatives are allowed
  inside library buildings, unless conducted under the auspices of the Library or a City
  agency.
• Activities must not impede access to library buildings or interfere with access by library
  customers.
• Petitioners/individuals must check-in with the Manager in Charge prior to their activity
  and provide contact information for themselves and for the group for which they are
  working for emergency, safety and liability purposes.
• Individuals are not guaranteed the use of an area protected from sun, heat or other
  inclement weather.
• The Library will not provide tables and chairs, but petitioners/individuals have the option
  to bring one small portable table (24” x 18” approx.) and two chairs. Access to power is
  not available. Tents are not permitted.
• Signs and posters cannot be affixed to the building.
• Sound amplification and/or other equipment cannot be used.
• No monies or donations can be collected, solicited, or accepted.
• The individual or group petitioning or conducting similar citizen initiatives is responsible
  for the information presented. Permission to use property does not imply that the Library
  endorses an individual or organization’s mission, purposes or policies.
• Individuals must adhere to the Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library for
  behavior and may not actively pursue, harass or intimidate library customers or staff.
  Individuals who are reported to engage in improper behavior may be asked to leave the
  premises.
• The Library reserves the right to refuse individuals, groups, or organizations space for
  petitioning. Refusal can be based upon, but is not limited to:
  • Disruption of normal library business operations, such as obstructing entrance and
    exit of library facilities
  • Petitioning outside of normal business hours.
• Failure to comply with any of the above guidelines may result in your removal from the
  property.
• On Election Days, at precinct locations, any guidelines followed by the Office of Voter
  Registration and Elections take precedence over the Library policy.

Petitioning Maps

Approved by the City Attorney’s Office and Adopted by the Library Board December 2019

Test Proctoring

The Alexandria Library (the Library) offers proctoring services for the public at the Beatley
Central, Barrett, and Burke Branch libraries. The Library reserves the right to decline to proctor
any exam at the Library’s discretion.

Guidelines:

• Proctoring costs $40 per exam.
• Exams are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Exams must be scheduled one week before the test date; librarians do not proctor exams
  on demand.
• All exams must be completed 30 minutes before closing.
• Librarians will proctor online exams if the student provides his or her own Wi-Fi enabled
  laptop. The library also offers a limited number of laptops for online exams. The student
  must request the use of a library laptop when he or she schedules the exam. The student
  is responsible for letting the library know of any software requirements in advance of the
  testing date.
• Exams will be proctored in an open area; we do not provide a silent room for exams.
• The student is responsible for compliance with all testing agency requirements.
• The librarian will return the test via mail/fax/email to the learning institution upon
  completion. Exams are returned via the Alexandria Library mailroom. The Library
  reserves the right to return facsimile or emailed exams via the U.S. Postal Service.
• The Library provides no test taking materials. Calculators or any other special equipment
  are the responsibility of the test-taker.
• Proctoring is not offered for driving tests.
• At the present time, we are unable to proctor exams from international universities and
  businesses.

Costs & Expenses:

The Alexandria Library charges a $40 fee per exam for proctoring services, payable by cash,
check or credit card. Checks should be made payable to the Alexandria Library. The fee includes
printing, faxing, and normal mailing costs. Special return mailing costs will incur an extra fee.

Missed Appointments:

If the student needs to reschedule an appointment, the librarian will do so for a date and time
convenient to both parties. If a student misses his or her appointment without a valid reason, the librarian will return the uncompleted exam to the learning institution. The Library is under no
obligation to reschedule an exam.

Revised July 2, 2025

Proctoring Times:

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library
5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304-2903
703-746-1702 or email ssevern@alexlibraryva.org

Monday- Thursday: 10:00 am—8:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Saturday: 1:00 pm—5:00 pm

Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA 22304
703-746-1704 or email cpak@alexlibraryva.org

Monday- Thursday: 10:00 am—8:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Saturday: 1:00 pm—5:00 pm

Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
703-746-1703 or email kthorp@alexlibraryva.org

Monday- Thursday: 10:00 am—8:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Saturday: 1:00 pm—5:00 pm

Proctoring is available during the Libraries’ open hours, but exams must be completed 30
minutes before closing.

Scheduling for your exam will depend upon staff availability.

Alexandria Library Proctoring Web Page

Security Camera Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the placement and use of video security cameras, as well as the access to and retrieval of recorded video images at the Alexandria Library (the Library).

The Library attempts to offer a welcoming, open atmosphere and provide a quiet, comfortable and safe environment where people can use library facilities and collections for their intended purposes.

Security cameras are used where needed to provide peace of mind to library users and staff by discouraging violations of the Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library, to assist staff in preventing the occurrence of any violations, and when necessary, to provide law enforcement assistance in prosecuting criminal activity.

The Library values customer privacy and works to maintain appropriate confidentiality of its users while protecting the public through cooperation with law enforcement. This policy should be interpreted with the understanding that the image of a person on library property is not protected, but anything that would identify materials used by a library customer is protected and held private.

Signs will be posted throughout library facilities informing library visitors that security cameras are in use.

Camera Placement

• Cameras may be placed in both indoor and outdoor areas where security staff and designated library staff may randomly or regularly monitor activity.
• Cameras may be installed in public spaces where individuals lack a reasonable expectation of privacy. Examples include common areas of the library such as entrances, book stacks, public seating areas, hallways, stairways, delivery areas and parking lots.
• Cameras may be installed in areas that could assist law enforcement in documenting traffic accidents or other incidents unrelated to the Library that take place on the public streets and surrounding properties within camera view. Examples include cameras on the exterior of a library building that not only document activity on Library property but also the sidewalk, public streets, and surrounding properties.
• Cameras will not be installed in areas of the Library where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as in restrooms and private offices.
• Cameras may be installed in staff areas where additional security measures are needed.

Access to Camera Footage

• Access to stored camera footage is given to designated managers, Information Technology and Administration staff. Footage will be viewed on desktop monitors placed in secure areas to ensure privacy.
• Customer access to video footage is not allowed without a court order.
• Access is also allowed by police pursuant to a subpoena, court order, or unless otherwise required by law. Law enforcement should consult with the Branch Manager or Library Administration for access.
• In emergency circumstances, when there is concern of immediate danger on or off library property, law enforcement will be provided immediate access to security video footage without a subpoena.
• Production of video copies for distribution is limited to designated managers, Information Technology, Administration staff and law enforcement.

Storage of Camera Footage

• Images will be stored for a length of time based on available storage, but no longer than 30 days, unless someone has specifically requested retention. As new images are recorded, the oldest images will be automatically deleted. The length of storage time varies depending on the camera’s memory and recording length.
• In situations involving banned individuals, stored still images may be shared with staff system-wide. The Library is not responsible for loss of property or personal injury; staff and public should take appropriate precautions for their safety and for the security of personal property.

Approved by the City Attorney’s Office, May 2019; Approved by the Library Board June 2019

Alexandria Library follows the City of Alexandria Policy regarding Service Animals in public places.

View the City of Alexandria's Guide to Service Animals

SMOKING POLICY

The Alexandria Library is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for customers and staff. Smoking is prohibited in all library facilities, including public and non-public spaces, and library vehicles. The ban includes all tobacco products, any burnable product, electronic cigarettes and vaporizers. This pertains to staff, customers, contractors and vendors. Smoking is discouraged near the entrances and exits of all Library facilities. While smoking, individuals may not hinder entrance to or exit from a library facility or impede library business.

Smoking Maps

Approved by the City Attorney’s Office, May 2019, Approved by the Library Board June 2019

Telephone Use Policy Alexandria Library telephones are reserved for staff use for official business. Telephone lines need to be kept open at all times to allow staff to assist customers and answer questions. Library telephones may not be used for personal calls on the part of customers. Calls can be made on a customer’s behalf in the following circumstances:

• If the health, safety or security of the customer depends upon a telephone call
• To report an incident to the police or for emergency transportation
• Children under the age of 18 may call their caregiver for transportation

In the event of an emergency, which requires the use of the telephone, the staff person on duty may make a telephone call on the customer’s behalf.

In locations with public pay phones, staff may monitor all use of phones and reserves the right to advise if customer behavior or the call’s subject matter violates Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library.

Revised December 2018

UNATTENDED OR DISRUPTIVE CHILDREN

The Alexandria Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services. However, responsibility for the children rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone, not with library personnel.

Children under the age of eight (8) cannot be left unattended in the library. They must be accompanied by an individual sixteen years or older. Parents or chaperones who bring in children for story time and other library programs must remain in the building.

Children eight or older may use the library unattended, subject to other library policies and procedures concerning behavior, conduct, and demeanor.

Disruptive children will not be allowed to interfere with library service to others. If the disruptive behavior continues, the child or children will be asked to leave the library. Disruptive behavior is any behavior on library premises which infringes on the right of others using the library.

If children are discovered unattended, library staff will attempt to contact their parents and/or the police.

Reviewed 1/05

Alexandria Library Filming and Photography Policy

The filming and photography described below is allowed only to the extent that it does not interfere with library operations, services, programs and activities and is consistent with the Rules Governing Use of the Alexandria Library.

Note that any persons filming or photographing on library premises have sole responsibility for gaining all necessary releases and permissions from persons who are filmed or photographed. The Library undertakes no responsibility for obtaining these releases.

Permission to film may be revoked at any time if the activity fails to comply with this policy or is disruptive to the Library’s operations. Library staff may terminate any photo or filming session that appears to compromise public safety or security.

Photography for Library Use

Programs or events sponsored by Alexandria Library may be photographed or filmed by the Library’s staff or its representatives. Attendance at an Alexandria Library-sponsored program or event constitutes the consent of all attendees, and the consent of the parents or legal guardians of any minor children in attendance, to the future broadcast, publication, or other use of photographs or videos at the sole discretion of Alexandria Library. Photos, images, and videos submitted to the Library by users for online galleries or contests may also be used by the Library for promotional purposes. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full name without written approval from the guardian. If a customer does not want the Library to use a photo or video of them or of their child, they must inform the Library staff member who is coordinating the event.

News Media Photography

The Library has an open door policy for news media photographers and reporters who are doing stories or projects that directly involve the library and its programs. Advance authorization for such photography must be obtained from the Library’s Communications Office. The Library does not grant permission for news media to use its facilities for stories or projects that do not relate to the Library; however, research photography of the Library's materials and resources is permitted within certain limitations (see "Research Photography" section below). The Library does not allow use of its facilities as interview venues for unrelated stories, and does not allow access to library users for opinion polls or “man on the street” interviews within its facilities.

Documentary-Type Photography for Publication or Broadcast

The Library permits filming or photography of its premises and activities when the use of the film or photographs involves the Library directly, e.g., books, articles, or videos about the Library, the Library’s position in the City of Alexandria as a tourist or learning destination, or as part of a piece used to describe our city’s environs. Advance authorization must be obtained from the Library’s Communications Office.

Commercial Photography

The Library does not permit commercial photography on or in its facilities. This includes, but is not limited to, using library buildings, grounds or interiors as a stage set for portraiture, model photography, and product photography. It includes photography or filming used to advertise goods or services unrelated to the Library for commercial sale or promotion.

Research Photography

The Library permits research photography of its materials and resources within certain limitations. Researchers and journalists are responsible for obtaining their own permissions when photographing copyrighted material in the Library. Additional permissions must be obtained from Local History/Special Collections to photograph materials or items in special collections. Because of copyright and preservation issues, permission to reproduce materials from this branch may be denied or involve a fee. Please discuss your needs with a staff member and obtain advance authorization before planning your project.

Amateur Photography

Casual amateur photography and filming is permitted in library facilities for customers and visitors wanting a remembrance of their visit, provided that the photography does not interfere in any way with library operations or capture any identifiable likenesses of individuals without their permission. The use of additional equipment such as lighting is not permitted.

Movie Industry

The Library will permit use of its facilities by the movie or music industry for filming major entertainment projects where a library setting is needed, if the project does not interfere with the Library’s operations, is in accordance with the rest of this policy and does not advertise or promote commercial products. Filming may not be related to political campaigns or to partisan issues, because Alexandria Library wishes to avoid any appearance, no matter how slight, of impropriety or impression of political preference. These projects must be approved in advance through the Library’s Communications Office, with details worked out in advance with the Library. Such filming may take place only during hours when the Library is closed, and all equipment must be removed during the Library’s operating hours. Library personnel such as are necessary to open, secure, and remain on the premises during a shoot must be paid at overtime rates by the production company.

Photography for Groups and Non-Library Events

Groups arranging meetings in library facilities may arrange for photographers and news media during their event. Photography for such events is restricted to the space reserved by the group and may not take place in other areas of the Library.

For commercial/media requests, please contact the Library Communications Office.

The Library reserves the right to amend the Filming and Photography Policy as needed.

Approved by City Attorney: July 2018
Approved by the Library Board: 17 September 2018

GIFT POLICY

Overview and Purpose

The Alexandria Library (the Library) welcomes donations, including gifts of money, books and other materials, artwork, documents, photographs, or property of any kind that support and further the Library’s mission and goals. It is understood that such gifts and bequests should not replace public support, but enable the Library to provide and enhance services in ways not possible within the current operating budget. The purpose of this policy is to specify the type of donations that the Library will accept and how the Library will handle these donations. Donations of any gifts not specified in this policy will be considered on an individual basis.

General Policies

Gifts for collections, services or enhancing facilities and grounds are accepted in honor or in memoriam of a person or event. Whenever possible, the Library will choose items that accommodate the donor’s preferences. The name(s) of the donor(s) and those recognized by the gift will be listed if so desired. Individuals interested in naming opportunities within library facilities are encouraged to consult with Alexandria Library’s Administrative Office.

The Library cannot and does not appraise books, artwork, or any other items. Donors who wish to determine the value of a donation must make all arrangements for and assume all costs of an appraisal prior to donation.

All gifts accepted by the Library become the property of the Library, which reserves the right to retain, use, sell or dispose of the items, as needed, and in a fashion determined by the Library. Potential donors should remember that libraries are used extensively and sustain losses through theft, mutilation and ordinary wear. Resources with obsolete and/or misleading information may be discarded with time. Therefore, the Library cannot guarantee that any gift will remain permanently.

The Library maintains the right to decide when, where, and under what conditions donated materials may be used or displayed.

In some cases (e.g. photographs and other special materials), the donation must be accompanied by a statement from the donor regarding ownership of the item’s copyright and its provenance.

The Library will provide a timely, written acknowledgement to the donor and, if desired, to a recognized individual or organization. Income tax regulations leave the determination of the gift’s monetary value to the donor.

The Library reserves the right to refuse any gifts the Library Board and/or staff deem not in its best interests to accept.

Monetary Gifts

Monetary gifts are welcome. Donors wishing to contribute to a specific collection, facility, program, service, etc., are encouraged to work with staff to determine the best use for their donation.

The Alexandria Library Board will not accept gifts of principal for investment, the income of which is to be used for Library purposes, unless the gift is for $25,000 or more. Further the restrictions placed on any monetary gift must be approved by the Library Board. Gifts of less than $25,000 may be given with suggestions as to the use of such funds.

Art and Decorative Objects

The Library accepts gifts of art, including paintings and photographs, and decorative objects. For insurance purposes, some items may require an appraisal.

The Library determines the placement and display of such items, though Library staff will consider the wishes of the donor regarding the item’s location.

The Library will not accept art or decorative objects that cannot be properly cared for or secured by the Library within its normal operating procedures.

If expenses are involved with maintenance, display, security, etc., the donor may be expected to provide monetary support for these activities.

Furniture and Equipment

The Library does not accept furniture for public use, office furniture, or technology equipment (desktops, laptops, tablets or peripheral equipment).

Materials

The Library accepts materials in good condition, including but not limited to, books, audio books and audio-visual materials.

The Library does not accept magazines, encyclopedias, textbooks, audio cassettes, records or VHS tapes.

Library staff evaluates materials according to the Library’s selection policies.

Collections may be accepted and only with the understanding that the collection may not remain intact.

Materials not accepted for the Library’s collection are generally offered to Friends of the Library organizations for inclusion in book sales. The Friends of the Library may sell or dispose of the items as needed.

Memorabilia and Realia

The Library accepts gifts of real items (three-dimensional objects such as antiques, documents, scrapbooks, photographs, etc.). Most acceptable items in this category will be those that have cultural or historical significance to the Alexandria/Northern Virginia region and are appropriate for inclusion in the Local History/Special Collections Branch. For insurance purposes, some items may require an appraisal.

The Library determines the placement and display of an item, though Library staff will consider the wishes of the donor regarding the item’s location.

The Library will not accept real items that cannot be properly cared for or secured by the Library within its normal operating procedures.

If expenses are involved with maintenance and display of the item, the donor may be expected to provide monetary support for these activities.

Real Estate

The Library accepts gifts of real property that support or could be sold to support the Library’s mission. Such offers will be handled by Library Administration in consultation with the Library Board and the City of Alexandria to determine the gift’s suitability and the terms of acceptance compatible with the Library’s policies, the donor’s intent and any applicable laws.

Make a Donation Online

For Cash Donations or Deed of Gift Donations, please visit a library and request the relevant form.

Revised December 2018

THE FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT

The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries. These actions apparently rise from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship and suppression are needed to counter threats to safety or national security, as well as to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of morals. We, as individuals devoted to reading and as librarians and publishers responsible for disseminating ideas, wish to assert the public interest in the preservation of the freedom to read.

Most attempts at suppression rest on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary individual, by exercising critical judgment, will select the good and reject the bad. We trust Americans to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. We do not believe they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be "protected" against what others think may be bad for them. We believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression.

These efforts at suppression are related to a larger pattern of pressures being brought against education, the press, art and images, films, broadcast media, and the Internet. The problem is not only one of actual censorship. The shadow of fear cast by these pressures leads, we suspect, to an even larger voluntary curtailment of expression by those who seek to avoid controversy or unwelcome scrutiny by government officials.

Such pressure toward conformity is perhaps natural to a time of accelerated change. And yet suppression is never more dangerous than in such a time of social tension. Freedom has given the United States the elasticity to endure strain. Freedom keeps open the path of novel and creative solutions, and enables change to come by choice. Every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with controversy and difference.

Now as always in our history, reading is among our greatest freedoms. The freedom to read and write is almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of expression that can initially command only a small audience. The written word is the natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions to social growth. It is essential to the extended discussion that serious thought requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections.

We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. We believe that these pressures toward conformity present the danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend. We believe that every American community must jealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own freedom to read. We believe that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers to choose freely from a variety of offerings.

The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free people will stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the responsibilities that accompany these rights.

We therefore affirm these propositions:

1.It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.

Creative thought is by definition new, and what is new is different. The bearer of every new thought is a rebel until that idea is refined and tested. Totalitarian systems attempt to maintain themselves in power by the ruthless suppression of any concept that challenges the established orthodoxy. The power of a democratic system to adapt to change is vastly strengthened by the freedom of its citizens to choose widely from among conflicting opinions offered freely to them. To stifle every nonconformist idea at birth would mark the end of the democratic process. Furthermore, only through the constant activity of weighing and selecting can the democratic mind attain the strength demanded by times like these. We need to know not only what we believe but why we believe it.

2.Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated.

Publishers and librarians serve the educational process by helping to make available knowledge and ideas required for the growth of the mind and the increase of learning. They do not foster education by imposing as mentors the patterns of their own thought. The people should have the freedom to read and consider a broader range of ideas than those that may be held by any single librarian or publisher or government or church. It is wrong that what one can read should be confined to what another thinks proper.

3.It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.

No art or literature can flourish if it is to be measured by the political views or private lives of its creators. No society of free people can flourish that draws up lists of writers to whom it will not listen, whatever they may have to say.

4.There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.

To some, much of modern expression is shocking. But is not much of life itself shocking? We cut off literature at the source if we prevent writers from dealing with the stuff of life. Parents and teachers have a responsibility to prepare the young to meet the diversity of experiences in life to which they will be exposed, as they have a responsibility to help them learn to think critically for themselves. These are affirmative responsibilities, not to be discharged simply by preventing them from reading works for which they are not yet prepared. In these matters values differ, and values cannot be legislated; nor can machinery be devised that will suit the demands of one group without limiting the freedom of others.

5.It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous.

The ideal of labeling presupposes the existence of individuals or groups with wisdom to determine by authority what is good or bad for others. It presupposes that individuals must be directed in making up their minds about the ideas they examine. But Americans do not need others to do their thinking for them.

6.It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large; and by the government whenever it seeks to reduce or deny public access to public information.

It is inevitable in the give and take of the democratic process that the political, the moral, or the aesthetic concepts of an individual or group will occasionally collide with those of another individual or group. In a free society individuals are free to determine for themselves what they wish to read, and each group is free to determine what it will recommend to its freely associated members. But no group has the right to take the law into its own hands, and to impose its own concept of politics or morality upon other members of a democratic society. Freedom is no freedom if it is accorded only to the accepted and the inoffensive. Further, democratic societies are more safe, free, and creative when the free flow of public information is not restricted by governmental prerogative or self-censorship.

7.It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, they can demonstrate that the answer to a "bad" book is a good one, the answer to a "bad" idea is a good one.

The freedom to read is of little consequence when the reader cannot obtain matter fit for that reader's purpose. What is needed is not only the absence of restraint, but the positive provision of opportunity for the people to read the best that has been thought and said. Books are the major channel by which the intellectual inheritance is handed down, and the principal means of its testing and growth. The defense of the freedom to read requires of all publishers and librarians the utmost of their faculties, and deserves of all Americans the fullest of their support.

We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake out a lofty claim for the value of the written word. We do so because we believe that it is possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.

This statement was originally issued in May of 1953 by the Westchester Conference of the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers Council, which in 1970 consolidated with the American Educational Publishers Institute to become the Association of American Publishers.

---

Adopted June 25, 1953; revised January 28, 1972, January 16, 1991, July 12, 2000, June 30, 2004, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee.

A Joint Statement by:

American Library Association
Association of American Publishers

Reviewed 1/05

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND TRANSLATION POLICY

Alexandria City Policy stipulates that City departments should ensure that Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) receive the language assistance necessary to allow "meaningful access" to services offered by City departments. Library staff should assist Persons with Limited English Proficiency in securing Library cards and signing up for Library computers. Any other assistance that uses non-Library staff to assist in translation may violate a patron's expectation of privacy or confidentiality as stated by our privacy policy.

If a person with Limited English Proficiency appears to want to secure a Library card, staff can try to guess the language spoken and find a staff member within their building who speaks their language. If this does not work, staff can display a Language Identification Card supplied by Language Line, the City's translation vendor, and have the LEP person identify his or her spoken language. Library staff can either locate a staff member who speaks the language within the four Library branches (see “Languages Spoken at Alexandria Library” located at service desks) or call Language Line.

Patron Surveys written in English will ask patrons "What languages do you speak?" and "What languages do you read?" Patron Surveys should also be available in Spanish, which is the second most spoken language in Alexandria. Documents on securing a Library card (Welcome to the Library brochure and library card registration forms) and on using our computers will be made available in Spanish.

The Library is NOT responsible for explaining how to use Library computers to LEP patrons other than how to sign up for one. The Library will not use staff or call Language Line to have books or webpages read to LEP patrons nor have classes, or other programs translated.

LEP patrons can only be told directly by Library staff which titles of books or other Library materials are overdue or checked out on their accounts. Using a translator not employed by the Library places the patron's privacy in jeopardy.

Library staff that is asked to translate must be at work though not necessarily in the same building as the LEP person he or she has been asked to translate for. Translating for an LEP person can be considered "other duties as assigned" in each Library employees' job description; however, no staff member should be forced to translate, to translate for any other City department, or be called at home to translate. The name of the translating staff member can only be given by the translating staff member if he or she chooses to give it.

Procedures on how to call Language Line and how to use Language Line's Language Identification Cards are on the Identification Cards located at service desks.

Adopted 4/04, Reviewed 1/05

LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

PRIVACY

The Alexandria Library adheres to the exclusion under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, VA Code 2.2-3705A#10, regarding patron records. The code is found in the Reference Department. There is also a link to this section of the code from the Library’s website (alexlibraryva.org/confidentiality-of-library-records).

Records of patrons may not be seen by anyone other than the person signing the card. The exception is that the parent or guardian of a child up to the age of twelve may see the child’s record.

The following notice is posted in all Library buildings, as directed by Alexandria City Council Resolution No. 2088 (11/11/03):

WARNING: Under Section 215 of the federal “USA Patriot” Act (Public Law 107-56), records of the books and other materials you borrow may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits librarians from informing you if records about you have been requested or obtained by federal agents. Questions about this policy should be directed to:

Attorney General John Ashcroft
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC 20530

RULES GOVERNING USE OF THE ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY

The purpose of the Alexandria Library is to provide a place, and an opportunity, for members of the public to read, study, and use the various materials that the library maintains. The Library supports the right of all citizens to take advantage of this opportunity and to do so in an atmosphere that is conducive to studying, reading, and enjoying its resources. To help ensure that this opportunity and this atmosphere are available to all its facilities, the Library has adopted the following rules of conduct. These rules, unless stated otherwise, apply to all patrons while on library property. Thus, they apply while persons are within any library building and on any library grounds.¹ The Library shares the City of Alexandria’s commitment to maintaining a drug-free environment.

PATRONS SHALL:

• Engage only in activities associated with the use of a public library. Patrons not reading, studying or using library materials will be required to leave the building.
• Respect the right of other patrons. Patrons shall not engage in conduct which disrupts, disturbs, or in any way interferes with normal library operations and service, with the library staff’s performance of their duties, or with the use and enjoyment of the library by other patrons. Thus, no patron shall:
  • engage in any noisy or boisterous activity,
  • stare at another person with the intent to annoy that person,
  • follow another person with the intent to annoy that person,
  • play or set electronic and/or audio equipment at a level that others can hear,
  • sing or talk loudly to others or in a monologue, or
  • behave in any other manner which can reasonably be expected to disturb others in their use and enjoyment of the library.

PATRONS SHALL NOT:

• Consume food, drink from uncovered containers, smoke or use tobacco or tobacco products inside library buildings. To protect our materials and the archival conditions of this environment, no food or drink (even in covered or re-sealable containers) is allowed in Local History/Special Collections.
• Use obscene, abusive, threatening or insulting language or engage in obscene acts.
• Use or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
• Engage in any illegal activity.
• Mutilate, deface, or mar any library property. Library property includes books, magazines, newspapers, audio cassettes, or other items in the library collection, and furnishings, walls, machines, and other library property.
• Be present in the building without shirt or shoes. Patrons must wear a covering of their upper bodies and shoes or other footwear while in the library building.
• Bathe or wash clothing in library restrooms.
• Sleep.
• Bring pets or other animals (other than service animals) into a library building.
• Leave children under eight, or others in need of supervision, unattended.
• Steal library materials. Shopping bags, purses, briefcases, backpacks, etc. are subject to inspection by library staff or security guards.
• Park vehicles on library premises other than in connection with the patron’s use of the library. Patrons visiting the parks adjacent to the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library may park in the library’s parking lot during their visit. All other vehicles are subject to towing, at the vehicle owner’s expense.
• Rollerblade or skateboard.
• Bring bicycles into library buildings. Bicycles should be parked and secured to the bicycle rack(s) in front of the library building.
• Use library grounds, facilities or equipment for other than library purposes without permission of library authorities.
• Possess weapons except for lawfully possessed firearms.
• Sell goods.
• Allow cell phones to ring or talk loudly on cell phones.
• Leave unattended packages on Library property.

A patron who is not complying with any of these rules will be required to leave the library premises. If the patron refuses to leave, the patron will be considered a trespasser, and will be subject to arrest by the Alexandria police.

Any patron who violates these rules may be denied the privilege of access to the Alexandria Library by the Library Board, on the recommendation of the Director of Libraries. A patron whose privilege to use the library has so been denied may petition to the Library Board for reinstatement of the privilege.

¹These rules are in addition to those governing patron conduct which are set out in the City of Alexandria's Administrative Regulation 7-21, "Prohibited Conduct and Behavior in City Facilities."

REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY CITY ATTORNEY: August 1995 REVISED AND APPROVED BY THE LIBRARY BOARD: 18 September 1995, 19 September 2002, 16 June 2003, 19 April 2004, 15 September 2008

STAFF PRIVACY

A staff member, like a patron, has an expectation of a certain level of privacy. Personal information like name, working schedule, phone number, home address, and interests may not be disclosed to patrons or the public in general. Within reason, authorized Library staff, such as Administration and supervisors, can be given some personal information, such as name and working schedule, on a currently-employed staff member. If government agents ask for information on a staff member, Administration should be notified immediately before any personal information is disclosed.

Reviewed 1/05

LOCAL HISTORY/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
PHOTOGRAPHIC DUPLICATION POLICY

Local History provides a photo duplication and digital imaging service for the convenience of our patrons. The fees and requirements which govern this service are updated frequently. Contact the division for current pricing.

• Photographs may be used once only for the purpose stated in this agreement's "Statement of Intended Use." Additional permission must be obtained for subsequent or different use.
• Photographs may not be transferred into other hands for reproduction, redistribution or use in any other enterprise. Refer requests back to Local History for permission.
• Published or exhibited photographs must display the credit line: ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY, LOCAL HISTORY
• You must obtain permission from the owner to publish a copyrighted photograph.
• We supply prints, not negatives.
• You may duplicate photographs in Local History with your own photography equipment with permission of the staff. Such duplication is subject to the same user fees as professional duplication.

Image Use Fees (Fees are subject to change without notice)

Personal, not-for-profit (per image): $ 10.00
Commercial use (per image): $ 25.00
Advertising use (per image): $ 100.00

Reviewed 1/05

LOCAL HISTORY/SPECIAL COLLECTION POLICY

• The objective of the Alexandria Library Local History/Special Collections is to acquire and make available to the public materials relating to the history and genealogy of Alexandria, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The library will also acquire materials relating to the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the states of the old confederacy to a limited extent.
• The collection will consist of books, maps, pictures, ephemera, photographs, microformat publications, manuscripts, oral history, periodicals, newspapers, and multimedia and electronic media materials, covering the recorded history of the areas listed above.
• The Local History/Special Collections Division adheres to the policy of the Alexandria Library regarding donations of materials.
• Materials in the collection which do not meet the selection criteria may be declared surplus to the needs of the Library and disposed of as the Library Director shall decide. Every effort will be made to transfer surplus materials to the other libraries where they may be used effectively to serve the public. With the approval of the Director, surplus materials may be exchanged with other institutions for needed additions to the collection. No member of the Library may acquire material declared surplus to the Library collection. If an item from the collection is sold, the money received must be deposited to funds to build the collection.
• A record shall be kept of rare items purchased or materials acquired as gifts in accordance with the Records and Retention Disposal Schedule.
• At the discretion of the Director and/or the Alexandria Library Board, materials may be accepted on long term loan provided they are to be made available to the public on the same terms as other library materials.
• Insurance coverage of materials on loan is the responsibility of the person placing the material in the library. If the exhibitor wishes to arrange for library coverage, it may be done.

Reviewed 1/05

LOCAL HISTORY/ SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LOAN POLICY

Organizations may arrange loans of specific items in the Local History Collection for exhibits or special events by requesting permission from the Branch Librarian of Local History. Appropriate forms are available at the Local History/Special Collections Division. Items in the Local History Collection are not available for loan to individuals or through interlibrary loan.

Reviewed 1/05