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CIRCULATING E-BOOK READERS
COMPUTER SERVICES POLICY
1. INTRODUCTION: The Berkshire Athenaeum exists to initiate, nurture and feed a passion for knowledge and learning, and as one of its primary goals, “People of all ages will have their questions answered or have the necessary resources provided to them to discover answers for themselves.” Supporting this goal, the Athenaeum offers e-book readers (“readers”) from the Reference Department.
2. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: Available readers include the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Sony Reader.
3. POLICY:
- Visitors to the Athenaeum may borrow an e-book reader with their C/W MARS library cards for one week loan periods.
- Only library cardholders whose accounts are in good standing may check out readers.
- The cardholder is liable for the reader while it is checked out to that cardholder.
- The cardholder will be charged $200 for any reader not returned to the Reference Desk.
- Borrowers who return readers late will be fined $5.00 per day (or portion thereof).
- Readers must be checked out from and returned to the Reference Desk.
- Each reader has a protective cover. To prevent damage to the device, its cover, or its cover attachments, the library requires patrons not remove the device from its cover. The cardholder will be charged $45 for a missing or damaged protective cover.
- Readers will be checked out with a power cord and a protective canvas tote bag. The cardholder will be charged $30 for any power cord and $10 for any tote bag not returned with a reader.
- Readers are searchable in the library’s online catalog, where they are identified as “Pittsfield Kindle,” “Pittsfield Nook,” and “Pittsfield SONY.” The catalog record for each device includes a detailed, searchable listing of the device content.
- There are no renewals on reader loans.
- Patrons may place a hold on a reader with their library card using the standard C/WMARS hold function. Alternatively, patrons may request Reference Department staff place a hold on a reader on their behalf. Patrons may place a hold on only one reader at a time. Reserved readers must be picked up from and returned directly to the Pittsfield Reference Department.
- Persons violating the terms of library policy may have their privilege of using library readers suspended or revoked.
4. ADDING CONTENT:
- Content on the readers will be subject to the Berkshire Athenaeum’s Collection Development Policy. E-book reader content is chosen to provide a variety of reading material for patrons who want to try out these devices and includes a variety of classic public domain titles available in compatible formats, and a selection of contemporary titles chosen from the fiction and nonfiction bestseller lists.
- E-book reader content is preloaded by library staff. Patrons should not add or remove content from a borrowed reader, however they are encouraged to submit suggestions to the Reference Department for additional content.
5. PROCEDURES:
- While not in use, the circulating readers are kept in the Reference Department.
- Whenever practical, Reference Department employees will plug the readers in between uses to make sure the batteries are fully charged.
- Patrons with accounts not in good standing will be referred to the Circulation Department for resolution.
- Borrowers are to be invited to direct technical questions regarding the use of readers to Reference Department personnel.
- Patrons who experience problems with the eBook reader devices should not attempt to troubleshoot; problems should be brought to the attention of Reference Department staff.
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Updated March 2011