Skip to content
Library Policies
Circulation Policies

The following policies provide information about how to obtain a library card, material loan periods, and charges for overdue or damaged items.

OBTAINING A LIBRARY CARD

Resident Library Card
Residents of Ladoga and Clark Township are eligible for a free library card. Patrons must complete an application form and provide proof of identity and residence, such as an Indiana Driver’s license, a prior month’s utility bill/receipt, or a current property tax receipt.

Any person under 18 years of age applying for a library card must have the application signed by the responsible parent or guardian. Adults must present their social security number and/or driver’s license to the library staff before a card will be issued.

Non-Resident Library Card
Individuals outside of the Ladoga-Clark township area may apply for a card as well. The cost of a card is $45.

Loan Periods
All materials have a three-week loan period. The library now offers automatic renewal. At the end of the original loan period, items will renew for an additional three weeks. This will occur twice, allowing items to be out for up to 9 weeks. Automatic renewal will not be available if the patron card has excessive fines, or if the item is on hold to another patron.

Damaged Items
Patrons are responsible for damaged or lost library materials. The replacement cost for a lost or damaged but not easily repaired item is determined by the latest published cost.

Click here for more information on Evergreen Indiana Circulation Policy.

Code of Ethics

Principles of Ethical Conduct for Ladoga-Clark Township Public Library Employees

  1. Public service is a public trust; employees must place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain.
  2. Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
  3. Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
  4. Employee shall not, except as permitted by the Standards of Ethical Conduct, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee’s agency, or whose interest may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s duties. 
  5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties. 
  6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.
  7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
  8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual. 
  9. Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
  10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities-including seeking or negotiating for employment-that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities. 
  11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse and corruption to appropriate authorities.
  12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all financial obligations, especially those imposed by law, such as Federal, state or local taxes.
  13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
  14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards promulgated pursuant to this order.

Updated: 2/23/2021

Computer/Internet Policies

THE LIBRARY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO VISUALLY MONITOR THE USE OF ALL COMPUTERS.

The Ladoga-Clark Twp Public Library offers access to information resources on the Internet in response to advances in technology and to the changing information needs of the community.  Internet access is one of many components of the library’s resources designed to meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of the community.

The internet and its available resources contain a wide variety of material and opinions from many points of view.  Some sites accessible via the internet may contain material that is inaccurate, defamatory, illegal or potentially offensive to some people.  Users are responsible for determining that information they access is acceptable, reliable and suitable to their needs.

In offering Internet access, library staff cannot control links and sites that often change rapidly and unpredictably.  Ladoga-Clark Twp Public Library has implemented filtering software on its computers to protect against visual depictions of obscenity, child pornography, and materials harmful to minors.  While the library attempts through this filtering software to prevent direct access to materials that would not be generally acceptable in a public library, it is technically impossible to prevent access to all objectionable material.  Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for their children’s use of the internet at the library.  The library staff, director, volunteers and/or board of trustees do not and will not take responsibility of acting in a parent’s absence.  Patrons under the age of 18 will not be permitted to use the internet unless a signed parental permission slip is on file in the library.  Patrons ages 10 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the internet session.  The parent and/or guardian of any child, ages 11-17, assume full responsibility for that child and any or all material he/she receives from the service provided.

The use of the internet, either using library equipment or through connections provided by Ladoga-Clark Twp Public Library is a privilege and access is voluntary.  Unacceptable use, as determined by the library, will result in disciplinary action.  Unacceptable use includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Accessing, transmitting, uploading, downloading or distributing material or language that is pornographic, obscene, abusive, sexually explicit, and harmful to minors or child pornography; or use for any purpose that violates applicable federal, state or local laws.
  2. Interfering with or disrupting other computer users, services, or equipment.
  3. Attempting to gain or gaining unauthorized entry to other computing, information, or communications devices or resources.
  4. Malicious, threatening, harassing or obscene behavior.  Obscene behavior includes public display of obscene materials on computer screen or in hard copy.
  5. Unauthorized tampering with computer hardware or software.

In order to be able to fill the demand for access to the internet stations, the library has established guidelines for their use:

  1. Users must sign in at desk and may use the computers for one hour sessions twice a day.
  2. Access to chat or discussion groups are not permitted.  
  3. The library does not offer electronic mail (e-mail) accounts to the public.  If you have an existing e-mail account, you may access your e-mail from the library’s computer providing you do not store any files on the library’s computers.  The library reserves the right to suspend or revoke the use of Library e-mail at any time without prior notice.
  4. Although there is no charge for use of the station, there will be a printing charge of ten cents ($.10) per page or twenty five cents ($.25) for color printing.
  5. One computer will be game free at all times.

The Ladoga-Clark Twp Public Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of the Internet.  Violation of this Internet policy will result in a possible loss of library privileges and/or expulsion from the library.  The library may suspend or revoke use at any time, without prior notice or hearing, for abusive conduct or violation of the conditions of use set forth in this document.  The library will be the sole arbiter of what constitutes abusive or violation of this Acceptable Use Policy.

Revised 2/23/2021

NO MORE LIBRARY FINES!

The Ladoga-Clark Twp. Public Library is continually looking for ways to improve patron experience. In 2019 the library began to offer Overdrive, e-content materials, through the Libby App. Through Libby, a patron can see what books are trending, order a book to read on a device of choice, and in some instances, books are audible and one may have the book read aloud. There is a varied selection of materials, including magazines!! This service is free with sign up through the Libby App using your Ladoga-Clark Twp. Public Library Card. You don’t have to leave your house to get an item to read, and you also don’t have to keep track of the due date and return the item-it all happens automatically, like magic! Continue to enjoy the service!

In 2021 we began free courtesy renewal. The length of time of check out is 3 weeks. If you have not returned item as it nears its due date, the Evergreen system will notify you that it is coming due. You can decide to return the item at this point. It will also inform that it will automatically renew if no action is taken. This will happen two times, so, in many cases, you may keep an item out for 9 weeks!
In certain situations, such as a hold on the item, the automated message may inform you that the item may not be renewed and directs that it be returned to the library by its due date. Please do so that others can enjoy the item.

In 2022 the library has gone FINE FREE!! The library board desires to remove barriers that are preventing our patrons from using the library to the fullest. We hope this will encourage prior users to come back to the library and attract new users to experience our offerings. We also see it as a means of building good relationships. We believe that overdue fines don’t encourage the return of items and late fines have greater impact on people who depend on the library for items. Going fine free makes a trip to the library more pleasant for both the patrons and our staff who desire to help you. All fines have been removed, and fines for Ladoga-Clark Twp. Public Library, will not be charged in the future.
Details:
While patrons will no longer be responsible for daily fines, the patron is still responsible to return items to the library. We do want all items back. There is still a charge for any lost or damaged items, including a $5.00 processing fee. Items are declared lost/stolen at 28 days overdue.
We aren’t tracking fines, but we do track due dates. Reminders help us get those items idling in homes back to the library. Getting items back on the shelf in a timely manner for the next person is still important.
If a patron has fines from other libraries in the Evergreen Consortium, the patron may still be responsible for those fines. The decision to become fine free is an individual library decision, so an item from another library could become overdue with a fine and patron would be responsible for payment.

We will continue to provide reminders of overdue items.
1. Reminder from the Consortium through email or text 3 days prior to due date
2. Overdue notice by email or phone call when item is over- due one week
3. Overdue notice by email or phone call when item is over-due two weeks.
4. Overdue Postcard notice when item is over-due 3 weeks.
*Items overdue by 28 days are assumed lost/stolen and patron will be billed for the replacement cost. If patron does not return or pay for item, the patron will receive a Theft of Materials letter and could be turned into the Collection Agency.

Back To Top