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.

Overdue and Damaged Items
Fines accumulate quickly and are $0.25 for each item per day overdue. To stop the accumulation of fines, items may be returned 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the drop box located in the front of the building.

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

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 4/24/07 Revised 6/26/12 Revised 12/20/2016          Revised 3/26/2019  Revised 7/28/2020   Revised 2/23/2021