Although the Union City Public Library is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment, it is the shared responsibility of the Public to practice safe hygiene, respiratory etiquette, social distancing, and other CDC recommendations in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
- If you are feeling sick or are in quarantine, please do not come to the library.
- Following the latest CDC relaxed mask recommendations, the wearing of the mask is optional. The UCPL Board of Trustees reserves the right to reinstate the mask mandate at any time should government recommendations (CDC, NJ DOH, UC Health Department) or community health data change.
- No children under 10 can be in the building unattended.
- All public computer stations will be available. Public computer usage is limited to four 30-minute sessions per day for UCPL cardholders and to two 30-minute sessions per day for guest passes.
- All public bathrooms will be locked at all times. To access the public bathrooms, a key will be provided upon request.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be provided, if possible.
- No print newspapers.
- The UCPL offers Contactless Holds Pickup and remote printing.
- The Union City Public Library is FINE FREE during this time.
- The Library does not accept book donations at this time.
- Personal belongings should be limited to one item and not exceed the following dimensions: 15″H x 17″W x 7″D.
Adopted by the UCPL Board of Trustees on 03/14/2022
It is a patron’s responsibility to maintain necessary and proper standards of behavior in order to protect their individual rights and the rights and privileges of other patrons. If a patron violates the Library Code of Conduct, that patron may be restricted from the Library and from the use of the library facilities. Those who are unwilling to leave or do not leave within a reasonable amount of time, after being instructed to do so by the staff, will be subject to the law.
The following are violations of the Union City Public Library’s Rules of Conduct:
- Any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state, or local criminal statute or ordinance.
- Harassment, threatening behavior, or disturbance of library patrons or staff.
- Sexual activity of any kind.
- Access of pornographic material on person devices or library computers.
- Drug, alcohol or tobacco use.
- Use of digital devices in a distracting manner, including loud music or phone calls.
- Offensive body odor or personal hygiene that interferes with patron and staff’s use of the Library.
- Using the restroom for bathing, shaving, cleaning clothes, or other improper uses.
- Possession of knife, gun, or any other weapon
- Solicitation, distribution of written materials, or canvassing for political, charitable, or religious purposes in the Library building, including vestibule and doorway.
- Sleeping
- Filming, photographing, or interviewing patrons within the Library without approval from Library Director
- Eating or drinking
- Stealing, damaging or marking library materials, premises or equipment.
- Failure to wear shoes or shirts in Library premises.
- Animals inside the library, with the exception of service animals covered by the ADA
- Unattended bags or personal belongings.
Adopted by the UCPL Board of Trustees on 03/14/2022
The Union City Public Library encourages visits by young children and it is our desire to make this important visit both memorable and enjoyable for the child. Library staff is not expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children in the library.
- Children under the age of ten may not be left unattended.
- The parent/responsible person must accompany a child under 10 at all times. If a child is being unreasonably disruptive, it is the responsible person’s responsibility to monitor the child’s behavior.
- If a child under the age of 10 is attending a library program, a parent or responsible person must remain on Library premises
- Parents of minor children assume responsibility for their children’s use of the library’s Internet service.
- Any minor 10 and older must follow the Patron Code of Conduct. If a minor continually acts disruptive towards Library patrons or staff, they will be asked to leave for the day.
Adopted by the UCPL Board of Trustees on 03/14/2022
The Union City Public Library provides free, self-service public access to the Internet, electronic databases, word processing, and other software applications at all Library locations.
In addition to multiple desktop computers, laptops may be borrowed for in-library use only at the Main Library location. This service is available only to adult Union City residents in good standing.
Users must sign into the public access computers using either a valid library card or a guest pass.
- Library card holders are given up to four 30-minute computer sessions per day. Guest pass users are given two 30-minute computer sessions per day.
- Patrons may not use the Library’s equipment or network to:
- Create and/or distribute computer viruses
- Deliberately cause damage to computer equipment, programs, or parameters
- Add, delete, modify or tamper with the installed hardware or software
- Access pornography
- Conduct any illegal activity
- Internet computers in the Children’s Room are solely for use by children up to and including Grade 8 and their caregivers.
- The New Jersey Library Association affirms the right of all users to have unrestricted access to the Internet and acknowledges the right of parents to determine the level of Internet access for their minor children. Parents or caregivers of minor children are expected to supervise their child’s Internet sessions.
Adopted by the UCPL Board of Trustees on 03/14/2022
(Presented to the UCPL Board of Trustees for approval and adopted on 4/11/2022)
In January 2019, the American Library Association passed a resolution that asserted overdue fines are a barrier to equitable access and encouraged libraries to eliminate them.
Eliminating fines for overdue material means more people in our community have greater access to the library’s vital materials, resources, and services. Late fines are a real and significant burden for low-income individuals, children, and families. These financial barriers can discourage many people from coming in who rely on the library for access to all the offerings needed for schoolwork, job seeking, or those coming for a welcoming place to visit.
At the General Membership meeting on March 24, 2022, the PALS Plus consortium adopted a fine-free policy recommendation that will allow for a hybrid fine charging environment within the consortium. If the Library chooses to become a fine-free library, materials would be fine-free if checked out at a fine-free library regardless of whether a patron’s library is fine-free or which library owns the materials. However, if a UCPL patron checks out materials in another PALS Plus library, the fine-charging policy of that library will apply to the checked-out materials.
The Union City Public Library Board of Trustees and staff desire to remove this barrier to its resources and to provide more equitable library access to everyone in the community. Eliminating overdue fines may encourage prior users to come back to the library, and return overdue material, and this may additionally attract new users to experience the library.
Fine-Free:
The Union City Public Library does not charge late fees for any overdue circulating materials, with the exception of iPads, Wi-Fi hotspots, other technology, and museum passes, if those materials are checked out at UCPL. UCPL does assess fees for lost and damaged materials.
Replacement Fees:
Although there is automatic renewal implemented within the PALS Plus system, borrowers are responsible for returning or renewing the items they check out by the due date. If they do not, the item will be labeled as overdue, and the patron will be notified. Items are declared lost after they have been overdue for 21 days and a replacement fee will be billed to the patron account. The replacement fee will be the cost of the item. The UCPL does not charge processing fees. Should an item be returned after being declared lost, the replacement fee would be waived.
Notifications:
The library has a set time limit for materials to be borrowed and materials are expected to be returned by the due date so that they can be borrowed by other patrons. A due-date reminder notice is sent 3 prior to the due date. If an item is not returned on time, reminders will be sent out 7 and 14 days after the due date. After 21 days, the item will become lost, and the patron will be billed for the replacement cost. A patron’s library card will be automatically blocked if an account balance reaches $5.00.
Payment:
Patrons have the option of paying fines/fees in-person at the library by cash or check, or remotely by credit card via the library’s website.
Patrons should resolve disputed fees before paying them.
Patrons experiencing unusual difficulty in returning their materials or paying their fines should contact the Library.
