Ridley Township Public Library and Resource Center At Home Services Policy and Procedures
Introduction
The Ridley Township Public Library is committed to providing equitable access to its resources for all community members, including those who are unable to visit the library in person due to age, illness, disability, or other extenuating circumstances. The At Home Services Policy outlines the provisions for delivering library materials to eligible patrons.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for At Home Services, patrons must meet the following criteria:
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Residency: Must be a resident of Ridley Township.
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Inability to Visit the Library: Must be unable to visit the library due to a temporary (2 months or more) or permanent physical condition, illness, disability, or other significant barrier. Patrons may also designate a friend or family member to pick up and return materials on their behalf.
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Library Status: Individual is a holder of a current Delaware County Libraries library card.
Registration Process
Eligible patrons interested in At Home Services must complete the following steps:
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Application: Fill out the At Home Services Application and Reading Preferences Form, either online or by filling out and returning a paper form found here. Paper applications may be dropped off or mailed to the library.
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Approval Contact: Participate in a brief information session, either virtually or by phone, to discuss service preferences and procedures for receiving your materials.
Service Details
- Materials Available
At Home Service patrons have access to a wide range of library materials, including:
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Books (including large print and audiobooks)
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Magazines (not current month)
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DVDs (older than 2 months)
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Music CDs
Items such as Kindles, Hotspots, Rokus, Pre-School Learning Kits, and Library of Things items are not eligible for At Home Services delivery.
Library Staff will compile/check out materials on the card of the patron receiving the service and place them in a designated At Home Services bag. If specific titles or items are wanted for the next delivery, a Request/Survey Form will be included in the bag each month, otherwise a librarian will select materials based on patron’s interests.
2. Loan Period and Limits
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Loan Period: At Home Service patrons will enjoy extended loan periods of up to four weeks.
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Limits: A maximum of 10 books/CDs and a maximum of 5 DVDs may be borrowed at one time.
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Renewals: Items may be renewed three times unless they have been reserved by another patron.
3. Delivery and Return
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Delivery: Materials will be delivered to the door or an enclosed area near the door. No inside deliveries will be made.
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Delivery Schedule: At Home Service is performed once per month on a specific day and time. Patron may request whether material is delivered to the home via library staff OR picked up and returned to the library on the patron’s behalf by a designated agent (family member or friend). Patrons will be contacted a day or two before the delivery date to verify availability.
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Return Process: Items can be returned during the next scheduled delivery in the provided At Home Services bag.
Patron Responsibilities
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Care of Materials: Patrons are responsible for the proper care of all borrowed items and agree to assume full financial responsibility for the materials they receive through this service. If any materials are lost or damaged, they will pay the library the replacement cost. Patrons will be charged for any lost or unreturned bags. Overdue fines will not be charged for At Home Service items.
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Timely Communication: Notify the library of any changes in contact information or service needs.
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Cancellations: Inform the library in advance if materials will not be required for a scheduled delivery and should be renewed.
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Service Termination: At Home Service will terminate when the eligibility requirements are no longer met or at the request of the patron or patron’s care giver.
Privacy and Confidentiality
The library respects the privacy of its patrons. All records related to At Home Services will be kept confidential and used solely for providing library services.
Feedback and Evaluation
Patrons are encouraged to provide feedback about the At Home Services program to assist with ongoing improvements. Feedback can be submitted via a survey included with deliveries or directly through the library’s contact options.
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of the community and in compliance with applicable laws and standards.
Any other questions please contact Kim or Kate at 610-583-0593 ext. 340 or email Ridleylibrary100@gmail.com.
