Library Policies

The Brighton District Library Children’s Garden is designed to be an interactive experience between parent and child. Young children may not be left unattended in the garden. Children twelve(12) years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult who remains in the garden to provide supervision and enhance the nature experience.

While using the Children’s Garden, please adhere to the following rules:

All library materials must be checked out before entering the garden.
Please be respectful of nature so that others may also enjoy the surroundings.
Please remain on grass or walkways. No climbing on garden structures or fencing.
No littering please.

During scheduled library programs the garden may be limited to registered participants only. The garden will remain closed during inclement weather. The garden closes 30 minutes prior to library closing.

Adopted by the Brighton District Library Board of Trustees, June 19, 2001.

See our borrowing page for full circulation information.

It is the policy of the Brighton District Library to make a case by case determination of whether or not patron registration information may be disclosed to a third party, through the balancing of the interests of the requesting party, the individual patron and the benefit to the public. This determination will also consider whether or not the disclosure of the information would be an unreasonable invasion of an individual’s privacy. This policy follows Michigan case law in interpreting the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, Public Act 442 of 1976, as amended, section 13(1)(a), as recommended by legal counsel for the Library (Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone). “Patron registration information” is defined as names, addresses and listed telephone numbers of registered library users. Such information may be used by the Library Board of Trustees and Library staff for purposes of distributing information literature, or otherwise contacting individuals concerning official library business.

Approved by Library Board of Trustees, June 1995

Read our full Collection Development Policy here.

The rules for the distribution of free materials are as follows:

The Community Information Center, comprised of pamphlet racks in the foyer and a bulletin board in the lobby, is intended to disseminate information about community and regional events and services by display of free brochures or public posting of flyers, notices and posters.
Such materials are limited to those of a civic, cultural, educational or recreational nature. Any literature promoting a business enterprise shall be excluded.
Handwritten notices, or any materials smaller than 5″ x 7″, or larger than 11″ x 17″, may not be posted.
All materials must be reviewed and posted by library staff.
Any material left in the library after the specific advertised event has occurred shall be discarded by library staff.
Materials promoting an ongoing service may be displayed indefinitely, or removed after one month by library staff, according to space limitations. Organizations wishing to claim excess materials when removed from display must leave a request in writing with Library administration at the time of distribution.
Library administration reserves the right to limit any posting or distribution on the basis of timeliness, space, size and geographic impact.
Distribution or posting of materials by the Library does not indicate the Library’s endorsement of the issues or events promoted by those materials.

Adopted by the Brighton District Library Board of Trustees, May 20, 1996.

Public Summary

Procedures and Guidelines

Detailed Itemization

Read our complete Internet and Computer Use Policy here.

Read our complete Rules of Conduct here.

For their own protection, very young children may not be left unattended in the Library. The library staff is not responsible for providing supervision. Children ten (10) years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult who remains in the library to provide supervision. Children six (6) years of age or younger must have adult supervision within the Youth Department. It is recommended that unattended elementary school students spend no more than 2 hours in the library at a single time. After 7:00 p.m., it is recommended that elementary school children be accompanied by an adult who remains in the library. It is recommended that unattended middle school students spend no more than 4 hours in the library at a single time. The extent to which these time limit guidelines will be enforced for elementary and middle school students will be based on the individual child’s behavior and their ability to observe the Rules of Conduct. The library invites parental cooperation in meeting these guidelines. AFTER LIBRARY CLOSING: Children who are not picked up by the time the library closes will be referred to the police station to wait for their ride. Adopted by the Brighton District Library Board of Trustees, May 6, 1996.

Panhandling or Soliciting

Panhandling or soliciting Library staff or patrons for money, products, or services inside the Library or on Library property is prohibited. Sales of products or services that are incidental to Library programming may be permitted if approved in advance by the Library Director.

Campaigning, Petitioning, Interviewing and Similar Activities

As a limited public forum, the Library reserves the right to regulate the time, place, and manner for campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, pamphleteering, canvassing and soliciting on Library grounds as follows:

Campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, pamphleteering, canvassing and soliciting are prohibited inside the Library building.
Campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, pamphleteering, canvassing and soliciting outside the Library building, but on Library property are subject to the following requirements:
1. Use of the Library property does not indicate the Library’s opposition or endorsement of the candidate or issue that is the subject of the petition, interview, campaign or discussion.
2. Permitted areas for campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, pamphleteering, canvassing and soliciting outside of the Library building shall be limited to the area north of the doors, outside of the brick pillars.
3. No person shall block ingress or egress from the Library building or access to the parking areas.
4. Permitted times will be limited to the operating hours of the Library.
5. Campaign material, literature or petitions may not be brought into the Library, posted at the Library or left behind on Library property.
6. No leaflets are permitted to be left on vehicles in the parking areas.
7. Tables or Structures on Library Property: No table, stand, bookrack, sign or similar structure may be set up on Library property. This does not apply to Library-sponsored or co-sponsored events.

Schedule a Tour!

We welcome the opportunity to educate young people about the library. Group tours and/or story times may be arranged with the Head of Youth Services, Young Adult Librarian, or Head of Adult Services in person, by phone, or e-mail. Tours are scheduled during times which are least disruptive to the general operation of the library, and during times which the library can provide dual staffing. The youth department conducts four 6-week story time sessions per year. During these sessions we are extremely limited in the number of tours we can accommodate.

As part of your tour experience you may elect for us to provide a story time and craft for your children, discuss books available on a given topic, discuss library careers, or with older children we can provide an introduction to our on-line catalog or the Internet. The agenda for your tour will be discussed when a Youth Supervisor contacts you to confirm your tour date.

All tour groups are required to follow the below rules:

Please read our Rules of Conduct, and discuss these rules with your group prior to your visit.
We require one adult for every four children participating in a group tour. We suggest that each adult be assigned to four specific children ahead of time. He/she is subsequently responsible for supervising those children in matters of discipline, observing the rules of the library, respect for the tour leader, staff members, and patrons, and for assistance with coats, snacks, book selection, computer usage, and other activities during your visit.
On rare occasions, the tour leader may ask a child to be removed from the tour if behavior warrants. Please have an extra adult available to supervise children who are unable to continue with the tour.
Please provide name tags for all children.
The library does not provide snacks, however, if you wish to bring snacks you may serve them in the activity room. Food must be eaten in this room only. Your group is responsible for clean-up.
Children who own library cards must show them to check out books. Those who do not have cards should arrange with their parents to obtain one before or after the visit if they wish to check out books. The Library requires a parent to apply for a minor’s card.
Hands-on Internet and catalog training is not provided for children under age eight, because of the level of skill required to operate these programs. A library visit can be an enjoyable time for children, their leaders or teachers, and librarians. We look forward to seeing your group in the future.

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