The Keokuk Public Library accepts as its responsibility the need to serve all individuals of the community. The library does not promote or censor any particular political, moral, philosophical, or religious convictions or opinions. It is our intent to provide professionally selected books and materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of information, education, recreation, and research. The library provides service to all residents of Keokuk and Lee County, regardless of race, creed, age, or occupation.
The Keokuk Public Library selects, organizes, preserves, and makes available to all people printed and non-printed materials that will assist them to:
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Educate themselves.
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Become better members of home and community.
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Discharge political and social obligations.
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Be more capable in their daily occupations.
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Develop their creative and spiritual capacities.
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Appreciate and enjoy works of art and literature.
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Use leisure time to promote personal and social well-being.
As a general guideline for materials selection, the Keokuk Public Library Board of Trustees adopts the following American Library Associate statements, which are appended.
Ultimate responsibility for book selection rests with the Director, who works within a frame of policies approved by the library board. Staff, trustee and patron recommendations and suggestions are given prompt consideration. As with all selections, favorable reviews are sought in standard reviewing sources or from recognized trade and professional journals.
The following specific criteria are considered when selecting materials for the library.
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Current usefulness or permanent value
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Authority and competence in presentation
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Importance as a record of the times
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Relationship to existing collection
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High standards of quality
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Intended audience - age and reading/listening/viewing level.
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Favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources
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Patron requests
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Price
These standards are followed in the selection of all library materials added to the collection. This includes adult fiction and non-fiction, material for children and young adults, periodicals and newspapers, and non-print materials such as audio books, digital resources, DVDs, and other items deemed appropriate for special collections.
The juvenile collection is chosen for children of all ages, with emphasis on materials that stimulate the imagination and promote understanding of the world around them.
The Keokuk Public Library utilizes the resources of other libraries and the regional library system in an effort to avoid unnecessary duplication of services and materials. Inter-library loan is used for specialized materials that are beyond the scope of our collection.
The library does not attempt to purchase textbooks or other curriculum-related materials except when such materials serve the general public.
The library has a particular interest in local and state history and in the works of local authors. The same standards of selection apply to these materials as apply to all other works.
The same criteria are used in withdrawing materials from the collection as are used in their acquisition. Materials are withdrawn from the collection when the contents are no longer useful or valid or are not in a condition suitable for circulation. Duplicate copies or items no longer in high demand may be withdrawn. Books that are deteriorating will be refurbished by repair or rebinding whenever judged appropriate by the director. Materials no longer useful to the library may be given to other libraries, sold, or disposed of in a manner approved by the board and the director.
Library Responsibilities – Use of Collection & Suitability
The Keokuk Public Library makes every effort to present a balance of viewpoints on controversial subjects. Patrons are free to accept or reject for themselves any item in the collection. Library materials are not marked or identified to indicate approval or disapproval of their content. Books and materials are not placed on restricted shelves with the intent of limiting access to contents. Controlled or limited access is only for the purpose of protecting material from damage or theft.
Children are not limited to materials in the juvenile collection. Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents and legal guardians, not with the library. The library does not assume responsibility for possible misuse of information found in the collection by young readers.
A request form for reconsideration of books or materials is available to all patrons that hold a Keokuk Public Library card in good standing. Completed “Request for Reconsideration” forms are referred to the director, who will review the request and the challenged material, and respond to the complainant. After receiving the director’s response, the complainant may approach the library board for further consideration. Challenged materials will not be removed from the public shelves while awaiting resolution of a request for reconsideration. Challenged material must be reviewed in its entirety by the Intellectual Freedom committee. A copy of the reconsideration request form is attached.
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KEOKUK PUBLIC LIBRARY
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Date____________________________________________________________________
Author__________________________________________________________________
Title____________________________________________________________________
Publisher________________________________________________________________
Request initiated by________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
Why do you object to this item?
To what specifically in the item do you object?
What do you feel might be the result of exposure to this material?
Is there anything good about this item?
For what age group would this material be suitable?
Did you view the entire material? _______ If not, what parts?
What do you believe to be the theme of this item?
Are you aware of the judgment of this material by professional critics?
What review of this item have you seen?
What would you like your library to do about this item?
____________________________________________________________
Signature of Complainant
Adopted 7/18/1988
Revised 12/20/1999, 12/16/2002, 1/16/2006
Revised 2/28/2011, 2/27/2017, 11/16/2020
Revised 7/17/2023
Request for Reconsideration
REPRODUCTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
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It is the intent of the Keokuk Public Library to share its photograph and image collection with the public in a fair and equitable manner for private individual use. However, permission must be obtained for any other use. The library reserves the right to deny or limit use. Only copies will be available for browsing.
Photographs, prints, paintings, postcards, and local history material may not be taken from the library. Outside reproduction of library images will be restricted and require approval of the Library Director.
If an image is reproduced for commercial purposes, the library charges a use fee of $25.00 per image in addition to reproduction fees below. This fee does not apply to images ordered for research, educational purposes, personal use, newspapers, or news broadcasts.
In addition to the fee, the library may request a copy of any books or publications in which photographs and images have been featured.
The library will distribute reproductions for a fee, which must be prepaid by the requestor. The fees are as follows:​
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8" x 10" color print on paper: $0.25/each
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Shipping and handling of prints will be based on current postage rates
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Images will be accompanied by a letter stating that permission has been granted to the bearer for reproduction for one-time use only, and that the library claims reproduction rights on all images that we hold in our collection.
For all uses except personal, credit must be given to the Keokuk Public Library and to the photographer, if known.
If used commercially, permission must be obtained for subsequent use of the same photograph and the use fee must be paid again. Credit must also be given on each subsequent use.If reproducing an image when the photographer is known, or an image in a publication that is under copyright, the user must assume all responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise. This could include contacting the photographer and/or publisher prior to use.
Duplication by the Keokuk Public Library in no way transfers either copyright or property right, nor does it constitute permission to publish in excess of fair use.
Adopted 5/16/1988
Revised 2/28/2000
Revised 12/17/2007
Revised 3/19/2012
Revised 3/18/2024