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Whistleblower Policy

Adopted by the Board of Trustees 1/20/15
Whistleblower Policy PDF

The East Greenbush Community Library requires directors, officers, employees, and volunteers to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As all employees are representatives of the East Greenbush Community Library, they must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling their responsibilities, and they must also comply with statutory requirements NPCL 715-a and 715-b.

This Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious concerns internally so that East Greenbush Community Library can address and correct inappropriate or illegal conduct. It is the responsibility of all board members, officers, employees, and volunteers to report concerns about suspected violations of law or regulations that govern the East Greenbush Community Library’s operations.

It is contrary to the values of the East Greenbush Community Library for anyone to retaliate against any board member, employee, or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of the East Greenbush Community Library. Anyone retaliating in this manner is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

 The East Greenbush Community Library has an open-door policy that encourages employees to share their questions, concerns, suggestions, or complaints with their supervisor. If an employee is not comfortable speaking with a supervisor, or is not satisfied with their supervisor’s response, the employee is encouraged to speak with the Director. Supervisors are required to report in writing to the Director all complaints or concerns about suspected ethical and legal violations. It is the Director’s responsibility to investigate all reported complaints. Employees with concerns or complaints may also submit their concerns in writing to their Supervisor or the Director.  Complaints or concerns about the Director should be submitted in writing to an executive member of the Board.

Anyone filing a complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed constitutes a violation.  Any allegation made with malice or with foreknowledge that the charges are false is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

All reports will be investigated promptly.  In its investigation the Library will strive to keep the identity of the complaining individual as confidential as possible while ensuring that a substantive inquiry is conducted.

The library will not take any action with the intent to retaliate against any employee who has provided information in good faith under this policy.

All Employees, Board members, and volunteers will be required to certify that they have received a copy of the policy and all supervisors will be trained in its implementation.

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Subject East Greenbush Card UHLS Card UHLS MyCard
Library Card Registration Free to any individual who resides or pays taxes in the East Greenbush Community Library taxing district or Town of Schodack. Cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Free to any individual who volunteers or works at the EGRN Library. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Free to partner educational agencies with verified employment. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Those that live outside the UHLS area may purchase a temporary card at the price established by our Table of Fines and Fees. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

 Free to residents residing in a community served by a UHLS library.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

 The UHLS MyCard is a fine-free, limited-access library card for youth. It is intended to address multiple barriers to serving youth and families, including:

  • Barriers to access related to fines (e.g. computer access, checking out materials)
  • Parents not present for a child’s library card registration
  • Previous fines on a child’s card

Free for youth residing in a community served by a UHLS library.Applicants 18 and under who are applying for a limited use, UHLS Youth Only MyCard, need to provide name, address, and date of birth.UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.Youth ages birth to 18 can register unaccompanied, or with the help of a caregiver or relative who is not the child’s parent/guardian.This card may be used at all UHLS Libraries except for the Colonie Town Library.

Card blocked at $10 or more in replacement costs.

No fines for late items
Limits on # of Materials Borrowed Unlimited checkouts Unlimited checkouts Limited total items: Can only have 3 items checked out on their card at a time
Types of Items All eligible item types. All eligible item types except Museum Passes, ILL, and Hot off the Press. Active paid members of the Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library have access to all lending collections. Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Databases/Digital Content EGRN and UHLS subscription databases and digital content UHLS subscription databases and digital content Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Interlibrary Loan Nationwide UHLS Libraries UHLS Libraries
Program Registration Unlimited except by limited program capacity Preference given to resident cardholders Preference given to resident cardholders