Miscellaneous

Bulletin Board Policy

Purpose

As a resource for local information and community activities and events, The Greenfield Public Library provides bulletin board space for posting of fliers as well as public service notices of educational, cultural or community interest.

Policy

The community bulletin board may be used for the following types of information:

• Postings of forthcoming educational, social, civic, charitable, cultural or recreational activities.
• Postings by nonprofit organizations, groups or agencies providing services to citizens.
• Posting announcing community services and volunteer opportunities.
• Nonpartisan election information, such as provided by the League of Women Voters.
• Postings by any federal, state or local government agency providing services to citizens.
• Legal notices from the City of Greenfield.
• Election information provided by the Secretary of State or local town clerk’s office.

Bulletin boards MAY NOT be used for the following types of information:

• Commercial notices, solicitations, business cards, job postings and retail advertising.
• Personal notices of items for sale.
• Personal solicitations for fundraisers (ie. Walkathons, road races, etc.)
• Materials that support or oppose any political candidate or ballot measure.
• Materials that support or oppose a specific religious conviction.
• Petitions will not be posted, distributed, or placed within the Library.

Posting Guidelines

• Individuals are invited to post notices without prior approval, as long as they meet the criteria of acceptable information (see above); however, the Library reserves the right to remove materials judged to be inconsistent with this policy.
• Due to limited space, the Library reserves the right to prioritize the items that are posted based on community interest and timeliness of the event. Postings larger than 8 1⁄2 X 11” may be not accepted.
• Postings without a specific date will be removed after 30 days or as space is needed.
• When space is needed, events and information specifically concerning Greenfield will take priority.
• Once notices are removed they are discarded and cannot be saved for future pickup.
• All areas of the Library aside from the community bulletin board are reserved for distribution of Library material only.
• No notices may be displayed or posted on the outside of the Library building.
• Postings of materials does not imply Library endorsement or consent, nor will the Library accept responsibility for the accuracy of the statements made in such materials.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees 12/15/2023.
To be reviewed yearly, or as needed.

Gifts and Donations

Book/Materials Donations:

The Greenfield Public Library accepts donations of new, self-published books by local authors (see Collection Development Policy).

Used books will be accepted by the Friends of the GPL at specified times and by appointment only in the weeks before a book sale. (Criteria for acceptable materials can be found here.)

Suggested places to donate materials include:

• Books through bars in Turners Falls (with various drop-off locations in Greenfield)
• The Franklin County House of Correction
• Local area elder housing locations, hospitals, or shelters
• Roundabout Books

Monetary Donations:

Monetary gifts are frequently made to the Library and are gratefully accepted. Checks may be made out to the Town of Greenfield and will be placed in a special Gift Account specifically and solely for the use of the Library. The donor need not specify a specific purpose for the gift.

Many people choose to donate money for books in memory of, or in honor of, an individual. These gifts are also welcomed. The donor is free to suggest the subject matter, particularly as it relates to the individual being honored, and the Library staff will take those suggestions into careful consideration when they select and purchase the material in accordance with the Library’s Collection Management Plan. A memorial bookplate will be placed in these items.

Lost or Damaged Items

Greenfield Public Library Items

The library will accept cash, checks, or money orders at the circulation desk for items that have been damaged, destroyed, or lost. Patrons may choose to use a credit or debit card to pay for items by accessing their library account online. Please contact the main circulation desk with any questions about replacement costs of GPL items.

GPL will accept replacement copies of books in lieu of payment if the book matches the format of the lost or damaged item and is in the same or newer condition. Music CDs or DVDs may be replaced with new copies of the exact item. We reserve the right to accept or decline an exchange based on the item’s condition.

Once an item has been paid for, GPL is unable to provide refunds.

Items Belonging to Other Libraries

Items belonging to other libraries must be paid with a check or money order made payable to the owning library if paying in person. Patrons may also chosse to use a credit or debit card to pay for other libraries' items by accessing their library account online. Contact either the main circulation desk or the owning library for additional information.

Recycling Policy

In accordance with the regulations and policies set forth by the City of Greenfield, the Greenfield Public Library adheres to the recycling program established by the City for its residents and departments. Information regarding the City of Greenfield’s Trash, Recycling & Compost programs can be found on the City’s website or via the following links:

City of Greenfield Trash, Recycling & Compost

City of Greenfield Recycled Product Purchasing Policy
(for City Departments)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Brochure

The Greenfield Public Library is dedicated to minimizing waste and lessening our environmental footprint through proactive recycling and waste reduction efforts.

Waste Storage & Collection
Designated areas are provided for waste collection and recycling, accessible to both haulers and building occupants. These areas include:

• A gated yard adjacent to the rear patio for whole building trash and recycling.
• Exterior recycling and trash bins strategically placed at the front plaza, children's patio, sidewalks, and balcony.
• Indoor recycling and trash bins on each floor, located in regularly-occupied rooms, service desks, and the copier area.

Collection and storage areas will display posted signs with a QR code linking to educational resources provided by the City of Greenfield DPW Trash, Recycling, and Compost webpage, including the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycling" Brochure and "Beyond the Bin" materials, updated annually.

Recyclable materials:
Recyclable materials will include mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics and metals.

Electronics (e-waste)
The IT department at the City of Greenfield facilitates the removal and recycling of electronic equipment for various city departments. Below is an overview of their procedure:

1. Conduct an annual assessment to identify electronic equipment earmarked for recycling.
2. Fill out and forward a Request to Transfer/Dispose/Sell Surplus Assets to the Procurement department. Include descriptions and serial/ID numbers for each piece of equipment.
3. Remove and erase/destroy hard drives from electronic equipment as necessary.
4. Present the completed form to procurement and discuss the recycling process approach.
5. Depending on the equipment's condition, it will either be sold or disposed of.
6. If disposal is necessary, the Department bears responsibility for recycling/processing charges. For instance, there is a $20 processing charge for recycling a dead monitor.

Miscellaneous items from City Departments
Various items, including mercury-containing items, batteries, and e-waste, which City Departments are discarding, can be gathered and disposed of at the nearby transfer station with assistance from a member of the Department of Public Works (DPW).

Waste Reduction:
To minimize waste, we will avoid single-use plastic products whenever possible, prioritize eco-friendly alternatives, limit printed documents or use double-sided printing, and encourage electronic communication and documentation. Bottle fillers have been installed to promote reusable water bottles.

Education:
Employees, contractors, and visitors will receive guidance on adhering to recycling and waste practices within library facilities.

The recycling policy will be available on the Library website for reference.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees, 06/11/2024
To be reviewed yearly, or as needed.

Staffing

The Greenfield Public Library is committed to providing sufficient staffing of the Library required to:

• Maintain a high level of quality service to all patrons
• Protect the personal safety of all library patrons and Greenfield Public Library Staff

The following policies are adopted to support these objectives:

• A minimum of eight (8) staff members should be present during the weekdays between the hours of 9:30am-5:00pm.
• A minimum of four (4) staff members during the evening hours of 5:00-8:00pm.
• A minimum of five (5) staff members on Saturdays between 9:30am-2:00pm.

A staff member is defined as a paid employee who provides regular library services to patrons.

In the event that the minimum staffing requirement is not met, the following steps may be taken:

• sections of the library may be closed off for the safety of all staff and patrons

Third-Party Collection/Donation Policy

The Greenfield Public Library deeply appreciates the community's philanthropic spirit and the valuable work performed by non-profit organizations. We are regularly approached with requests to serve as a convenient drop-off point for various collection and donation drives.

While we recognize the benefit of such initiatives to our community, the Greenfield Public Library is regrettably unable to accommodate requests to host third-party collection boxes or act as a general donation drop-off location for the following reasons:

1. Limited Space: Our library facilities are designed to provide a welcoming and accessible environment for our patrons to engage with our collection, programs, and services. As a result, available floor space and storage areas are limited. Integrating collection boxes, especially those that may vary in size and length of time for collection, would lead to overcrowding, obstruct pathways, and compromise the functionality of the library.

2. Safety Concerns: The safety and security of our patrons, staff, and property are paramount. Unsupervised collection boxes, particularly those containing donated items, can present several challenges. These include:

   • the need for increased monitoring and the possibility of creating fire hazards or;

   • blocking access to emergency exits.

   • the sorting, storage, or distribution logistics associated with third-party donations, which could lead to mishandling or damage of donated items, and place an undue burden on our staff.

We encourage non-profit organizations seeking donation drop-off points to explore alternative community venues that possess the appropriate space, resources, and infrastructure to manage such initiatives effectively and safely. The Greenfield Public Library is committed to supporting our community through our established programs and services.

We thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees 12/9/2025.
To be reviewed yearly, or as needed.