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Principles of Access/Circulation Policy

Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library - 11/22/71

Purpose

The mission of the Lake County Public Library (LCPL) is to provide the highest quality informational, educational, cultural, and recreational resources and services to residents of all ages in the Lake County Public Library District.

Principles of Access

The principles of access to library materials are embodied and expressed in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and its Interpretations and its Freedom to Read Statement, which have been adopted by the Trustees of the Lake County Public Library.

The Board of Trustees has established policies that foster the widest possible access to the library’s materials and services. Access will not be denied or abridged because of religious, racial, social, economic, or political status; or because of mental, emotional, or physical condition; age; or sexual orientation. The Library abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation to provide access to library materials for people with impairments.

Residents of the LCPL district are eligible for full access cards. Per IC 36-12-2-25 limited access cards are provided to any eligible individuals. The director is responsible for determining the borrowing limits, circulation rules, and guidelines for both full access and limited access cards.

The use of the library may be denied for due cause. Such cause may be failure to return library materials or to pay penalties, destruction of library property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other illegal, disruptive, or objectionable conduct on library premises.

Rights of Library Users

It is the policy of the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library to insure, so far as possible, the privacy of the users of its service and not to make any inquiries into the purposes for which a patron requests information or books.

Library circulation records are for the sole purpose of protecting public property and are not to be used either directly or indirectly to identify the types of materials used by individual library patrons. Under no circumstances shall the library staff answer to a third party about what a patron of the library is reading or calling for from the library’s collections.

Furthermore, such records shall not be made available to any agency of local, state or federal government except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, local, state or federal law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigatory power.

The Board of Trustees shall resist the enforcement of any such process, order, or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction. Moreover, any costs incurred by the library in any search through patron records, even under a court order, shall be chargeable to the agency demanding the search.

The library uses Google Analytics to analyze website and mobile app traffic. This data is aggregated and anonymized and may not be used to identify individual behaviors. Analytics data is subject to the same confidentiality as circulation records and may not be sold to third parties. For information on your privacy when using library computers, please see the Computer Use Policy.

Responsibilities of Library Users

Card holders are responsible for all materials borrowed or accessed through their card or the cards of children (under the age of 18) for whom they have assumed responsibility. Lost cards should be reported immediately; card holders are responsible for all materials on their card up to the time that they report the card as lost.

The LCPL Board of Trustees believes that parents are responsible for guiding their children’s use of library resources. Parents may choose to monitor or limit the library use of their own child. Standards applied by a child’s parents for that child shall not be imposed on anyone else’s child.

For information relating to fines and fees for full access library cards and lost, damaged or overdue material, refer to the Fines and Fees Policy adopted by the Lake County Public Library Board of Trustees.

The Lake County Public Library is a member of a variety of resource sharing consortia that provide additional access to resources and services for cardholders. Rules for access to these materials are governed by the policies of individual consortia members and may vary.

Adopted 11/22/71
Revised 01/28/82
Revised 10/28/82
Revised 05/23/85
Revised 01/22/87
Revised 04/28/88
Revised 10/27/94
Revised 12/30/97
Revised 04/22/99
Revised 6/29/17
Revised 3/25/21

Upcoming Events
Wed, Aug 06, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Bring your current craft project and join in the conversation! Please register.

Wed, Aug 06, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Join us at the library for a fun and creative workshop focused on the art of flash fiction!

Wed, Aug 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Upper Level
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Wed, Aug 06, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Cedar Lake Library - Public Tables
Join us and work on your crafts at the library! Bring yarn and a size H crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles and cotton yarn - or... more
Join us and work on your crafts at the library! Bring yarn and a size H crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles and cotton yarn - or bring along a project you're already working on! 

Cancelled
Wed, Aug 06, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Lake Station-New Chicago
Come to the library to use our LEGO® blocks to build what you want.

Cancelled
Wed, Aug 06, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Merrillville
Why should the kids get to have all the fun? Join us the 1st Wednesday of each month for adult Dungeons & Dragons and experience the... more
Why should the kids get to have all the fun? Join us the 1st Wednesday of each month for adult Dungeons & Dragons and experience the adventure! Seats are limited, so registration is required.

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
Like to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, or do any other craft? Every Thursday, bring and work on your own project while enjoying the... more
Like to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, or do any other craft? Every Thursday, bring and work on your own project while enjoying the company of others.

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Bring any low-mess craft (e.g., knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, coloring, origami, jewelry-making) and enjoy meeting and sharing ideas... more
Bring any low-mess craft (e.g., knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, coloring, origami, jewelry-making) and enjoy meeting and sharing ideas with other crafters during this program.  

Thu, Aug 07, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Small Group Room #2
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Thu, Aug 07, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Join the discussion of Better the Blood, which is our Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club selection for August. Pick up a copy at the... more
Join the discussion of Better the Blood, which is our Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club selection for August. Pick up a copy at the Highland Branch.

Thu, Aug 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Merrillville - Small Group Room #3
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.
This event is full

Thu, Aug 07, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
New venue Merrillville - Meeting Room A
The Friends Pre-Sale is from 4-7pm. You can pay to become a Friends Member at the door. Thousands of books, dvds, and cds are available... more
The Friends Pre-Sale is from 4-7pm. You can pay to become a Friends Member at the door. Thousands of books, dvds, and cds are available at fantastic prices!

Thu, Aug 07, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
Join us on a family friendly, Dungeons and Dragons, campaign for preteens. We'll be referencing Heroes of Sol'an, 5th edition, for this... more
Join us on a family friendly, Dungeons and Dragons, campaign for preteens. We'll be referencing Heroes of Sol'an, 5th edition, for this adventure. New players are welcome.

Thu, Aug 07, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Join Coates Inc. for a free interactive series of college & career workshops designed to help high school students prepare for life... more
Join Coates Inc. for a free interactive series of college & career workshops designed to help high school students prepare for life after graduation. High school-aged teens (ages 14-18) are welcome.

Thu, Aug 07, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Join us for our Thursday evening group of Adult Dungeons and Dragons! In this group, we'll work our way through the Curse of Strahd module.
This event is full

Fri, Aug 08, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
The Friends Book Sale is open to anyone interested in browsing through thousands of books, dvds, and cds-- all at fantastic prices!

Fri, Aug 08, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Join an open play Mahjong session; there is no instructor but other players may share tips/directions. Please bring a game set if you... more
Join an open play Mahjong session; there is no instructor but other players may share tips/directions. Please bring a game set if you have one! On-hand gaming supplies are limited. Ages 18 & over.
This event is full

Sat, Aug 09, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave
Young children and their families are invited to join us at Woodland Park for a storytime with books, songs, rhymes, and a guided tour... more
Young children and their families are invited to join us at Woodland Park for a storytime with books, songs, rhymes, and a guided tour through the on-site Story Walk. 

Sat, Aug 09, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
The Friends Book Sale is open to anyone interested in browsing through thousands of books, dvds, and cds-- all at fantastic prices!

Sat, Aug 09, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Interested in any of the needle arts including knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and more? Join us for an opportunity to chat and create.... more
Interested in any of the needle arts including knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and more? Join us for an opportunity to chat and create. Please bring your own projects.

Sat, Aug 09, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room,Meeting Room A
Join the Highland Arts Council for an exciting experience filled with fun and engaging games during the Highland Arts Walk Workshops!

Mon, Aug 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Small Group Room #2
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Mon, Aug 11, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
A homicide detective is called to help the family of a former murdered partner. He encounters a tangled web of family secrets in which a... more
A homicide detective is called to help the family of a former murdered partner. He encounters a tangled web of family secrets in which a killer with nothing to lose is waiting to take another life.

Mon, Aug 11, 3:30pm - 6:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
The leftover books from the Friends Fall Book Sale will be available for nonprofit organizations and teachers to pick up from 3:30 - 6pm.

Mon, Aug 11, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Upper Level
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Mon, Aug 11, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room
Join us as we use sea glass and stones to create a piece of art you can frame. Please register; supplies are limited.
This event is full

Mon, Aug 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Inviting teens, ages 12 - 18, to LEGO® and Board Game Night. Stop in to build your own LEGO® creation or pick a board game to play... more
Inviting teens, ages 12 - 18, to LEGO® and Board Game Night. Stop in to build your own LEGO® creation or pick a board game to play instead. Snacks will be provided. Registration required.

Tue, Aug 12, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Hobart - Programming Room
Join us and bring your current painting projects/materials for an opportunity to chat and create!

Tue, Aug 12, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville
The Friends of LCPL will host their bi-monthly meeting.

Tue, Aug 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Circle of Readers will be discussing Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.

Tue, Aug 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room
Come play Minecraft, uninterrupted, on our Raspberry Pi computers! For ages 8-18.

Tue, Aug 12, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Come and play in a game with one of our librarians as GM.

Tue, Aug 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room C
We are proud to be hosting a support, education, & social space for LGBTQ+ teens & their allies. Teens (12-18) are welcome.

Tue, Aug 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Create faux stained glass designs on votive holders to create a nice fall ambiance when lit. Registration required. All Ability programs... more
Create faux stained glass designs on votive holders to create a nice fall ambiance when lit. Registration required. All Ability programs are geared to adults with special needs.

Wed, Aug 13, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Bring your current craft project and join in the conversation! Please register.

Wed, Aug 13, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Hobart - Programming Room
Misty De la Cruz of First Financial Bank will teach how to spot the signs of identity theft, how to protect yourself, and what to do if... more
Misty De la Cruz of First Financial Bank will teach how to spot the signs of identity theft, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you think your identity has been compromised.

Wed, Aug 13, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Upper Level
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Wed, Aug 13, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Cedar Lake Library - Public Tables
Join us and work on your crafts at the library! Bring yarn and a size H crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles and cotton yarn - or... more
Join us and work on your crafts at the library! Bring yarn and a size H crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles and cotton yarn - or bring along a project you're already working on! 

Wed, Aug 13, 5:30pm - 6:45pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Join the Page Turners Book Discussion as we discuss The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass. Books are available at the circulation... more
Join the Page Turners Book Discussion as we discuss The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass. Books are available at the circulation desk. Please register.

Wed, Aug 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
This month we will be coloring our own puzzles! Space is limited. Registration is required for all attendees.

Wed, Aug 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Like to draw? Like comics and cartoons? Then this is the program for you! Join us on the second Wednesday of every month to learn new... more
Like to draw? Like comics and cartoons? Then this is the program for you! Join us on the second Wednesday of every month to learn new drawing techniques and make friends with your fellow cartoonists!

Thu, Aug 14, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
Like to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, or do any other craft? Every Thursday, bring and work on your own project while enjoying the... more
Like to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, or do any other craft? Every Thursday, bring and work on your own project while enjoying the company of others.

Thu, Aug 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Small Group Room #2
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Cancelled
Thu, Aug 14, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago
Don't have the space at home for your hobby? Bring it to our meeting room and have a whole rectangular table to work on (more if less... more
Don't have the space at home for your hobby? Bring it to our meeting room and have a whole rectangular table to work on (more if less people attend). This will be every 2nd Thursday for 2 hours.

Thu, Aug 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Thu, Aug 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Merrillville - Small Group Room #3
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your... more
Are you having laptop, smartphone, or tablet issues? Book this one-hour session to receive individualized assistance with your technology problems. Patron must bring their device with them.

Thu, Aug 14, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
Teens are invited to play in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with one of our librarians as game master!
This event is full

Thu, Aug 14, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Join Coates Inc. for a free interactive series of college & career workshops designed to help high school students prepare for life... more
Join Coates Inc. for a free interactive series of college & career workshops designed to help high school students prepare for life after graduation. High school-aged teens (ages 14-18) are welcome.

Thu, Aug 14, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Join us for our Thursday evening group of Adult Dungeons and Dragons! In this group, we'll work our way through the Curse of Strahd module.
This event is full

Fri, Aug 15, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Stop in anytime during these sessions to work on a provided puzzle, crossword, word search or coloring sheet. All supplies provides.... more
Stop in anytime during these sessions to work on a provided puzzle, crossword, word search or coloring sheet. All supplies provides. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Cancelled
Fri, Aug 15, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago
For seasoned players and beginners. Please bring your own set as on-site supplies are limited. Open play every third Friday.