Policies

Checkout period for all physical materials: 3 weeks

Checkout period for digital materials: 2 weeks*

Limit number of items: A total of 20 items, including but no more than

• 5 juvenile DVDs
• 5 adult DVDs
• 3 audiobooks
• 3 Wonderbooks
• 3 magazines

Limit number of holds: 5

Renewal limit for books, magazines, audiobooks, and DVDs: 1 time for 3 weeks

Lost or damaged item fee: original cost plus $5.00 processing fee

Lost patron card replacement fee: $1.00

*NOTE: Bee Cave Public Library is a member of the Central Texas Digital Consortium which makes its collections available to member libraries through OverDrive and the Libby application. The checkout period of 2 weeks for eBooks and eAudiobooks is set by the consortium.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

The Bee Cave Public Library welcomes all patrons to enjoy its collections, programs, and resources. The purpose of this policy is to ensure a safe and hospitable facility for every patron.

Library visitors of all ages are required to observe the library’s rules and policies. Inappropriate, disruptive, disrespectful, or rude behavior to staff or library patrons will not be tolerated.

City of Bee Cave policy prohibits the use of city facilities for commercial purposes. Visitors are expected to respect others, to respect City of Bee Cave property, to make safety a priority, and to obey the law. Visitors may be asked to leave the library temporarily or permanently if their behavior is in breach of this Code of Conduct. 

The following guidelines are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.

RESPECT OTHERS

• Talk quietly.
• Use headphones with all audio equipment.
• Keep personal belongings close at all times.
• Conduct phone calls outside the library.
• The following activities are prohibited in the library:
  o Inappropriate displays of affection
  o Displays of offensive materials on computers
  o Offensive displays or gestures
  o Commercial solicitation, selling, or panhandling
  o Political campaigning
  o Posting or distributing flyers without prior library staff approval
  o Harassment or sexual harassment of library patrons or staff
  o Inappropriate use of social media directed at library staff, programs, or
  patrons
  o Possessing, being under the influence of, or using alcohol or controlled
  substances on library premises
  o Strong odors offensive to a person of normal sensibilities caused by either
  poor personal hygiene or excessive use of perfume or cologne

RESPECT PROPERTY

• Take care of food and drinks; dispose of trash properly.
• Handle all library materials with care.
• Use equipment and furniture only for their intended purpose.
• The following activities are prohibited in the library:
  o Smoking or use of any tobacco products or e-cigarettes
  o Eating at the computer stations
  o Sleeping on library property
  o Bringing skateboards or bicycles inside the library
  o Running, climbing, or throwing things
  o Bathing, shaving, or washing/rinsing of clothes in Bee Cave City Hall
  restrooms
  o Entering unauthorized areas of the library or City Hall [The second floor of
  the Bee Cave City Hall building is reserved for authorized events and persons
  only.]

STAY SAFE

• The Bee Cave Public Library assumes no responsibility for children in the library. Children are the responsibility of their parents or guardians, not library staff.
• All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult or responsible person age 17 or older.
• Unsupervised children may be referred to the Bee Cave Police Department.
• An adult caregiver must accompany patrons of any age who require assistance and supervision.
• Service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are the only animals allowed inside the library; exceptions may be made for library sponsored events.
• In the event of an emergency, all patrons will fully comply with directions from the library staff, who will implement appropriate actions and procedures.

OBEY THE LAW

Illegal or dangerous behavior to any person or property is prohibited. Criminal activities that occur on library property will be reported immediately to the Bee Cave Police Department.

CONSEQUENCES FOR UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT

Individuals who fail to comply with this Code of Conduct may have their library privileges curtailed or suspended. Failure to stop unacceptable conduct after a verbal warning may result in the offender’s being asked to leave the premises. Anyone failing to leave when requested by library staff or a law enforcement officer may be evicted and may be
charged with criminal trespass.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

COMMUNITY SERVED

The City of Bee Cave is located eight miles west of Austin in Travis County, Texas, and is the fastest-growing community within the award-winning Lake Travis Independent School District. Bee Cave Public Library is located inside Bee Cave City Hall in the mixed-use development known as the Hill Country Galleria, which lies at the intersection of three major highways and offers a variety of services to the wider region. The library is funded by appropriation from the general fund of the City of Bee Cave and serves patrons from many surrounding communities without regard to residency. The City of Bee Cave prides itself on being a historic, family-oriented community committed to a high quality of life in a beautiful, natural setting.

PRINCIPLES OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

The Bee Cave Public Library selects materials that support its mission to provide its patrons with intellectual, cultural, educational, and recreational resources in a variety of formats to meet the lifelong learning needs of the community. The Library recognizes the rights of citizens granted by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Texas.

The Bee Cave City Council authorizes the Library Director, with advice and input from the Library Advisory Committee and library staff, to select materials for the Library’s collection in accordance with the principles and criteria outlined in the Collection Development Policy.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE LOCALLY

Bee Cave Public Library offers free membership to any citizen of Texas without regard to residency, and through the TexShare Card Program and Interlibrary Loan, we provide access to a world of resources beyond our own. Bee Cave patrons in good standing may receive a TexShare card, which gives them access to local public libraries including the Westbank Community Library, Austin Public Library, and the Texas State Library and Archives, as well as academic libraries of the University of Texas, St. Edward’s University, Concordia University, and other institutions of higher learning.

AREAS OF FOCUS WITHIN OUR COLLECTION

I. Adults

Because of the wealth of resources available in the area, and the relatively small size of our community and our space, Bee Cave Public Library has chosen to focus its adult collection Bee Cave Public Library Collection Development Policy 2 primarily on those materials most likely to circulate often, namely popular fiction, nonfiction, and biographies. Materials are offered in a variety of formats including print, audio, video, and digital. By its membership in the Texas State Library System and through selective purchases, the Library offers access to a wide array of online databases that supplement and expand the usefulness of the collection for research purposes and general information.

II. Youth

The children and young adult collections are somewhat broader in focus. Materials are selected within our limitations of budget and space to support the educational and research needs of K12 students and local home-schooled students, as well as their recreational and general informational needs. As an accredited Family Place Library™, we devote a significant portion of the children’s collection to materials for young children who are served by no other community agency and for whom the Library may be their first experience of a structured education environment. Fostering a love of books and reading is crucial to building an educated and responsible population and is reflected in the materials and programs the Library offers to our young patrons.

Materials chosen for the children’s collection will be selected to appeal to children of different ages and interests and offered in a variety of formats including print, audio, video, and digital. Library staff members will help parents and children locate materials, but they cannot presume to make decisions for parents as to which library materials are appropriate for their children.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Because of the volume of publishing, as well as limitations of budget and space, selection criteria will be applied in developing the collection, and materials may be selected based on any, several, or all of the following:

• Positive review in a professional journal or local media
• Patron request
• Individual merit of each item
• Popular appeal or demand
• Suitability of material for the general public
• Existing library holdings
• Budget
• Format

Items will be chosen for the collection based on a wide range of community tastes and interests and will not necessarily appeal to everyone. Materials will be judged based on the work as a whole, not on a section taken out of context. Selection of materials does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content, viewpoint, implications, or presentation of the materials. Self-published items or those from alternative publishers in any format are subject to the same selection criteria as items from mainstream publishers.

REVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

The collection will be frequently and systematically reviewed for currency of information, and usefulness to the community. Materials that have become outdated or are no longer of popular interest will be withdrawn from the collection.

DONATIONS

The Library accepts donations of books and other library materials that support the mission of the Library and fall within the scope of the Library’s Collection Development Policy as detailed in the Donations Policy. The Library reserves the right to utilize donated materials in any way that best benefits the collection and services. Gifts not added to the collection may be sold to benefit the Library or donated to other organizations.

PATRON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIAL

The Library recognizes the right of individuals to question materials in the Library’s collection. The Library provides a form (Appendix A) by which a patron can request a reconsideration of material. After the form is completed and returned to the Library Director, the material in question will be reviewed by the Library Director and a Library Review Committee to determine whether the material meets the criteria contained in this policy. The patron will be notified of the committee’s decision.

Requests for reconsideration may only be filed by Bee Cave Public Library cardholders in good standing. Materials under reconsideration will be kept on the library shelves during the reconsideration. The Review Committee will consist of the Library Director, Assistant Library Director, and two Library Advisory Committee members.

While the Library welcomes expressions of opinion from the public, patrons’ selections of materials are an individual, private matter. While patrons are free to select or reject materials for themselves and their minor children, patrons cannot restrict the freedom of others to read, view, listen, or inquire. Parents have the primary responsibility to guide and direct the selections of their minor children. Individual items which may be controversial or offensive to some may appropriately be added to the collection if they meet the selection criteria or contribute to the mission of the Library.

Appendix A - Patron Request for Reconsideration of Library Material Form

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

The primary purpose of the bulletin board in the Library foyer is for the limited, temporary display of information to library users about events or services of a cultural, educational, or community service nature.

Due to limited space, priority will be given to the Library, Library support groups, the City of Bee Cave and surrounding communities, tax-supported organizations, and non-profit educational, cultural, and charitable organizations. Other announcements, including those of a commercial nature by a for-profit organization, will receive the lowest priority.

All items must be approved by the Library staff and must meet generally accepted community standards, and existing laws regarding obscenity, libel, defamation of character, and invasion of privacy.

The name and contact information of the group sponsoring or benefiting from the posting must be clearly displayed.

In general, announcements of events will be posted up to one month before the event. Notices of a general nature that do not advertise a specific date or event will be removed after eight weeks or when space for other announcements runs out, whichever comes first. Very large posters may be rejected because of space limitations. Items cannot be returned to the owner once removed from the board and the Library does not assume responsibility for materials damaged or stolen.

This policy is not to be interpreted in any way to establish a specific public forum at the Library and is created for the benefit of the city itself and not individual members or groups of the public.

No display shall ever be permitted to interfere with the orderly activity of government service in the Library. Should a display cause or result in an interference in any manner with the orderly function of government service in the Library, the display may be removed immediately.

Acceptance of materials for display does not imply the Library’s endorsement of a group or organization, its policies, or beliefs.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

The resources of Bee Cave Public Library have been carefully selected by library staff according to the Library’s Collection Development Policy and acquired through purchases and donations. We appreciate the generosity of those wishing to donate materials to the Library. However, in order to ensure a quality collection for everyone, the Library has established simple guidelines to implement our Collection Development Policy. Because of the high cost of cataloging, processing, and storage, we can accept only the following types of materials, which must be in good condition with an ISBN visible on the back cover of the book:

• Hardcover books published within the past three years
• Paperback books published within the past three years
• Literary classics
• Children’s books

We are unable to accept encyclopedias, textbooks, condensed books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, Play-aways, or DVDs. Due to the staff time and space required to evaluate and process donations, we cannot accept more than three boxes or bags of books per family per year. No damaged or moldy items will be accepted.

If your donations meet the criteria listed above, please contact the Library to arrange a convenient time for us to receive them. We are unable to accept any donations during June, July, and August. Donated items become the property of Bee Cave Public Library, and those not added to the collection are offered to other libraries, donated to nonprofit organizations, sold at book sales, or discarded/recycled if in poor condition. Income from book sales is used to benefit the Library.

If your donations do not meet the Library’s requirements as described above, please ask at the Circulation Desk for a list of other organizations that may be able to accept your items.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

Bee Cave Public Library offers Interlibrary Loan (ILL) as a service to its patrons. Books not available at Bee Cave Public Library (BCPL) may be requested through ILL.

Requests are limited to 5 per patron at one time.

Loan periods are set by the lending library. Charges for lost, overdue, or damaged materials will be determined by the lending library.

The following types of materials may be borrowed or lent by Bee Cave Public Library through ILL:

• Books
• Large print books

Bee Cave Public Library will not borrow or loan the following types of materials:

• DVDs, CDs, or VHS
• Audiobooks
• Books on best seller lists
• Reference books
• Items of high local demand

Staff must be able to verify the author, title, and ISBN for books requested through ILL.

Patron accounts must be in good standing with no unpaid charges at BCPL and no previously lost or damaged ILL items.

Bee Cave Public Library complies with all federal copyright laws.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

Bee Cave Public Library is pleased to provide our patrons with free Internet access on public workstations in the Library and free wireless connectivity in the Library building.

Disclaimer

• Viewing and evaluating material obtained from the Internet is the responsibility of the library patron. Not all information obtained from the Internet is accurate, credible, or current. Some Internet sites may carry sexually explicit information or other information that library visitors may find controversial or inappropriate. The Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to or use of information obtained through its electronic information systems, or any consequences thereof.
• Restricting minor children’s use of the Internet in the Library is the responsibility of the parents or guardians; the Library does not have the right or responsibility to act in loco parentis.
• In the interest of providing free access to information, and in keeping with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, the Bee Cave Public Library does not use filtering software to censor access to material or protect users from offensive information.

Using Our Computers

• Public workstations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Usage is limited to one hour at a time if others are waiting, not to exceed a total of two hours per person per day.
• Internet access sessions are not available 15 minutes before closing time.
• Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to use the library workstations without parental permission.

The Library reserves the right to terminate the Internet access privileges of any person abusing these policies and procedures.

To access a library workstation, all users are required to accept the following Internet Use
Agreement by clicking “I Agree” during the login process.

INTERNET USE AGREEMENT

I agree that the use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. When using any computer at Bee Cave Public Library, I agree to

• Use library computers responsibly and ethically, consistent with the educational and
  informational purposes for which they are provided;
• Refrain from making any changes to the setup or configuration of the software or
  hardware.

I agree not to use the computer for any unauthorized, unethical, or illegal purpose including, but not limited to,

• Attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to
  others;
• Sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics which may reasonably be
  construed as obscene;
• Distributing or exhibiting materials harmful to minors;
• Copying or distributing materials in violation of U.S. copyright law;
• Violating software license agreements or network usage policies.

I understand that library computers may not be used to break any federal, state, or local law. No library patron is permitted to use a library computer to view obscenity or child pornography, or to display such content. Violators of this Internet Use Agreement may have their computer and/or library privileges revoked and/or may be removed from the Library building. Illegal acts involving Library computers may be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities. The Bee Cave Public Library assumes no responsibility for any patron’s use of the Internet. It is the right and responsibility of parents or guardians to determine what is appropriate for their children and to monitor their children’s use of Library materials and resources, including the use of the Internet. Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to use Library computers without parental permission.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

Situation Assessment

Bee Cave Public Library is in its nineteenth year of operation, having grown from a tiny collection of 7,500 mostly donated volumes housed in a portable building to a thriving, full-service library of 30,000 volumes in its physical collection and nearly twice that number of electronic items in its digital collection. The library has a team of 11.5 full-time equivalent staff members serving an active community of approximately 9,500 active cardholders. The library serves 70,000 visitors per year and offers award-winning programs across a wide range of interests and ages.

Bee Cave Public Library operates as a department of the City of Bee Cave. Since 2007, the library has operated in its current space of 4,200 square feet on the first floor of Bee Cave City Hall, located in the heart of the Hill Country Galleria, a mixed-used development of retail, office, and residential space. As the library outgrew its collection, office, and programming spaces on the first floor, it gradually expanded to additional space on the
second floor but is currently in dire need of an expanded space. At the time of this LongRange Plan, the library is engaged in the design phase for a new 24,000 square feet, two-story building projected to open in 2026.

Current Challenges

Bee Cave City Hall, where the library is currently located, shares space with other city departments including administration, finance, communications, municipal court, parks and facilities, and planning and development. All departments share restrooms, conference rooms, multi-purpose meeting rooms, break rooms, mail room, and so on. During municipal, county, state, and national elections, the shared meeting rooms are used for early voting and election days, forcing the library to cancel or reschedule programs due to lack of space. The physical collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials has reached maximum capacity in terms of shelf space, requiring a very active program of year-round weeding and de-accessioning of materials to keep the collections usable and current. The ability to innovate and add new programming as designed by library staff or requested by patrons is severely limited by the space constraints the overcrowded building places on hiring and operations.

As part of the design phase for the new library, a consulting firm conducted a variety of outreach to the community to seek input from stakeholders on their needs and wishes for the new building. Focus groups were conducted with a wide variety of stakeholders over multiple days; vision boards with ideas for the new space were shared with over 500 people at various programs and events who voted on their favorite ideas; an extensive online survey was completed by 450 people; and interviews were conducted with library staff, city
officials, and other stakeholders as part of the information-gathering phase.

Through these various methods, stakeholders identified challenges and desired solutions that are addressed in the action plan laid out below.

ACTION PLAN

1. Collections

GOAL: Patrons of all ages will have ready access to a variety of materials in print and digital formats to meet their intellectual, cultural, recreational, and educational needs.

• Keep all collections fresh and current through active acquisition of new materials and de-accessioning of weeded materials while in existing limited space.
• Plan for the expansion of all collections in the new building by collating and purchasing supplemental opening-day collections for the new building.

2. Programs and Services

GOAL: The library will provide a variety of programs and services to meet the lifelong learning needs of our growing community.

• Ensure that library programs, services, and collections continually adapt to meet community needs through the use of surveys, suggestions, and outreach.
• Expand regular programming for underserved populations, ages, and interests as resources allow.
• Maintain status as an accredited Family Place Library™.

3. Technology

GOAL: Bee Cave Public Library will provide its patrons with access to evolving technology to support their intellectual, cultural, recreational, and educational needs.

• Provide access to technology for library visitors on-site through public workstations.
• Provide access to technology for library patrons through the circulation of laptops, hot spots, and other devices as resources allow.
• Provide free connectivity and charging stations for mobile devices throughout the library and adjacent spaces.

4. Facilities

GOAL: Bee Cave Public Library will offer an inviting environment that promotes lifelong learning and fosters a sense of community.

• Continue to utilize available space in the existing library, City Hall, and surrounding area to provide a full range of programs and services until the new library opens.
• Design spaces for the new building and its surrounding grounds that facilitate a flexible offering of programs and services by creating spaces that can be modified and adapted as community needs change.
• Design spaces for the new building to be welcoming and accessible to patrons of all ages and abilities.
• Design spaces for the new building to facilitate individual study, small group work, collaborative teamwork, quiet reading, and other types of usage.
• Design spaces for learning through play in the new library and its surrounding grounds to support the goals of Family Place™ libraries.

5. Staffing

GOAL: The library will employ a professional, friendly staff dedicated to delivering innovative, high-quality programs and services that meet the needs of our growing community.

• Add additional staff as needed to expand hours of operation.
• Add additional staff to design and carry out additional programs and services.
• Provide robust opportunities for continuing education and training for staff in all positions.

SUMMARY

Bee Cave Public Library is a vibrant, thriving library serving a rapidly growing population. During the design and construction of the new library, Bee Cave Public Library will continue to provide outstanding collections, programs, and services while researching and planning for expansion, growth, and innovation in the future.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024

Bee Cave Public Library (BCPL) welcomes sponsorship from local businesses, corporations, families, and individuals. The aim of sponsorship is to obtain funding or in-kind support to provide services and equipment that may not otherwise be available. Gifts, grants, and support from sponsors are made through the Friends of Bee Cave Public Library. The Friends of BCPL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports the library through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteering.

Guiding Principles

The following principles will guide Bee Cave Public Library and the Friends of the Library in the solicitation and acceptance of gifts, grants, and support from sponsors to enhance and develop library programs and services:

• All gifts, grants, and support must further the library's mission, goals, objectives, and priorities. Sponsors may not drive the library's agenda or priorities.
• All gifts, grants, and support must safeguard equity of access to library services.
• All gifts, grants, and support must protect the principle of intellectual freedom. Sponsors may not direct the selection of collections or require endorsement of products or services.
• Gifts of books or other library materials will be accepted in accordance with the terms outlined in the BCPL Collection Development Policy.

Recognition and Acknowledgement

The library will ensure that each sponsor receives acknowledgment and public recognition according to the following guidelines:

• A letter of acknowledgment for gifts of money and in-kind support will be sent to all sponsors from the Friends of the Library.
• Public acknowledgment of sponsorship in the library's promotional materials may include a statement of the sponsor's name and a display of the logo. Standards controlling the size, format, and location of such acknowledgment will be developed by the library staff to ensure consistency and quality of appearance. Such acknowledgment will not take precedence or have prominence over the library's logo or promotional material.
• The library may submit a press release to local newspapers and/or publish an article regarding the sponsorship in the library newsletter at the discretion of the Library Director.
• Acknowledgment of sponsorship may also take the following forms at the library’s discretion:
  • Launch of a special program or media campaign to announce the gift
  • Inclusion of sponsor's name on library promotional materials
  • Display of sponsor’s promotional materials during a sponsored event
  • Placement of small standardized plaques on donated furniture or equipment
  • Recognition of sponsor’s name on library bookplates

In all cases, the type and scope of donor recognition will be weighed against the benefit to the library and made at the discretion of the Library Director.

Authority for Implementation

The library reserves the right to make decisions regarding the implementation of each grant, gift, or offer of in-kind support. Purchasing decisions, including the type of equipment, materials, furnishings, and other components of a gift will reside with library management. All details as to the design of programs and allocation of resources will also reside with library management.

Approved by Bee Cave City Council, 3/26/2024