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Library Cards   •   Loan Periods and Overdue Charges   •  Services and Programs  •  Computer use   •   Code of conduct  •  Meeting Rooms

Library Cards

The Baright Public Library (BPL) serves at no charge all residents of Douglas County and all students attending and teachers working in a Ralston school. Everyone applying for a library card must show a picture ID (such as a driver's license) and proof of their CURRENT address (such as printed checks, a bill mailed to you, car registration, property tax statement). Parents must provide this identification when minors are registered. In addition, all nonresident students and teachers must provide proof of school registration each fall. A parent or legal guardian's signature is required if a child is in 6th grade or younger, so a parent must accompany his or her child to the library to apply for a card.

The Baright Public Library and Omaha Public Library have a reciprocal agreement allowing cardholders to borrow from BPL and all branches of Omaha Public Library. You need a BPL card or a BPL barcode on your large Omaha Public Library card. If you lose your library card, you must come into the library to get a replacement; identification with current address is required.

For your own safety, cardholders are asked to present their library card each time items are checked out. This prevents others from checking out on your card, and there are fewer chances for mistakes.

Nonresident families may purchase a 4-month library card for $20 or a 12-month card for $60.

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Loan Periods and Overdue Charges

Books may be reserved, or placed on hold, and renewed over the phone or online.

Items may be renewed twice.

All materials checked out at Baright Public Library must be returned to the Baright Library to avoid additional fees.

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Services and Programs

• Internet access
• Online databases available in the library or from home
• Meeting room available with a capacity of 50 (complete an application for use of the meeting room)
• Federal and Nebraska state tax forms (January through April)
• Volunteer opportunities

Equipment:

• Public access fax machine
• Public access copier with enlarging and reducing capabilities
• Overhead projector for loan
• Talking book cassette players from the Nebraska Library Commission (exchanges only)
• Public access AccuCut machine
• Laminator

Available for checkout:

• Books, including large print books
• Magazines
• Books-on-tape, books-on-CD, and Playaways
• Music CDs
• Videos, DVDs
• Cake pans
• Toys

Programs

• Educational and entertaining Lunch & Learns
• Computer classes in English or Spanish
• Bilingual Cafe
• Children’s activities
  • Summer reading program for pre-readers through grade 12
  • Toddler and parent story time (18 months to 3 years old)
  • Preschool story time for children 3 to 5 years old
  • Holiday story and craft time
  • Teen book clubs and other programs, Teen Advisory Board, and a teen blog

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Computer Use

There is a time limit of ONE HOUR for general computer use and 30 MINUTES for Internet use. These limits are enforced when the lab is busy. The Internet is filtered on all but one of the computers. Only patrons aged 18 and up may use the unfiltered computer. Parents and guardians, not the library or its staff, are responsible for the Internet information selected or accessed by their children.

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Code of conduct

Customers of the Baright Public Library have the right to use library materials and services without being disturbed by other library customers. Customers and staff have the right to a congenial environment.

Failure to follow these rules of conduct, after sufficient warning, will result in the person being asked to leave the library. Violators who refuse to leave the library may be arrested and prosecuted for criminal trespass.

Rules of Conduct

1.  Treat the library property, other customers, and staff with courtesy and respect:

• Interrupting or disturbing the work of other customers is not permitted.
• Harassing and annoying others is not permitted.
• Use of abusive language is not permitted.
• Shoes and shirt are required while in the library.
• Bicycles, roller skating, and skateboarding are not permitted in the library.
• Wagons and strollers may not obstruct a corridor, hallway, aisle, entry, or exit.

2.  Treat library materials and property with respect:

• All materials that are to be taken out of the building must be checked out.
• Defacing or damaging library property is not permitted.
• Placing feet on the furniture is not permitted.

3.  Eating, drinking, and the use of tobacco products or illegal drugs are not allowed in the library. Intoxication is prohibited. Food is only allowed when specifically approved as part of a program in the library meeting room or for special occasions.

4.  Pets are not allowed, except those to aid persons with disabilities or as part of a library-sponsored program. Please do not disturb guide dogs.

5.  Selling products or services and soliciting donations are not permitted in the library, except as part of a library-sponsored program.

6.  Taking surveys, circulating petitions, distributing leaflets, and similar activities are permitted in the library only when authorized by the Library Director.

7.  Parents or other legal guardians are responsible for the behavior of their minor children in the library.  Children under the age of 9 may not be left alone in the library.

8.  The violation of federal or state laws or local ordinances will not be permitted on library property.  Theft, vandalism, and mutilation of library property are criminal offenses and may be prosecuted.

9.  The library reserves the right to inspect all bags, briefcases, backpacks, and other such items when the staff has reason to believe this rule has been violated.  The Library is not responsible for personal belongings left unattended.

10. Disruptive use of cell phones and pagers will not be allowed.

Library staff should be notified when someone believes his or her right to use the library has been disrupted.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees, 2007

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Meeting room space is provided for library programs and other public meetings of an informational, educational, cultural, or civic nature. Library-sponsored programs have priority over all other groups, followed by government, non-profit, and then for-profit organizations. No fees may be charged by individuals or groups using the meeting rooms. Fees may be approved to cover costs of materials for short-term classes or workshops.

The library has two meeting rooms, a main Meeting Room, located near the entrance, and a story time room, accessible from the children's area inside the library.

The main meeting room will accommodate 50 persons seated and 10 tables. It has a sink, dry erase board, projection screen, wireless outlets, an AV cart with a TV and DVD, overhead projector, and LCD projector, which may be used by prior arrangements. Room configuration must be put back the way it was found.

The story time room will accommodate 12 persons seated and 2 tables. It has a sink. Room configuration must be put back the way it was found.

Food and drink are allowed in both rooms.

If you're interested in using one of the rooms, please fill out and return to the library the attached meeting room application form at least one week before the date requested. The library will contact the person who completed the request to confirm the reservation.

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Last updated 1/18/2012