Reference & Information Services

1. PURPOSE
Reference services at the Mahopac Public Library support the educational, informational, and learning needs of the residents of Mahopac School District, Town of Carmel, and Putnam County. As the County Reference Center, people outside this geographic area may contact the reference department for assistance on matters pertaining to this region.

2. PROTOCOLS
Librarians are trained to use a variety of sources in order to assist patrons in locating information and/or using specific materials. Answers will be given in a timely fashion as staff and resources permit. Services fall into one of the following categories:
· Ready Reference – questions that require a few minutes to answer.
· In-Depth Reference – requests for help that require more than a few minutes of staff assistance. This type of request may require scheduling an appointment, referral to subject specialists and/or referral to another library. A referral is determined by the librarian based upon knowledge of the limits of Mahopac Public Library’s resources.
· Instructional Workshops – the library provides instruction on the use of computers and selected resources.
· Access to Electronic Resources – online catalogs, databases, and journals are available in the library, and in many cases, for off site use, through the Internet, including the library’s Web site.
· Interlibrary Loan – materials not available at Mahopac Public Library can be borrowed from other libraries nationwide.
· Research – in one of the library’s special collections, such as fundraising, law, local history, and genealogy. Researchers and scholars in other areas will be referred to resources in other libraries.
· Census Data – available on microfilm through the library's membership in the National Archives Census Microfilm Program.
· Government Documents – the nearest depository collections are located at
St.Thomas Aquinas College Library in Dutchess County and SUNY Purchase Library in Westchester County.

3. ACCESSING SERVICES
Every librarian is able to answer most questions. Librarians may determine that one of their colleagues is better qualified to answer a patron’s question based upon assessment of skills such as special subject training. In such cases, questions may be referred to the most qualified librarian.

Services may be accessed in one of the following ways:
· In person -- the librarian will conduct a reference interview, direct the patron to appropriate resources, and show the patron how to use them.
· Telephone -- if the question is not Ready Reference, the librarian will take patron's name and telephone number for a call back.
· E-mail -- can be found on the library's Web site under Contact Us or on the Reference page.

4. DELIVERY OF INFORMATION
Information is provided via telephone, fax, e-mail, photocopies, and/or print and non-print materials. There may be charges or fees, licensing, and/or use of materials restrictions. The Mahopac Public Library will not request or deliver information until
the patron agrees to the relevant terms and conditions.
The library cannot fulfill requests that either:
· infringe upon copyright, or
· violate the privacy of individuals, or
· require an opinion based on the data such as legal interpretations, medical
diagnoses, the financial significance of stock quotes, and so forth.

5. PATRON RESPONSIBILITIES
Patrons who use the reference services of Mahopac Public Library are expected to comply with the above policies without harassing staff or other library users, without damaging library materials or facilities, and without violating applicable local, state, and/or federal laws (for example, New York State Penal Law Articles 145, 235, 240.)
Patrons who violate these policies and statutes may lose their privilege to use the library and its resources and/or be subject to criminal prosecution and other legal action.

Policy Adopted: August 28, 2002