YOUTH SERVICES

Tours, Class Visits and Field Trip Policy Before you schedule a Library Adventure for your group or organization, please read through the following important information.

• Go to the Calendar Schedule to register online for a Library Adventure!

• Downloads:

  • Group Visit Policy
  • Bus Parking Map

Proposed School Visits Policy Appeal Procedure

The Farmington Public Library staff and Board design library policies to ensure access to information and culture for all citizens, and to realize the right of all library patrons to equal access to library service.

Annual Planning Meeting

To fulfill that goal the library staff sets an annual planning meeting in early August to discuss the School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy, the scheduled Library Adventures for the upcoming school year, any problems or difficulties with the previous year's Library Adventures, and to gather input on improving the Library Adventures experience.

All area teachers, educators and group leaders are invited to attend. In addition to the invitations that are hand-delivered and mailed to previous Library Adventures attendees, the Farmington Public Library's Youth Services staff e-mails invitations, announces the meeting in the library's newsletter, and distributes invitations to all daycare providers.

During the planning meeting attendees are charged with assisting the library staff in improving library services, reviewing policies, to ensure that every organization has equal access to Library Adventures.

Appeal Process

If an organization wishes to challenge the School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy or the scheduled Library Adventures for the current school year, the appeal procedure will be followed:

Written Request

A member of the library staff explains the School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy to the patron, and offers a printed copy. If the patron wishes, s/he may then submit a written Request for Reconsideration of the School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy to the Library Director.

Library Director's Review

The completed request is reviewed by one or more members of the library staff who have responsibility for the School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy, and by the Library Director. The library staff objectively review the request in question to ascertain that the principles of equal access to library services were applied and review the current year's planning notes and requests to ensure that suggestions by area teachers and educators were included in the current year's schedule. The Library Director or a member of the library staff shall make a written response to the requester within 14 days of the date that the Request for Reconsideration was submitted. The Library Director shall also notify the Library Board of each Request for Reconsideration received.

Appeal to Reconsideration Committee

If the requester is not satisfied with the decision of the library staff, s/he may appeal in writing to the Library Director, who then convenes a Reconsideration Committee. This committee will consist of:

1. One member of the Library Board;

2. .Members of the library staff with responsibility for School or Class Visits and Field Trip Policy;

3. Members of the community selected jointly by the Library Board and the Library Director.

In reviewing the appeal, the Reconsideration Committee relies on the policies and considers other appropriate information, including professional best practices and recommendations, comments from the library staff, and comments from the requester. The Reconsideration Committee will recommend an action to the Library Director, who will reach a decision and inform the requester and the Committee in writing of that decision. Library Board Review Should the requester wish to appeal this decision, s/he may make a final appeal in writing directly to the Library Board, which will review and rule on the request within thirty days of the final written appeal. The Farmington Public Library Advisory Board will review this policy annually.