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or links to detailed information on the following subjects :

There are other pages that deal with specific Library Information such as the
Library Board, Library Cards,  Fines or Fees. 
For links to the other pages in our website please go to the Site Index page.

About Alvarado

Alvarado is conveniently located at the intersection of Interstate 35 W and US Highway 67 in the southeast corner of Johnson County. Alvarado is a rural, farming community, which is quickly becoming a bedroom community for the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area. There are two chain grocery stores, two chain discount merchandise stores, six fast food franchises, three locally owned restaurants, and many other businesses located inside the city limits.

Alvarado’s population, as collected in the 2000 census, was 3,288 and is now stimated to be 3,999. Over 70% of the population is over 18 years of age and the median age is 32.2 years. The library also serves children and their families who reside inside the local school district/zip code. The population for those residing within Alvarado’s school district/zip code, as collected in the 2000 census, was 17,444 and is now estimated to be 17,600.

About the Alvarado Public Library

Back in 1985 the idea of having a library in Alvarado was just a dream. The Alvarado Public Library and Senior Citizens Center finally became a reality in 1989 thanks to the donation of an old grocery store building by David and Carolyn Waldrip of David’s Grocery stores, a matching grant from the Texas State Library, a matching grant from the Meadows Foundation, and contributions from many local individuals, organizations and businesses. Our Library/Senior Center building served the public for over 13 years until the building was condemned on March 19th, 2002. 

After the old Library/Seniors building was condemned, the library made several moves into temporary locations and then spent three years operating out of 462 sq. feet inside the Alvarado Senior Citizens and Community Center. 

During this time fundraising and grant writing efforts once again were undertaken and The City provided property for the new library building's location. Thanks to very generous donations from local groups, businesses and individuals, and from the Tocker Foundation and the Graves Family Foundation, after three years our fundraising goals were met and the new building was constructed.

On April 11, 2005 the new Alvarado Public Library opened to the public. We now have new furnishings and equipment and we look forward to the challenge of reaching out to our growing community and providing the services and materials they want and need.

The Library circulated over 9,600 items during June and July of 2005. Local organizations and City Advisory Boards regularly use the Library’s 1000 sq ft. Community Meeting Room. The Community Meeting Room is also used by library staff who offer weekly pre-school Story Time, two youth clubs, a Book Club and the Summer Reading Program. The Library is also home to the Alvarado Area Chamber of Commerce and the library staff answers the Chamber’s telephone, directing callers to various organizations and City Departments and answering various questions about Alvarado and the surrounding area. Please click here for a more detailed history of the Library.

Circulation Desk

Please come to the circulation desk to:  

	ask for assistance
	check out or return materials
	make requests or suggestions
	get free bookmarks, brochures and program schedules
	make donations

The library staff will be happy to proctor correspondence course examinations which are open book style and are not subject to unusual or stringent proctoring guidelines. All postage for mailing of tests and answer sheets is the responsibility of the student.

The Alvarado public Library is primarily funded by the taxpayers of the City of Alvarado. The library does not receive funds from Johnson County or from the Alvarado Independent School District.  

How to Contact the Library  Staff Members
 
 The library's mailing address is:
  Alvarado Public Library 
210 N. Baugh St.
Alvarado, TX 76009
The library's phone/fax number is (817) 783-7323

Library Director - Leanna Cowan - e-mail: librarydirector@sbcglobal.net 
Assistant Librarian - Kelly Jones - e-mail: kelly_apl@yahoo.com

401 - Access

     401.1 - Resident

               The Alvarado Public Library will serve without charge all persons who reside in the City
               of Alvarado.

     401.2 - Non-resident

                  The following annual fees shall apply for non-residents: $10 for individuals and $15 for
                  families, residing in or out of Johnson County and those residing in the Alvarado
                  Independent School District. Library cards will not be issued to people residing outside
                  the state of Texas, however, out-of-state computer use cards may be issued at the
                 discretion of the Library Staff.

     401.3 Student Use Library Card

Students residing in the Alvarado Independent School District may obtain a free student use Library card. The free student use Library card is only to be used to borrow books and audio books that are age appropriate for school reading and research purposes.

The free student use Library card may not be used to check out videotapes and may not be used to check out materials for other family members. The free student use Library card is not available to anyone who already has had a Library card which has been voided or whose family has voided cards or owes fines. Other forms of proof-of-residency may be asked for by the Library Board.

401.4 TexShare Library Card

Patrons with *active Library memberships, **in good standing for at least three (3) months, may apply for a TexShare Library Card, which they may use at participating TexShare member libraries. Patrons are responsible for any damages or loss of materials, fines, or other fees imposed by the TexShare member libraries. Patrons must continue maintain an active membership with the Alvarado Public Library and remain in good standing or their TexShare cards will not be renewed each year and will be subject to cancellation.

*Active - the patron borrows materials from the Alvarado Public Library at least once per month.
** In good standing - items are returned in the same condition as when they were borrowed, there are no outstanding fees or fines, or overdue materials and there have been no violations of any of the library's rules regarding the computers, other library materials or patron behavior.

     401.4 - Hours

The hours of service will be determined by the Alvarado Public Library Advisory Board. Posted hours will be maintained. A staff member will be present at all times the Library is open.

     401.5 - Limitations

The use of the Alvarado Public Library may be denied for due cause. Objectionable conduct, creating a disturbance, destruction of property, failure to abide by the rules of operation, loitering or interference with service to others may be considered sufficient grounds to effect temporary curtailment of services at the discretion of the Library Director.

402 - Gifts and donations

                   402.1 - The Alvarado Public Library Advisory Board reserves the right to accept or
                    reject any gift. A gift policy form must be completed and signed by the donor.

402.2 - The Board accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that the Board has the authority to make whatever disposition is deemed advisable. The Board reserves the right to dispose of unusable materials. The Board will not place a monetary value on any gift (For tax purposes, the Board can prepare an acknowledgement for the donor.)

                    402.3 - Gifts of money, real property, and/or stock will be accepted if conditions
                    attached thereto are acceptable to the Board.

403 - Loans or displays.

The facility will accept requested materials approved by the Board for display. The Board will not assume liability for displayed articles.

404 - Equipment lending policies.

404.1 - Facility owned audio-visual equipment may be loaned on a short-term (one or two day) basis to any civic, cultural, or educational group. The equipment may not be loaned for commercial use of any kind.

                    404.2 - A knowledgeable operator must be available to run the equipment, and the
                    group using the equipment is responsible for any and all damages.

                    404.3 - Although it is not necessary, small donations by groups using equipment will
                    be appreciated, since replacement bulbs are costly.

                    404.4 - An agreement form must be signed by the person responsible for the
                    equipment at the time it is loaned out.

405 - Complaints and/or grievances

Complaints and/or grievances will be registered with the Library Director. The Library Director will review all complaints and reply in writing. If the complaint is not resolved to the patron's satisfaction, the complaint may be refereed, again in writing, to the Library Board for arbitration, and if not resolved, to the City Council. (Complaints about library materials are addressed in the Reevaluation Policy below.)

406 - Miscellaneous

406.1 - Patrons will be required to behave in a courteous manner so as not to infringe on other user's rights. Those who cannot comply will be asked to leave.

406.2 – Smoking or the consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted in the Library; smoking or the consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted in the conference room, restrooms or any room inside the Library building. The consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted on the Library parking lot.

406.3 - The telephone is for facility business; patrons may use it only in case of emergency; they will need permission.

406.4 - Photocopying - because of the copyright law, the patron must assume all responsibility for photocopied material. No more than fifty (50) pages from any book or periodical may be photocopied.

SERIES 500 -

501 - Inter-Library loan.

All eligible patrons of the Alvarado Public Library will also have access to all services of the Texas Network when the Alvarado Public qualifies. Photocopy charges and postage must be paid by the patron for any materials requested.

502 - Selections of print and non-print materials for the Library

The Alvarado Public Library Advisory Board believes that books and other materials must be selected not only to serve the expressed needs of the total community but also to expand and develop those needs, creatively and imaginatively. It believes that the selection of materials requires the highest professional and critical talents available and that the Library must be a source of information, education, enlightenment, inspiration, and recreation for all the people in the community, and must provide materials presenting all points of view on significant problems and interests of the time.

The purpose of the collection is to provide, within the budget limitations, the best possible materials that will satisfy the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of its users and potential users, including all ages, degrees of reading ability, educational levels, and individual and group interest. Within the limits of the budget, all areas and points of view will be represented in the collection. Flexibility and constant awareness and anticipation of the changing needs of many different kinds of people that the Library serves are essential in book selection. A sufficient collection of reference books to supply information most frequently needed will be maintained.

                     502.1 - The Alvarado Public Library will observe the policies of the American
                     Library Association as set forth in the " Bill of Rights" and the "Freedom to Read".

502.2 - To enable citizens to form their own opinions, this will attempt to provide materials that present all points of view.

                    502.3 - Book selection.

Book selection, audiovisual materials and equipment will be made by the Library Director with the approval of the Alvarado Public Library Advisory Board, using basic tools and mostly from patron's requests.

                     502.31 - Subject matter

502.311 - Controversial issues.

As far as possible, all sides of controversial issues about which there is general concern will be provided. Materials should give evidence of a sincere desire to uncover the facts and should be written in a reasonable fashion as a result of careful study. Sensationalism and undocumented statements and accusations will usually be avoided. Occasionally, materials of doubtful value - either fiction or non-fiction - may be included for their timeliness and are discarded when they are no longer of interest.

                        502.312 - Obscenities

                        Materials, which are obscene with deliberate intent, shall not be admitted to the
                        Library. However, no material shall be condemned on the basis of single passages
                        taken out of context. Serious works, which present an honest picture of some
                        problems or aspect of life, shall not be excluded because of language, description,
                        or subject matter.

                       502.313 - Religion

                       In the field of religion the Library will maintain an impartial recognition of conflicting
                       points of view and will need to identify and evaluate propaganda material which may
                       foster hatred or intolerant attitudes toward certain groups

                       502.32 - Textbooks

No attempt is made to supply textbooks used in schools and colleges in this area; however, a book is not to be excluded simply because it is a textbook.

                        502.33 - Staff selection

The staff may share in the process of selection of material for developing the collection to meet professional standards and needs of the users. However, the Library Director will hold final decision and responsibility.

                        502.34 - Suggestions or requests

Suggestions or requests from Library patrons are welcome and will be given serious consideration, but each request will be judged on its own merit. Selections will be made on the basis of reviews, published selected lists, and staff examination when possible. Most materials selected should have at least one favorable review, and controversial titles may require two or more. If requested material is not purchased, every effort will be made to secure the material through inter-library loan.

                      502.4 - Criteria for selection.

                                   502.41 - Need in relation to the rest of the collection.

                                   502.42 - Need in relation to the interest of the community (users).

                                   502.43 - Current or permanent value.

                                   502.44 - Literary merit.

                                   502.45 - Social significance.

                                   502.46 - Sincerity.

                                   502.47 - Responsibility of opinion.

                                   502.48 - Attractiveness, durability, and technical excellence of format.

                                   502.49 - Available space and funds.

                       502.5 - Audio-visual instructional materials will be included in the Library collection.

503 - Maintenance and use of materials

503.1 - The latest editions of the "Dewey Decimal Classification" and "Sears List of Subject Headings" or Cataloging Data from The Library of Congress will be used in classifying and assigning subject headings in the Library’s MARC records.

                   503.2 - The purchase and withdrawal of books and
                   materials will be a continuous process.

                   503.3 - Weeding.

Systematic removal of materials from the collection is essential to maintaining the purpose and quality of resources.

                                       503.4 - Only registered borrowers may check out books, but anyone
                                       may come in and use the Library.

                                      503.5 - The loan period for most materials will be for two weeks.

                                      503.6 - All rules for fines will be set by the Alvarado Public Library
                                     Advisory Board.

                  503.7 - Library materials lost or ruined by a patron shall be
                  replaced at current Library costs, including processing fees –
                  all costs and fees to replace said materials are to be paid by
                  the Library patron. Library privileges will be revoked until
                  such payment is made.

504 - Periodicals and serials

                                      504.1 - Purchase and acceptance.

Periodicals are purchased or accepted as gifts to keep the Library 's collection up-to-date with current thinking in various fields, to supplement the book collection, to supply recreational reading, and to serve the staff as book selection aids and paraprofessional reading. The indexing of a magazine in a major periodical index is considered before purchase.

                                     504.2 - Periodicals will be discarded at the discretion of the Library
                                       Director according to use by the patrons.

                504.3 - Those patrons desiring periodical material for
                research may request inter-library loan service if the Library 's
                collection cannot meet the user's need. The patron will be
                responsible for payment of any photocopy charges or
                postage.

505 - Circulation

                                    505.1 - Registering as a patron

The first time all patrons borrow material, they will be required to complete a registration form that states they assume responsibility for all materials they use. Children under 18 years of age must have a guardian/parent signature. Also, patrons must show a valid driver's license with correct address. Their registration forms will be kept for Library records.

                 505.2 - Check out policies.

      505.21 - Most materials will be checked
      out for a period of two weeks, (14 days)  
      and may be renewed once for an
      additional two-week period, excluding
      reference materials and current (the
      present month or week) periodicals.
      Materials may be limited to a one week
      loan period when deemed necessary by
      the library staff.
      Materials must be returned to the
      collection for two weeks before
      renewing a second time by the same
      patron.

       505.22 – Patrons with overdue 
      materials or outstanding fines or fees
      will not be allowed to borrow materials
      or have the use of the Library’s public
      access computers or other equipment.

      505.23 - Patrons may not check out more
      than four items by the same author, from
      the same series or on the same subject at
      a time. When school children are using
      books for special reports books may be
      restricted to two per subject with one
      week loan periods. 

505.3 - Material unavailable in the Library collection may be requested through the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) program by Alvarado Public Library's Home Library Patrons. The patron requesting the material will be required to pay any photocopy charges or postage. Patrons using the Alvarado Public Library via a TexShare card from a different Home Library may not make ILL requests.

505.4 - The Library protects, as far as possible, the privacy of patrons and makes no inquiries into the purpose for which the information is requested. Library records pertaining to the use of materials will not be used directly or indirectly to identify, to a third party, the kinds of materials used by any patron.

506 - Publicity

Newspaper publicity, posters, public meetings, etc. should be utilized to make the community aware of the Library services and need for improvement of such services.

600 - Conference room policies.

                      600.1 - The Alvarado Public Library Conference room is available for meetings and
                      gatherings hosted by residents.

                      600.2 - Use of the conference room will be on a scheduled basis. First-come,
                      first-served scheduling must be made at least a week in advance.

                      600.3 - A rental fee will be assessed for use of the room according to the number of
                      hours or days of usage. A cleaning deposit will be required for the use of the room.
                      The sponsor accepts responsibility for damages to the room or its contents. The
                       rental fee and cleaning deposit may be waived for non-profit groups.

                       600.5 - The fact that a group is permitted to meet in the conference room in no way
                       constitutes an endorsement of the group's policies or beliefs by the City, the Board,
                       or the staff.

                       600.6 - The sponsor is responsible for informing the staff of the number of persons
                       attending a function. Attendance will not exceed the occupancy restrictions set by
                       Alvarado’s city fire codes.

                       600.7 - Children's and young people's meetings must be sponsored by an adult over
                       21 years of age.

                       600.8 - Agreement form must be signed by the sponsor, including the date of the
                       meeting, name of the user, and the number of people expected.

The library staff will be happy to search the library catalog or the Internet for our patrons. However, due to our limited staff we will be unable to do extensive genealogy or historical research.
We will gladly direct you in your search and offer suggestions. The staff will make every effort to assist you in your search for materials and information. 

1. We want our patrons to feel free to talk and enjoy themselves in the Library but we expect you to behave and not use overly loud voices or obscene language.

2. Anyone stealing or vandalizing Library property may be subject to prosecution.

3. Any person, who physically assaults, harasses, or uses insulting, obscene or threatening language toward another person will be removed from the library and charges may be laid.

4. Disruptive behavior is prohibited. Family disputes and arguments will not be allowed to take place inside the Library.

5. The Library may be used only for intended purposes. Staff areas, including the circulation desk and equipment in the workroom, are restricted to use by Library Staff.

6. Any person who is drunk, under the influence of drugs or who is considered to be a threat to public health and safety will not be permitted inside the Library. 

7. All backpacks, book bags, briefcases, oversized purses, and sports equipment must be left in your car or left at the circulation desk. Otherwise your bags, etc. may be inspected when you leave the Library. Sports equipment will not be permitted beyond the circulation desk area.

8. Smoking in any part of the Library building, on the Library's parking lot, on the Library's sidewalks or on the adjoining City Owned Property is prohibited.

9. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the Library Building, the restrooms and the hallways. In addition alcoholic beverages will not be consumed on the Library's parking lot or the immediate City-owned property.

10. The only animals allowed inside the Library Building are guide or hearing-ear dogs or those brought by special permission for a special Library Program.

11. Unless they are attending a special program or group meeting, children under the age of seven (7) must be accompanied in the Library by an adult who is responsible for their safety and supervision. 

12. Children may not be reprimanded by anyone other than their own parents and/or adult caregivers or paid library staff members. Other adults, children, teenagers, and volunteer staff will not reprimand any children not under their care.

13. Commercial activity, including selling, soliciting, and petitioning, is prohibited.

14. Roller blades, roller skates and skateboards are not permitted inside the Library Building or on the Library's parking lot or sidewalks or the adjoining City Owned Property. (If you travel to the library via roller blades, roller skates and skateboards you must leave them at the circulation desk until you are ready to leave.)

15. Library materials may not be taken into a washroom.

16. Loitering - inside or outside the Library Building, on the Library parking lot, the Library's sidewalks on anywhere on Library property or on the adjoining City Owned Property is prohibited.

17. Each time you check out materials you must present your Library Card. (If you or your family members have overdue items or owe fines you may not borrow or use other materials including the public access computers, or other equipment.)

18. You will be held responsible for any damages to or loss of materials used by you or your children. (This also includes any damages to items, checked out to you or your children, which are caused by pets, other animals, insects or acts of nature.)

19. Unless they have been processed for circulation, genealogy and reference materials are to be used only in the genealogy/reference area.

20. All photocopying will be done by library staff members. We will not photocopy materials which are copyright protected. No more than fifty (50) pages from any book may ever be copied.

21. Please do not reshelf materials. Please bring items to be shelved to the circulation desk. These materials are counted as part of our in-house circulation statistics.

22. Other special rules and policies apply to computer and Internet use and are available on every public access computer. (For example: no one will be allowed to view illegal or inappropriate images or websites on library computers or on personally owned computers and cell phones.)