LIBRARY POLICY

MERIDA ENGLISH LIBRARY BUILDING USE POLICY

In order to maintain a vibrant community facility for all constituents, the MEL offers the use of the building and grounds to individuals and not-for-profit community organizations who have the support of the MEL board.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES APPLY

A request to use the facility must be approved/sponsored by the MEL board.
A board member must sponsor the event and arrange for the opening, staffing and closing of the building if the event is after regular opening hours.
The MEL board may approve and sponsor events that are held during regular library hours when the event does not interfere with ongoing MEL programs.
If the MEL board chooses to sponsor the event, MEL will promote it through newsletter, the web page and/or other notifications to members and non-members.
Building usage fees of 200 pesos per hour will apply but may be waived if the event is free of charge to anyone participating in the event.

Merida English Library Collection Development Policy

Goals - To guide acquisition and maintenance of the library collection to insure diverse materials for the community we serve.

Responsibility - Under the direction of the MEL library board and in conjunction with the library administrator, the Library Collections Committee (LCC) will work with our volunteers to carry out library policies.

General Principles -
Library Bill of Rights: Basic to this policy is the Library Bill of Rights, adopted by the American Library Association, which affirms that all libraries are repositories for information and ideas, and that all points of view on current and historical issues are presented within the limits of funding.
Collection criteria: To better serve our members, the following criteria are used for selection and maintenance of materials.
Popular and regional interest
Cost and availability
Compatibility with existing materials
Patron requests
Format and ease of use
Literary importance and recognition
Historical value

MEL Collection Includes:

Fiction and nonfiction English-language materials for adults, children and young adults
Latin American fiction and nonfiction materials (including travel, history, art, and archaeology), with an emphasis on Yucatecan and Maya topics
Spanish and English language learning materials
Non-circulating reference materials
DVDs and CD audio books
Magazines, games and puzzles

Material we do not collect:

Textbooks (except Spanish and English language learning materials)
Workbooks and other curricular materials
Encyclopedias
Music
VHS and cassette tapes
Religious materials, with the exception of key texts from major world religions
User manuals and instructional materials
Materials in poor condition, missing or torn pages and/or cover, odor, mold or mildew

Removing Materials from Circulation

Materials will be continuously re-evaluated to ensure usefulness and relevance. Withdrawn materials may be offered for sale, given to other libraries or non-profit organizations or the public. Evaluation criteria for removal from circulation include:

Obsolescence
Damage or poor condition
Material that has not been checked out in five years
Duplicates
Space limitations

Responsibility for Children’s Access to Library Materials

Children have access to all materials in the library. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for monitoring their children while on the premises.

Donation Policy

MEL also accepts donations of money. Donations of services and physical items are accepted at the discretion of the administrator. Once materials are donated to MEL, they become the property of the library and may be used according to its needs.