Policies

Introduction

The Morris County Library is funded as a Division of County Government to provide educational, cultural and recreational materials and services to all people of Morris County. As a public library, Morris County Library is a unique institution that welcomes customers of all ages and persuasions.

As such, the Morris County Library is a public place and it cannot be responsible for any consequences of caregivers forfeiting their responsibilities.  Children and their safety are of great concern to Morris County Library. We encourage families and youth to use the library, and while doing so, affirm the parents’ and/or caregiver’s responsibility for their child’s safety. The following policy was developed to maintain a safe environment for our children.

Definition

An unattended child is a child of any age who is apparently unaccompanied by a parent or caregiver. Children who are unable or unwilling to care for themselves may not be left alone in the library or on library grounds at any time and must have adequate supervision from a caregiver.

Adults who cannot care for themselves independently, without the constant attention of a caregiver, may not be left alone in the library or on library grounds at any time and must have adequate supervision from a caregiver at all times.

Age-Related Policy

The library acknowledges that the maturity of children at different ages varies. These rules are subject to the discretion of library staff who may apply them to children other than the ages stated below, if they deem it necessary.

1. Children through the age of five (5) years must have a parent or responsible caregiver in the immediate vicinity (within sight or conversation distance) unless the children are participating in a drop-off library program.
2. Children ages six to twelve (6-12) years must have a parent or responsible caregiver in the same service area unless the children are participating in a drop-off library program.
3. When a child participates in a drop-off program, the parent or caregiver must sign the child in and out of the program and, if they do not remain in the building, leave a phone number where they can be reached for the duration of the program. Children must be picked up promptly at the end of the program.
4. Minors thirteen (13) and over may use the library unattended for a period of time appropriate to their age and maturity.
5. All children should carry with them the phone number of a parent or responsible caregiver who is to be contacted in case of emergency.

In the event that this policy is violated, we shall notify the Hanover Township Police.

APPROVED AUGUST 2015

The Morris County Library takes appropriate measures to help protect the information in your library records to help protect your privacy.

New Jersey Law – NJSA 18A:73-43.2, Confidentiality of library users’ records: Library records which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of libraries are confidential and shall not be disclosed except in the following circumstances.

a. The records are necessary for the proper operation of the library; b. Disclosure is requested by the user; orc. Disclosure is required pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court or court order. L.1985, c. 172, §2, eff. May 31, 1985.

The County of Morris shares notices about county government and its activities via social media to reach a broader audience and so that interested citizens can also share our information. We encourage you to submit your comments, questions or concerns, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum.

Morris County’s contractual obligations with our social media platforms require it to enforce their policies with regard to posted comments. The guidelines below are, in part, Morris County’s effort to comply with those obligations.

Basically, be courteous, respectful and relevant. Remember that your comments may be read by persons of any age, and are subject to open public records laws.

For those who like more detail, we’ve established the following guidelines. If your post violates them, it will be removed.

Once posted, the County of Morris reserves the right to delete submissions that contain:

• vulgar language;
• personal attacks of any kind;
• offensive comments that target or disparage any ethnic, racial or religious group.

Further, the County also reserves the right to delete comments that:

• are spam or include links to other sites;
• are clearly off topic;
• include identical or repeated comments;
• contain sexual content or links to sexual content;
• advocate illegal activity;
• promote particular services, products, or political candidates or organizations;
• infringe on copyrights or trademarks;
• have the potential to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
• are made by persons identifiably under the age of 13;
• contain personally identifiable medical information; or
• contain personal personally identifiable information (PII) such as email addresses, social security numbers, phone numbers or any other information for which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Users who violate this policy may be banned from future commenting or blocked from the social site where the violation occurred.

Please note that the comments expressed on any County of Morris social media site do not reflect the opinions and position of Morris County government or its officers and employees.

We recognize that the internet and social media are available 24 x 7. Comments are welcome at any time. However, due to the need to manage resources, questions and comments will typically be responded to during normal business hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

If you have any questions concerning the operation of this online moderated discussion, please use our Feedback Form which can be found at MorrisCountyNJ.gov.

The Morris County government has endeavored to make this site accessible to the widest variety of users with differing needs by using various technologies. This site pursues the following standards for content delivery and accessibility:

• Pages are coded with HTML 5.0
• Formatting is done with Cascading Style Sheets using CSS 3 Specifications
• Images are described with ALT tags
• Image maps are not used
• Alternates are provided for uses of Javascript throughout the website

All pages are designed with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines in mind. Care has been taken to have sufficient contrast in typed matter for readability. Visitor browser preferences may affect the site’s appearance somewhat but efforts have been made to retain the site’s overall visual layout.

Please direct any questions about this accessibility policy, or the website in general, to the Office of Communications and Digital Media.

I. Vision Statement

The Book clubs at Morris County Library aim to foster a vibrant community of readers by providing a safe and intellectually stimulating environment. Our goal is to encourage the exploration of various perspectives, promote lifelong learning, expand literacy, and strengthen community ties through the shared love of reading.

II. Membership Guidelines

• Eligibility: Membership is open to all individuals who live, work, or study in Morris County.
• Registration: While most clubs are 'drop-in' friendly, certain high-demand groups may require pre-registration via the library's online calendar to ensure manageable discussion sizes.

III. Book Selection Criteria

To ensure our selections are both engaging and accessible, the following criteria are used:

• Variety: Selection criteria vary depending on the specific book club. Generally, each book club will prioritize titles that spark discussion, offer different viewpoints, and possess literary or topical merit.
• Selection: Selections are made by the book club facilitator (MCL staff member) with input from the book club members.
• Accessibility: A primary requirement for any chosen title is that at least 10 physical copies be available in the library catalog for participants. Participants are welcome to request physical copies through demand management or to obtain digital copies (e-books, audiobooks, or free texts) via platforms like Libby or free resources like Open Library. Participants are also welcome to purchase material at their own discretion.

IV. Participant Expectation

To maintain a respectful and productive atmosphere, members are asked to adhere to the following:

• Respectful Dialogue: Members should listen actively and respect opinions that differ from their own. Personal attacks of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
• Preparation: While we understand life gets busy, participants are encouraged to read as much of the selected text as possible to contribute meaningfully to the conversation. 
• Focus: Discussions should generally remain focused on the selected titles and related themes, while allowing everyone a chance to speak.

The Morris county Library and its staff reserve the right to ask any participant to leave a meeting, and potentially bar future attendance, if their behavior is deemed consistently disruptive, disrespectful, or in violation of the Library's General Code of Conduct.

V. Meeting Schedule and Format

• Time and Location: All book clubs are held on-site at the Morris County Library. Please note that the specific meeting room and time may vary by group of change due to library scheduling. Participants are encouraged to check the library's website, program flyers, e-newsletter, or social media pages to confirm the date, time and location for their book club. There will also be signage in the lobby which participants should check upon arrival.
• Hybrid Options: Some sessions may offer a Zoom link for those wishing to join remotely. Please check the monthly flyer for specific links.
• Format
•      Welcome (5-10 mins): Intros and 'housekeeping' notes
•      Moderated Discussion (45-60 mins): A designated facilitator (staff or volunteer) will provide prompts to guide the conversation.
•      Social Wrap-up (10-15 mins): Book voting for next meeting, set time and location and informal chatting.

ADA and Accessibility Statement

The Morris County Library is committed to being fully ADA-compliant. If you require specific accommodations (such as American Sign Language interpretation or assistive listening devices) to participate in a book club, please contact the Reference Desk at least one week before the meeting.

Inclement Weather and Cancellations

In the event of inclement weather or library emergencies, book club meetings may be canceled or moved to a virtual platform. Cancellations will be announced on the library's website and social media pages. When possible, registered participants will be notified via email.

Disclaimer on Content

The views expressed in the selected books and by club participants do not necessarily reflect the official opinions or policies of the Morris County Library. Participants are encouraged to read at their own comfort level; the library does not act in loco parentis for minor participants in adult books clubs.

Contact Information

For more information regarding specific clubs, or to suggest a future title for discussion, please contact the Book Information Desk at 973-285-6970/71 or rsbi@co.morris.nj.us.

Adopted, January 15, 2026