Library draft policy on homeless people borrowing

Here's a draft of the Worcester Public Library's "Borrowing Criteria for Homeless Shelter and Transitional Housing Residents."

We don't know what the timeline on getting this implemented is, nor do we know what the current policy is.This was obtained with a Public Records Request.

The first level of criteria applies to residents of Homeless Shelters. These residents are transient with no permanent address. The Worcester Public Library limits those residents of shelters that have been contacted by the library to 2 items per checkout. Residents of shelters in the first level will be given a handout explaining their borrowing privileges and encouraging them to let us know when they have found permanent housing so their card can be updated for unrestricted borrowing.

The second level of criteria is for residents of Transitional Housing Programs. While in a Transitional Housing Program, residents are limited to two items per checkout, unless the resident presents a letter signed by the director of their program allowing the patron full borrowing privileges and accepting full responsibility for the safe return of all materials, including lost book payments. The directors of Transitional Housing Programs may also opt to sign up for a Firm Card that transfers the responsibility for the safe return of materials from the resident to the agency.

The third level of criteria applies to Teen/Children' Programs that serve children less than 18 years of age. These agencies will be strongly encouraged by letter with a follow-up phone call to have a Firm Card in place. WPL provides Firm Cards to agencies willing to accept financial responsibility for their borrowing by their residents.

Library volunteers are granted full borrowing privileges, regardless of housing status.

Temporary Shelters
[6 listed]

Transitional Housing Programs
[22 listed]

Teen/Children's Programs
[4 listed]

Firm Cards
[15 programs listed, mostly kids' programs]

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