Homebound Services

Policy Statement

Manhattan Public Library (MPL) serves the reading needs of library cardholders within Manhattan city limits who are unable to come to the library on their own due to a medical condition or physical disability.

Regulations

Home Delivery:

  1. MPL cardholders who live within Manhattan city limits and are homebound are eligible for home delivery of any MPL circulating books, audiobooks, DVDs, and magazines. This service can be received on a temporary or ongoing basis, as necessary.
  2. “Homebound” is defined as being generally confined to one’s residence either temporarily, due to illness or accident, or permanently, due to disability or age.
  3. All materials for home delivery are checked out for four weeks. Materials may be renewed once for an additional four weeks if there are no other patron requests on the materials. The renewal due date is set in accordance with the next month’s regular delivery date.
  4. Requests for interlibrary loans may be placed for homebound patrons. Librarians will notify the Interlibrary Loan Clerk that we will need these for an extended period of time.
  5. Home deliveries are made once a month on a predetermined schedule. Deliveries are arranged to accommodate both the needs of the patron and the staff schedule, but needs to be scheduled 9-5, Monday through Friday.
  6. In the event of inclement weather, the Library reserves the right to reschedule delivery and pickup for that week. All patrons will be notified if this occurs.
  7. All home deliveries are made by MPL staff.
  8. Homebound patrons are responsible for damaged or lost materials.
  9.  Patrons must adhere to the scheduled delivery time. If the library staff member receives no response at the delivery point five minutes past the scheduled delivery time, they may leave without completing the delivery at their discretion.
  10. Repeated absence at delivery times, repeated failure to communicate with library staff, or repeated loss/damage of library materials may result in suspension from the homebound service.
  11. Staff will not enter a home if unsafe conditions are present. If staff enters a home, then becomes aware of unsafe conditions, staff will immediately leave the home. Unsafe conditions at the home may lead to suspension or termination of homebound services.
    1. Unsafe conditions include a person at the home using threatening or obscene language, displaying obscene imagery or gestures, harassing the staff person, engaging in illegal activity at the time of the service, or home/property conditions that may endanger staff health or safety.
    2. Staff may be able to continue service by leaving materials at the door and not entering the home.
  12. If staff must leave the home, deny service or recommend suspension of service, the library staff member will provide the Adult Services Manager with notice and a recommendation for suspension length or termination. Written notice will be sent to the patron. Any homebound patron may request in writing that the suspension or termination of service be appealed, first to the Library Director or designee, then to the library board.

Online Resources Service:

  1. Individuals who live within Manhattan city limits and are homebound are eligible to register for an MPL card from their home to enable them to use MPL online resources.
  2. Photographic identification, such as a valid driver’s license must be provided to MPL staff to verify account information.
  3. Staff will provide basic assistance for using library resources. Patrons should have the basic ability to use their device.
  4. Staff will only visit the patron’s home one time.

Selection Service:

  1. MPL cardholders who are homebound or have limited mobility may request, with 24-hours’ notice, that a librarian select materials for them and have the materials ready for pick-up.
  2. Pick-up, delivery, and return of the requested materials can be done by the patron (if they are able) or by a friend, care provider, family member, or other person chosen by the patron.
  3. Patrons requesting selection service maintain possession of their own library card and are responsible for arranging with their designated delivery person to bring that card to the library to check out materials.
  4. Patrons who use the selection service are responsible for all fees accrued in accordance with MPL circulation policies.

Large Type Print Collection Delivery:

  1. The North Central Kansas Library System selects and processes depository collections of large type print books for system libraries, to be delivered by those libraries to residential care facilities in their communities that serve seniors or people with medical conditions.
  2. MPL Public Services makes monthly deliveries on a rotating basis to residential facilities in Manhattan that fit the above criteria.

Approved by the Board May 28, 2014. rev. June 1, 20026

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