FOUNTAINDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY TUTORING POLICY

Tutoring is an activity that relates to the Library’s role as an educational support center in order to serve the needs of the Library and the Fountaindale community. The Fountaindale Public Library provides study rooms for tutoring to achieve the Library mission of supporting independent learning tutoring. Use of the study rooms is governed by the Study Room Policy, and any applicable rules or regulations adopted by the Library. Due to the popularity of the library’s study rooms, the Library has put in place the following Policy and procedures in regards to tutoring activities. Space is subject to availability. Adult and Teen Services Department staff has been afforded discretion in determining the procedures for effective booking of private study rooms.

PRIORITY FOR USE

Use of the study rooms for tutoring purposes is reserved solely for tutors and/or students who are residents and cardholders of the Fountaindale Public Library District.

Subject to this prioritization, study rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge, in accordance with the Library’s Study Room Policy.

LIMITS OF USE

Two study rooms on the third floor of the Library will be made available for tutoring reservations from Monday through Friday between the hours of 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm during the school year (September through May) and between the hours of 9:00 am and 8:00 pm during the summer (June through August). No tutoring reservations will be accepted for Saturdays and Sundays.

Because of the general demand for use of the study rooms, the Library cannot accommodate applicants desiring to schedule multiple tutoring sessions in a single day. Use of the study rooms for tutoring is therefore limited to one reservation per tutor per day with a maximum of two hours per session.

Study room reservations must be made by a tutor or on behalf of a student with a Fountaindale Public Library District library card in good standing.

REQUESTING A ROOM

Tutors will contact the Adult and Teen Services Department to determine if space is available for tutoring activities. Library staff will review each request for compliance against the Study Room Policy and Library’s Tutoring Policy. The applicant will receive approval or denial of most requests within three days.

Tutors must register by name, email address and/or contact phone number with a valid Fountaindale Public Library District library card. If the tutor is not a Fountaindale Public Library District resident, a valid Fountaindale Public Library District library card number of the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian, must be provided at the time of registration.

Tutors may make reservations for available rooms on a four month rolling schedule broken down as follows: September through December; January through April; May through August. Reservations will not be taken in advance for future four-month periods. For example, a reservation for September through December cannot be made in August.

The date and/or time of an existing study room reservation cannot be modified. Tutors wishing to change the date or time must submit a new request for study room use with the Adult and Teen Services Department.

Study rooms are available for use during Library open hours only. Rooms must be vacated no less than fifteen minutes prior to the library closing, or at the end of the scheduled tutoring session, whichever comes first.

PROCEDURES

Upon arrival, the tutor must check in at the Library’s 3^rd floor Reference Desk. Tutors must return to the desk and notify Library staff when the session is finished. The room will then be inspected for condition.

Groups may not rearrange Library furniture. Signs and decorations may not be taped or stapled to walls or doors. Use of glue, crayons, paint, markers, tape and other craft supplies is prohibited. Study rooms are to be left as they are found. Waste must be placed in appropriate garbage and/or recycling receptacles. No food or open drinks are allowed in study rooms.

No tutor may use the Library as a mailing address. The Fountaindale Public Library District does not endorse nor provide references for tutors or tutoring services.

The library does not serve as an intermediary between students and tutors.

Tutors are limited to working with three students or fewer at a time.

Individuals 5^th grade and under must be accompanied by a caregiver or tutor at least 18 years of age and are the responsibility of the tutor until released to a parent or guardian.

Once a room has been vacated for more than 10 minutes, the Library reserves the right to remove the user’s belongings to a safe location and to reassign the study room to an available status.

EQUIPMENT

The Library does not provide equipment and storage for tutors, nor does it provide supplies and textbooks.

CANCELLATIONS

Tutors must call ahead and speak with the Adult and Teen Services Department to cancel a room reservation. If three reservations are missed without a cancellation or notification, the four-month period of tutoring reservations will be cancelled. The tutor may make future reservations when the succeeding four-month period opens.

Tutors understand that a room reservation will only be held ten minutes past the scheduled reservation start time and will be considered cancelled without a call or notification.

No person may assign its reservation to another person or group.

Adult and Teen Services staff will review repeated unexcused absences or violations of our Library Conduct Policy and will recommend the exclusion of rights to future bookings of the private rooms as deemed necessary.

FAILURE TO COMPLY

Repeated cancellations and/or repeated violations of the Library’s Conduct may result in a loss of room booking privileges.

DAMAGES AND LIABILITY

The Library is not responsible for possessions left in a study room or moved by staff to another location.

Any individual using the study room shall be held responsible for willful or accidental damage to the Library building, grounds, collections or furniture caused by the individual or group in accordance with the Meeting Room Policy and Library Conduct Policy.

Any applicant for tutoring reservations has read and understands the Policy for Use and agrees that she/he is responsible for ensuring that each student is aware of and abides by these rules.

APPEAL AND REVIEW

The Board of Trustees of the Fountaindale Public Library District will review the tutoring policy and regulations periodically and reserves the right to amend them at any time. The Board authorizes the Library Director to waive regulations under appropriate circumstances. The Library Director is the chief person empowered to make decisions regarding the availability and use of the study rooms. The Library Director has delegated authority to approve study room requests to the Adult and Teen Services Department staff for both general usage and tutoring reservations.

Any appeals for changes to, or exceptions to, any portion of the tutoring policy will be considered. An individual wishing to file an appeal shall submit it to the Library Director in writing. The Library Director will respond in writing.

APPROVED MARCH 22, 2012