Policies

3D Printing Policy

The Library’s 3D printer is available for educational, workshop, and programming purposes to make three-dimensional objects in plastic using a design that is uploaded from a digital computer file. All five branch libraries (Berlin, Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Pocomoke, and Snow Hill) have 3D printers installed.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Worcester County Library is committed to making information on this website accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. If you cannot fully access the information on any page on our site, please contact Library Administration at 410-632-2600 or by email contact@worcesterlibrary.org.

Borrowing Policy

  • Materials circulate for up to three weeks.  Our system provides auto-renewals for all items unless they are on hold for another person or have already been renewed the maximum number of times. Patrons who opt in to receive email communications from the library will receive a confirmation email containing the new due date.  If the item can not be renewed the patron will receive an email reminder of the current/unchanged due date. Please check messages from the library carefully.

Collection Development Policy

The Worcester County Library Board of Trustees has adopted the following Collection Development Policy to guide the staff and inform the public about the principles on which the library collections are developed and maintained.

The library collection reflects our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Worcester County Library is to promote reading, thinking, learning, and the enjoyment of the arts.

Fine Free FAQs

Why did Worcester County Library eliminate fines?

The mission of the Worcester County Library is to promote reading, thinking, learning, and the enjoyment of the arts. As a critical resource for low-income families, there is growing awareness in the library profession that fines present a barrier to access these resources, particularly for children. Going fine-free is a growing trend in American libraries, and Worcester County is now one of six systems in Maryland without fines.

Internet Usage

In order to provide a clear understanding of what conduct is expected when using the Internet, the Basic Procedures and Rules follow. Failure to follow these Procedures and Rules will result in loss of Internet privileges. Laptop use is wireless ONLY. Users may not connect laptop computers into public access computer ports or any other ports found in the building.

Patron Conduct

Welcome to the Worcester County Library. We want your experience with your library, whether in person, by telephone, or online to be pleasant and successful and we encourage you to use your library often. Following this policy will help create a positive and productive library environment.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Worcester County Library is committed to user confidentiality. The Library protects its users' privacy by keeping information about materials they check out and information they access confidential, as required by law. All employees, volunteers, and Board of Library Trustee members must comply with all laws governing confidentiality of information, records and transactions, including the provisions of § 23-107 of the Code, and the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, § 10-611, et seq. Borrowers’ records are excluded from disclosure under the Maryland Freedom of Information Act (ST GOV § 10-616e) unless otherwise provided by the law.

Request for Reconsideration Form

The Board of Trustees of the Worcester County Library has delegated the responsibility for selection and evaluation of library resources to the Library Director, and has established reconsideration procedures to address concerns about those resources. Completion of this form is the first step in those procedures. If you wish to request reconsideration of library resources, please return the completed form to the Library Director, Worcester County Library, 307 N Washington Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.  The Director will respond in writing within ten working days.

Suspension of Privileges for Health and Safety Reasons

It is the responsibility of the Worcester County Library to maintain a healthy and clean environment for all library users and to protect the County’s investment in library collections, equipment and property.