Videocassettes To check out a videocassette, patrons must be 18 years or older, possess a valid library card from the Portsmouth Public Library. Entertainment videocassettes and DVD’s circulate for seven (7) days, instructional videocassettes circulate for seven (7) days. All videocassettes may be checked out anytime during posted hours and are due back by closing time on the date due. If the due date falls on a holiday or day when the library is closed, the videocassette’s due date is the next day the library is open. Audio cassettes and compact discs circulate for fourteen (14) days. No materials may… Read More »

Rules for Public Behavior and Conduct: To maintain an atmosphere appropriate for work, study, and enjoyment for all Library patrons and staff, the following policy on behavior in the Portsmouth Public Library and on Library properties has been established. The policy will be courteously, but firmly, enforced by library staff. Rules for public behavior and conduct are necessary to: Protect the rights of individuals to use library materials and services. Protect the rights of library employees to conduct library business without interference. Ensure the use of library buildings, materials, and services by the greatest number of individuals. Preserve library facilities… Read More »

Obtaining a Library Card All persons who wish to borrow materials from the Library must obtain a library card. The library card must be presented each time materials are borrowed. A picture ID may be accepted in lieu of a library card one time before a replacement card will be required. The following persons may obtain a Portsmouth Public Library card by presenting valid identification: Ohio Residents Kentucky Residents from Greenup and Lewis Counties Students attending educational institutions in Scioto County Valid identification for persons 18 years and older will be defined as a valid picture ID and proof of… Read More »

If library material desired by a borrower is not owned by the library, it may be obtained from another library through Interlibrary Loan. The borrower will be responsible for any charges associated with obtaining materials through the Interlibrary Loan process. Interlibrary Loan materials may be checked out for fourteen (14) days and may not be renewed. A fine of $1.00 per day will be charged for each overdue Interlibrary Loan item. In the event of loss of any Interlibrary Loan material, the borrower shall be required to pay the full replacement cost of each item plus a $50.00 lost item… Read More »

It is the policy of the Portsmouth Public Library to use technology protection measures in an attempt to: a)  Prevent access to or transmission of inappropriate material via Internet, electronic mail, or other forms of electronic communication; b)  Prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity; c)  Prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use or dissemination of personal identification of minors; and d)  Comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act [Pub. L. No. 106-554 and 47 USC 254(h)]. Access to Inappropriate Material To the extent practical, technology protection measures shall be used to block or filter Internet content. Specifically, as required by… Read More »

The Portsmouth Public Library (PPL) provides public access to the Internet through the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN). Misuse or abuse of Library computers or Internet access may result in suspension of Internet access privileges including a one-week suspension for the first violation and permanent suspension for a second violation. Appeals regarding these suspensions may be made to the PPL Library Director or the Library Board of Trustees. Guidelines: All patrons who access the Internet on a Library computer or device must first acknowledge acceptance of the provisions of this policy. Patrons accessing the library’s network on personal devices… Read More »

The primary purpose of the meeting rooms at all Portsmouth Public Library locations is to provide facilities for library related activities. Needs of the library for the use of the meeting rooms take precedence over use by outside groups. As a community service, the Library makes its meeting rooms available for use by nonprofit community groups when they are not being used for library related activities. Meeting rooms are available to the public for civic, cultural, or educational programs or meetings. Trade or professional associations are interpreted to be educational groups. All meetings and programs must be non-soliciting in nature… Read More »

Minors are advised to get their parents’ permission before providing any personal information online. Forms on this web site may require users to provide contact information. Contact information is only used when a staff member needs to reach the user regarding a submitted request. When a page is requested from our web site, our web servers automatically recognize the user’s domain and IP address (an identifier for a computer or device that is used to route Internet traffic, or basically your “address” on the Internet.) This information may be used to obtain usage statistics or web site hits. We do… Read More »

The public library is a community institution serving a wide range of organizations, interests, and age groups. Schools and students are an important segment of the community. With a goal of making contact between educators and the public library more effective, the Portsmouth Public Library will provide a card to teachers which provides an extended loan period and increased borrowing limit for classroom collections. In order for the library’s collection to reach the maximum number of students the following policy has been implemented: Teacher cards will be issued to certified teachers in a public, private or parochial school or an… Read More »

The Portsmouth Public Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services. However, the responsibility for the care, safety, and behavior of children using the Library rests with the parent, legal guardian, or designated caregiver. The caregiver must be at least 12 years of age. The safety of children left alone in a library building is a serious concern of the Library staff. The Library is a public building, open to all. In order to create an environment of safety and maintain an atmosphere where reading and study can be encouraged, the following policy has been established. For the safety… Read More »