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e-Receipts Back to List E-Receipts: Never Miss a Due Date! Whenever you check out an item, you'll immediately receive an email containing the due date for each item. No more worrying about mixing up or losing date-due cards! You will also receive an email when you renew an item to help you keep track of the new due date. Example of an E-Receipt But you don't have my email address! If you don't have an email address listed with us but want to add one to your account to start receiving emailed receipts, just let us know! You can either tell us the next time you check out, or give us a call. Remember, LCPL only uses your email address to send you library-related information, like notifications that your books are due soon. We will never sell your information or use it to send spam. What if I Don't Have an Email Address? You can also get e-receipts via text message. Just ask and we'll turn on that option for you. Be warned, though - because of character limits on text messages, you'll receive a separate text for every item you check out or renew! If you don't have a mobile phone that can receive texts AND you don't have an email address, but you think e-receipts sound really convenient, just stop by your local library and ask for a librarian's help setting up an email address of your very own. Email addresses are free, and we can help you get started quickly. I Dislike Really Convenient Emails that Help Me Keep Track of My Stuff. If you do not wish to receive e-receipts, let us know the next time you check out. Back to List

Child Safety Policy Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library May 27, 2010 Back to List The Board of Trustees of Lake County Public Library has adopted the following policy in order to provide for the safety, comfort and welfare of patrons of all ages, and to provide an atmosphere conducive to study and the appropriate use of the library’s services and facilities. The primary purpose of the children’s area in the library is to provide a safe and comfortable place for children and their caregivers to enjoy the library together. The Library reserves the right to direct unaccompanied adults to other areas of the Library when their presence is not specifically tied to the use of materials in the youth areas. The library is not intended or licensed to be a daycare, after school care facility, summer camp or babysitting service. The library is not responsible for the care of unattended minors. Those unattended minors who do not abide by library rules and policies, or who exhibit unacceptable behavior, will be asked to leave, and/or call their parents for a ride home. If unable to reach their parents, or if a ride is unavailable, the children may be considered abandoned and the local police department will be called. Minors without a ride home at closing may be considered abandoned and the authorities called. Library staff are not authorized to provide transportation to children left at closing. The library is not responsible for minors without a ride home at closing. The library believes it is the right and responsibility of a parent or guardian to determine what is appropriate material in order to meet personal family standards and guidelines. Therefore, parents are encouraged to accompany their children and to select material with their children or review their children’s selections. The library is not responsible for a minor’s selection of library materials. All children under age 18 must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian, signed on the library permission form in the presence of a library employee, to check-out Digital Video Discs (DVDs). The library is not responsible for the content or appropriateness of any materials checked-out. All children under age 18 must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian, signed on the library permission form in the presence of a library employee, to access the Internet. The library is not responsible for the content or appropriateness of any materials accessed on the Internet. Adults who are using the Internet or other library services and programs must supervise or provide guidance and behavior control for minors accompanying them. The library reserves the right to prohibit Internet use, and/or ask the adults and minor children to leave if unacceptable behavior persists. Library policy requires the signature of a parent, legal guardian, or adult relative approving the application for a library card for anyone under the age of 18. The Library requires the parent or guardian of a minor child to be responsible for all overdue, lost or damaged materials and fines, fees and other debts accrued by a minor child. The Library will release circulation records of a minor child to a parent or guardian only upon presentation of the child’s library card or card number, or if the materials are lost, damaged or overdue. The reference questions of minor children will be considered privileged information as determined by state law and professional ethics. The Library is not responsible for any consequences of parents forfeiting their responsibilities. General Public Library Child Safety Guidelines Child Safety in Public Libraries Lake County Public Library values children as evidenced in library materials, services and resources offered specifically for children. Children and their safety are of great concern to Lake County Public Library. We encourage families and their children to use our libraries, yet we also support parents’ or caregivers’ responsibility for their children’s safety and upbringing. Children, like all library patrons, are expected to behave appropriately. Parents and caregivers, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their children in the library (see Library Rules of Conduct ). The following areas highlight public library safety for children: Public Areas Anyone can enter and leave the building without supervision by the library staff. Parents and caregivers must be reminded that libraries are public places . In libraries, as in all public places, "stranger danger" is a real concern. Library staff cannot prevent children from interacting with or leaving the library with persons who are not appropriate caregivers. In any situation, parents or caregivers are influenced by various factors whether it is appropriate for a child to be alone in a library, unattended by a responsible caregiver. These factors include: The child’s age, developmental level, social awareness and general health The length of time the child is left unattended How often the child is left alone Whether the child knows how to contact a parent, neighbor, adult friend or relative, if necessary Library staff cannot verify the ages of children who come into the facility. If a well-behaved five-year-old plays quietly in a part of the library, staff may not notice that she is unattended. Also, depending on the circumstances, an eight-year-old may require less supervision than a 14-year-old or a disruptive adult. Library Closings If the library is closing, at the regular time or in an emergency situation, and an unattended child is left at the library without transportation home, Library Staff will allow the child to call home to remind their parents to pick them up. If the child is unable to contact their parents, Library Staff will remain no longer than 15 minutes after closing. At that time, local law authorities will be contacted and the child will be placed in their care. Under no circumstances shall a staff member drive a child home. Exceptions to this policy occur when programming requires children to attend on their own. At these times, children should be brought to the meeting room door prior to the program and be met outside the door at its conclusion. Parents are responsible for the conduct of minor children (under 18 years of age) in the library or on library grounds, regardless of whether they accompany their children or not. Library Materials In selecting books for children, the Library’s objective is to present a collection that satisfies the informational, recreational, and cultural reading needs and potentials of children from infancy through eighth grade. Books are included which meet the general demands of the majority of children along with books whose special qualities make them valuable to children with special needs, talents, problems, or interests. (see Selection Policy for Children’s Materials - Official Memos Available Upon Request) The library is not responsible for a minor’s selection of library materials. The library believes it is the right and responsibility of a parent or guardian to determine what is appropriate material in order to meet personal family standards and guidelines. Therefore, parents are encouraged to accompany their children and to select material with their children or review their children’s selections. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s choice of reading and in their literacy discovery adventures. Lake County Public Library endorses the Every Child Ready to Read program and offers programs and resources that are age appropriate for children. Meeting Rooms Library meeting rooms are primarily used for library related activities and other events co-sponsored by the library. These activities receive priority above other groups who wish to reserve a meeting room. In all cases, an adult Lake County Public Library cardholder in good standing must take responsibility for the group's use of the room, equipment and conduct of members by signing a reservation and use agreement. He or she must be present at the library before staff will open the meeting room to the group, and he or she must be present throughout the scheduled meeting. Children and youth groups are required to use the meeting rooms under adult supervision. All meetings must be open to the public. Library programs will take precedence over all other activities. (see Meeting Room Policy ) Private Tutoring Library premises are available for the use of members of the public to meet their needs in accessing information. As part of its educational mission, the library permits tutoring. Independent tutors are not sponsored by the library. All arrangements must be made between the tutor, student, and parents. It is preferred that the parent remain in the Library while the child is tutored. The Library assumes no responsibility for children left unattended. Use of Study Rooms: Photo Identification is required for Study Room registration. Tutors are asked to observe the following guidelines when tutoring in the Library: Tutoring activities are to be confined to designated study areas. Designated areas may not be available if needed for Library programs or activities. Tutoring sessions must be kept as quiet as possible. The Library's policy regarding disruptive behavior applies. (see Library Rules of Conduct ) Group tutoring is discouraged. Tutors are responsible for the behavior of the students. Library staff will assist tutors and their students with available library resources. Tutors and students must bring their own supplies. (see Private Tutoring Guidelines - Official Memo Available Upon Request) Keeping Children Safe Online The responsibility for minors' use of computers and the Internet rests with their parents or guardians. The Library does not serve in loco parentis (in place of a parent) like public schools do. Library staff do not act in place of parents providing constant care and supervision of children using library computers. The Library provides training on computer basics and the Internet and recommends sites suitable for children, which are included on the Children's Department pages of the Library website. The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. At Lake county Public Library we address these concerns using visual observation by staff to the extent practical, and the use of filtering software. Due to the filtering software some sites may end up being blocked even though they contain no objectionable material. The library has established procedures to request unblocking of individual sites. The Library recommends that parents discuss the following rules for online safety with their children before permitting them to use the Internet. Lake County Public Library recommends parents and caregivers adhere to www.netsmartz.org guidelines. Recommended by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents' permission. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable. I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission. Computer Use Policy See the Computer Use Policy . Back to List Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library May 27, 2010

The new and improved 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is here! Sign Up Program Features Online tracking through the ReadSquared app, just like Summer Reading! New paper logs if you still want to track that way - bigger and better than ever! Amazing new milestone prizes that'll help you build an at-home storytime kit! If you were already working your way toward 1000 books in the old program, don't worry - you won't lose your progress. Just enroll on ReadSquared and we'll take care of the rest! Already have a ReadSquared account from Summer Reading? Log in and click Enroll near your child's name to sign up for the new program. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nation-wide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to kids. If you read just one book a day with your child, you'll reach the 1000 book goal in less than three years - but we know you'll read more than that! LCPL's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative is sponsored by the Friends of LCPL . Why is reading with kids important? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , over 1 in 3 American kids start Kindergarten without the language skills they need to learn to read. In fact, the number of words a child knows going into Kindergarten is a predictor of their academic success. Reading out loud to your kids is an easy, fun way to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in school. More reasons reading out loud matters Frequently Asked Questions 1000 Books Before Kindergarten How do I sign up? 1: Start counting the books you read to your child. 2: Enter the number on the ReadSquared (https://lcplin.readsquared.com/)app or website. Don't love the digital format? Stop by the library for an official pap 3: Collect your prizes!(https://vegapromoteweb.wixstudio.com/lake-county-public/1000-books-before-kindergarten?commonConfig=%7B%22host%22%3A%22STUDIO%22%2C%22brand%22%3A%22studio%22%2C%22branchId%22%3A%2200000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000%22%7D&configName=responsive&consent-policy=%7B%22func%22%3A1%2C%22anl%22%3A1%2C%22adv%22%3A0%2C%22dt3%22%3A0%2C%22ess%22%3A1%7D&ds=true&dsOrigin=studio&editorSessionId=8b290882-03bb-4ef4-acec-072df4df108d&enableScopes=true&esi=8b290882-03bb-4ef4-acec-072df4df108d&forceResponsive=true&isEdited=true&isSantaEditor=true&languages=&metaSiteId=c275e366-f685-430f-9c59-77d2905ceec6&referralInfo=sites-list-enterprise&questionId=5c16b454-bc69-4606-bb66-2e3961d1ccc5&appDefId=14c92d28-031e-7910-c9a8-a670011e062d#5c16b454-bc69-4606-bb66-2e3961d1ccc5) Your child will earn a prize for every 250 books read. As you read together, you'll build up your very own at-home storytime kit! New to ReadSquared? Start here.(https://lcplin.readsquared.com/Register.aspx) Already have ReadSquared from Summer Reading? Log in here,(https://lcplin.readsquared.com/Login.aspx) then click Enroll near your child's name to get started in 1000 Books. Need help? Drop us a line (https://www.lcplin.org/ask-a-librarian)or visit any of our branches (https://www.lcplin.org/locations)and we'll get you set up. What counts? Everything! Library books, your own books, ebooks, print books - it all counts! Whatever you read together, it helps your child build pre-literacy skills. There's also no limit on the number of times you can read and count a single book. Many kids enjoy repetition, and if they ask for the same book ten times in a row it counts each time you read it. Are there prizes? (Yes!) Education is, of course, its own reward but we have a few incentives for our young readers, too. Prizes are awarded for every 250 books read and are designed to help you build your own at-home storytime kit! https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b6bd57_4caded1536b74787a02bdf244343963e~mv2.png Prize 1 (250 books): Egg shaker Prize 2 (500 books): Colorful scarf and your name on the digital signs inside each branch Prize 3 (750 books): Rhythm stick Prize 4 (1000 books): Free book, your name on the digital signs, and a certificate of completion! Any questions? Feel free to ask a librarian!(https://www.lcplin.org/ask)

Audiobooks Download or Stream an Audiobook! Hoopla and Overdrive/Libby are our digital audiobook services that allow you to download or stream audiobooks for free! There are different advantages to each, and both require a Full Access or Digital Access card and PIN. Note: If you used Overdrive previously, your reading history will be incomplete with the new switch to Libby. You can export your reading history from the old Overdrive site. (Click Actions, then Email history). Get Started Hoopla Check out ebooks, digital comics, audiobooks, and more! Get Started Overdrive/Libby Use your library card and PIN to check out ebooks, magazines and audiobooks and read on your tablet, computer, phone, or ereader! Feature Overdrive/Libby Hoopla Supported Devices Many versions of iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows Mobile, Nook, and other eReaders. Check and see if your device is supported. Many versions of iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire. Check and see if your device is supported. Number of Checkouts 10 at a time (all Overdrive items count toward this total). These replenish when an item is returned. 16 per month (all Hoopla items (audiobooks, albums, movies, etc) count toward this total). These replenish each month, not when you return an item. Offline Use? Yes! You may download your books to any device. Yes, through the mobile app only. Holds 10 at a time. Not needed! You can check out a title even if someone else has it checked out. Check Out Period 14 days. Returns automatically. 21 days. Returns automatically.

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Ask A Librarian Surprise Bundle Requests We now have a special form for surprise bundle requests! Give it a try . Obituary Requests We receive an overwhelming number of requests to scan and email obituaries. In order to make sure everyone's needs are served, we will only fill 4 obituary requests per person per week. Thanks for understanding! Purchase Requests If you've tried to follow the ILL/Purchase Request steps and still need help, let us know. Be sure to include as much information as possible, like the title, author, and ISBN number if you have it. Quick Links Request for Resolution (PDF) Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials (PDF) Purchase Request FAQ Call Your Branch Please note that we will not respond to surveys submitted via this form. We can answer anything from "How do I find a book?" to "How many protons does molybdenum have?" (42, by the way. You're welcome.) We attempt to reply to all questions within 48 hours, so just sit back, relax, and wait for a well-sourced, reputable answer to land in your inbox.

Hobbies Find databases relating to a wide range of hobbies and interests, including history, genealogy, cars, and arts and crafts. Recommended Resources Get Started AtoZ World Food Traditional recipes for 174 countries of the world in all course categories, plus cultural information regarding dining etiquette, daily meals, and more. Tutorial Get Started Biography in Context Comprehensive information on just about any famous person, including inventors, politicians, celebrities, and many others. Get Started Chilton Library Find information on vehicle repair, including recalls and maintenance for specific models and types.ﾠ Tutorial Get Started Consumer Reports Formed in 1936, ConsumerReports is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering you to make informed choices about the products you buy. Read articles on product safety, unbiased reviews of popular products from kitchen appliances to baby clothes, get shopping tips, and more. Tutorial Get Started Creativebug Over a thousand classes for makers, crafters, learners, and hobbysits! Learn to knit a new stitch, make a holiday wreath, sew a pie carrier, paint with acrylics, and much, much more.ﾠ Get Started Freegal Love music? Download free music, from old favorites to current hits, with your library card and PIN. Once you download a song, it's yours to keep! Tutorial Get Started Hoopla Check out ebooks, digital comics, audiobooks, and more! Tutorial Get Started Lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning A library of video courses taught by industry experts. Learn business, software, technology, and creative skills! Take courses in 3D animation, music production, marketing, programming languages, and more. Tutorial Get Started Mango Languages Learn a new language! Mango uses interactive lessons to teach practical conversation.ﾠ Tutorial Get Started National Geographic Virtual Library A complete archive of National Geographic magazine - every page of every issue. Get Started Ompractice Access to over 100 live camera-on fitness and mindfulness classes a week to help reduce stress, improve flexibility, get strong, and age well. Tutorial Get Started Overdrive/Libby Use your library card and PIN to check out ebooks, magazines and audiobooks and read on your tablet, computer, phone, or ereader! Tutorial Get Started WorldCat A combined catalog for libraries across the United States

General Research If you do have a more specific topic in mind, but aren't sure what database to use to get more relevant information, call your local library or Ask a Librarian ! We can recommend a database. Recommended Resources Get Started Consumer Reports Formed in 1936, ConsumerReports is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering you to make informed choices about the products you buy. Read articles on product safety, unbiased reviews of popular products from kitchen appliances to baby clothes, get shopping tips, and more. Tutorial Get Started Driving-Tests.org Everything you need to prepare to take your Indiana driving test! Contains FAQs and practice tests for cars, motorcycles, and CDL. Resources also available in Spanish! Get Started General OneFile Contains articles from newspapers and magazines from around the world. Searchable by audience, keyword, or publication title. Get Started INSPIRE Free to Indiana residents: a searchable database of databases. Find hundreds of further resources for your research! Get Started MasterFILE Elite Full text for nearly 2,300 periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more. Also contains full text for more than 350 reference books, over 55,000 primary source documents, an image collection of nearly 1.9 million photos, maps and flags and more than 75,000 videos from the Associated Press. (viaﾠINSPIRE) Get Started WorldCat A combined catalog for libraries across the United States

Genealogy & Local History Quick Links Looking into your family history? The library is the perfect place to start. We have several online tools you can use immediately anywhere with an internet connection; they're free with your library card. We also have many in-house, hard copy materials as well as an extensive microfilm collection. See the list of tools below for some good starting points. If you need a little more guidance, check out one of our classes. Every month we explore different topics that will help you with your research! Featured Resource Indiana Room Online Now you can browse through our collection of historic books, pamphlets, reports, newsletters and other materials from Lake County's past without coming in to the Merrillville Branch! We've digitized some of our most asked-for resources for the public to view on-demand. Take a look ! Special Collections Located at Merrillville Branch's Genealogy Room (G), Indiana Room (I), or in Restricted Reference (RR). Crown Point (Indiana) Courts Naturalizations Petitions 1854-1929 (RR) Pamphlet File (newspaper clippings, old photographs, booklets, pamphlets, and brochures focusing on local history) (I) Local City Directories and Histories: Books and Microfilm (G;I) School Enumeration Indexes (I) Indiana Room Online Now you can browse through our collection of historic books, pamphlets, reports, newsletters and other materials from Lake County's past without coming in to the Merrillville Branch! We've digitized some of our most asked-for resources for the public to view on-demand. Take a look ! More info Birth Certificates - Obtain a birth certificate from Lake County, Indiana More info Census, Microfilm, Newspapers - Resources for finding indexes and microfilm in the library and online More info Genealogy Classes - Research tips, tools, and techniques. Taught by experts at LCPL More info Genealogy Databases - Online research tools free to LCPL full-access cardholders More info Historic Yearbooks - Yearbooks from local highschools dating back to the early 1900s More info Indiana Room Online - Historic books, pamphlets, reports, newsletters, and other materials from Lake County, Indiana More info Obituaries - LCPL's guide to finding obituaries in print, microfilm, and online More info Vital Records - Information on obtaining vital records in Indiana Genealogy Tools & Resources Genealogy at the Library The Lake County Public Library Indiana Room and Genealogy Room (located at the Merrillville branch ) include both local history and genealogy resources. The emphasis of the collection is on Lake County, but also includes nearby counties such as Porter and LaPorte. Reference materials for states from which settlers migrated to Indiana and many general genealogy reference resources are also available. Online Obituary Index Post Tribune/Gary Post Tribune Obituary Index (1921-current); Lake County Register and Star (1857 - 1938) Quickly and easily search local obituaries when tracing your family history! Our obituary search engine lets you search by name, partial name, maiden name, date, city, and age. Once you've found the obituary, we'll be happy to pull a copy for your records! (Note: If you need an obituary that is missing, please use our Ask a Librarian form and we will look it up for you! ) Give it a try FamilySearch Digital Records Access FamilySearch is the world's largest repository of free genealogical records and manages the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Their digitzed microfilm records can be viewed instantly, without any special equipment beyond your web browser. Browse their catalog to see if the film you need has been digitized (or see other ways to access it). LCPL is a FamilySearch affiliate library; searching FamilySearch from any LCPL location will give you access to 25% more records than searching from home on a basic account! For more information on finding and reading microfilm online, see FamilySearch's digital access FAQ or try our handy FamilySearch tips . If you have any questions, just give us a call or use our Ask a Librarian form. Quick Links Birth Certificates Obtain a birth certificate from Lake County, Indiana Census, Microfilm, Newspapers Resources for finding indexes and microfilm in the library and online Genealogy Classes Research tips, tools, and techniques. Taught by experts at LCPL Genealogy Databases Online research tools free to LCPL full-access cardholders Historic Yearbooks Yearbooks from local highschools dating back to the early 1900s Indiana Room Online Historic books, pamphlets, reports, newsletters, and other materials from Lake County, Indiana Obituaries LCPL's guide to finding obituaries in print, microfilm, and online Vital Records Information on obtaining vital records in Indiana

Griffith-Calumet Township 219-838-2825 1215 E. 45th Ave. Griffith, IN 46319 Map Mon, Wed: 12:30 PM–8:30 PM Tues, Thurs: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Fri, Sat: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Sunday: CLOSED The Griffith-Calumet Township Branch is a warm, beautiful and spacious library that welcomes everyone. Our staff offers assistance and resources that will enable you to reach your goals—large or small. Streaming, electronic and print materials, instruction, classes and events are available for your enjoyment, education and information. Our public computers offer everything including the internet, major databases, job & career resources, and much more. Use our quiet small group room for extra solitude or settle into a window seat for some cozy reading. WiFi is available. We're happy to help and welcome your visit!

Health & Medicine Look up information on symptoms, find a doctor, or just research a particular condition. These databases will help you find answers to your concerns about health! Recommended Resources Get Started Coronavirus Research Database Trusted content from journals, pre-prints, conference proceedings, dissertations and more related to COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. Get Started Health Source - Consumer Edition Nearly 300 full-text consumer health periodicals, including American Fitness, Better Nutrition, Fit Pregnancy, Harvard Health Letter, HealthFacts, Men's Health, Muscle & Fitness, Prevention, Vegetarian Times, and many others. (Via ﾠINSPIRE) Get Started INSPIRE Free to Indiana residents: a searchable database of databases. Find hundreds of further resources for your research! Get Started NWI 211 Support for residents of Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski Counties. Find info on emergency food, health care, shelter, foreclosure assistance, and more. Or, dial 2-1-1 to speak with a trained specialist. Get Started Ompractice Access to over 100 live camera-on fitness and mindfulness classes a week to help reduce stress, improve flexibility, get strong, and age well. Tutorial

Public Meeting Room Policy Main Policy Reviewed - 4/24/25 Small Group Room Guidelines Revised: 1/26/24 Back to List Purpose The library encourages public use of meeting rooms as gathering places to exchange ideas; access and share information and participate in programs created for public enjoyment, public education and civic engagement. The meeting rooms will be available on an equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. Permission to meet at the Library does not in any way constitute or imply endorsement of the users’ policies, beliefs or programs by the Library staff or Board of Trustees. Apply to use a public meeting room ! (Small group rooms do not require an application.) Room Use Priority Priority will be given to: Library sponsored and co-sponsored activities and events. All other groups will be given consideration on a first-come/first-served basis. The Library reserves the right to reschedule confirmed meeting room reservations to accommodate library meetings or events. In such rare instances, the Library will make every reasonable effort to give ample notice and to assist the group in reserving another date or library meeting room. Eligibility Meeting rooms are available for non-commercial use by local not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and educational entities. Local refers to non-profit organizations based in or serving residents of the Lake County Public Library district. Groups are considered not-for-profit when their mission serves an educational, cultural, charitable, political or civic purpose. Not-for-profits include 501(c)3, 501(c)4, 501(c)5, 501(c)6, 501(c)7, 501(c)8 corporations. Meeting room reservations requests by not-for-profit organizations must include a copy of the 501(c) certificate. This requirement may be waived by the Director in the case of local, organized, small not-for-profit unincorporated associations that provide other supporting documentation. The person filling out a meeting room reservation request on behalf of the group must have a Full Access library card in good standing from Lake County Public Library and be at least 18 years old. Exceptions to this requirement may be made for representatives of federal, Indiana, or local agencies or political subdivisions. First time users must submit an application for use. The Library reserves the right to review each prospective meeting room request and determine whether the group qualifies and the planned use fits within the guidelines and terms of Library policies and this Meeting Room Agreement . Meeting Room Fees Eligible groups may reserve and use library meeting rooms for non-commercial activities without charge under the following conditions: The group is a local not-for-profit organization, governmental agency, or educational entity The meeting is open to all people who wish to attend. No fees or donations are collected or solicited for admission or participation in the meeting or event. No fundraising takes place during the meeting. A local not-for-profit organization, governmental agency, or educational entity using the room for non-commercial activities will be charged the rental fees* listed under the following conditions: Meetings are not open to and advertised to the general public, e.g., board meetings, committee meetings, training sessions, and the like. A group has restricted attendance to a limited or designated audience. The group requires an exchange of money, goods, or services for attendance (regardless of the exchange being on or off our premises). This includes meetings held by federal tax exempt organizations as well as governmental agencies. Meeting Room Capacity Fee Merrillville - Meeting Rm A 150 $150 Cedar Lake 50 $50 Griffith-Calumet 50 $50 Hobart 30 $50 Lake Station-New Chicago 50 $50 St. John 50 $50 Dyer-Schererville - Whole 50 $50 Munster 50 $50 Highland 50 $50 Merrillville - Meeting Rm B 25 $50 Dyer-Schererville - Half 35 $25 Merrillville - Meeting Rm C 15 $25 Merrillville - Meeting Rm D 15 $25 Cleaning Fees: Hourly Rate Reservations To insure and promote the accessibility of library meeting rooms to a wide variety of community groups eligible groups may: book three consecutive meetings system-wide at a time on a rolling basis. reserve meeting rooms up to 6 months in advance, as available, up to 20 times a year. only use rooms during normal library operational hours, Monday – Saturday. Acceptable Use Guidelines No sale of goods or services, fundraising, or solicitation for future sales or services will be permitted without prior Library Administration approval. “Solicitation” is any act or attempt to advertise, market, or sell any product or service; to seek membership in any organization; or to obtain a donation/contribution. This includes the collection of “free-will” offerings. Public property, such as Library buildings, facilities, parking lots, grounds and other real property, is held in trust for the public. It is to be used for governmental and public purposes and governmental property is not to be used for private gain. Library meeting rooms are designed to meet general, non-commercial, informational, educational, cultural and civic needs. Excluded are purely social events which include but are not limited to parties or entertainment and meetings for the benefit of private individuals. The meeting room kitchens are not intended for cooking, but to provide a convenient space for the preparation of light refreshments. No meals may be served unless prior approval is given in writing by Library Administration. All activities and programs conducted in library buildings must comply with federal, state, and local laws and are subject to the rules, regulations, and policies of the Library. Meeting rooms are not available if the Library is closed due to an emergency or inclement weather. Library personnel have free access to enter any meeting room at any time. The Library Board has vested in Library personnel the authority to supervise meeting room use and to interpret policy; however, final authority rests with the Library Director. Responsibility of User The group must have a signed application on file agreeing to our policies, to be signed on an annual basis by an authorized representative of the group. The individual agrees to be the responsible party. If unavoidable circumstances prevent attendance by the applicant, he/she is still personally responsible for the proper use of the facility and payment for any damage. Minimum attendance may be required. Groups must stay within the designated maximum seating capacities of assigned rooms. Cancellations by groups must be received by the Library at least 48 hours in advance. A penalty in room use privileges may be imposed on groups who do not cancel their meetings by the designated deadlines. Any publicity materials must clearly indicate that the program is under the sponsorship of the group and not the Lake County Public Library. The Library will provide basic housekeeping service such as regular cleaning as part of meeting room maintenance. Any additional cleaning or repair required beyond normal library maintenance will be billed at an hourly rate. The cost of any materials required for any repair will be billed to the responsible party. Excessive amounts of garbage (beyond the capacity of trash receptacles provided in the meeting room) must be removed by the room user to outside trash receptacles. The Library is unable to provide storage space for materials or equipment between meetings. Children and youth groups are required to use the meeting rooms under adult supervision. All meetings must be over and the rooms vacated 30 minutes before the library closes. Meeting Room Amenities Kitchen Screen Podium Wifi Each meeting room is equipped with a standard number of tables and chairs. A group may change this arrangement for their specific use. Furniture should be left in a clean, neat, and orderly arrangement at the close of the meeting. Revocation and Refusal of Authorization for Use Authorization to use library facilities may be revoked. Persons or organizations refused the use of the meeting rooms or persons or organizations whose privileges to use the meeting rooms have been revoked shall have the right to appeal in writing to the Library Director. Such appeals must be submitted in writing within 10 days after notice of the refusal to use the meeting rooms or the revocation of use of the meeting rooms. The privilege of using Library meeting rooms will not be granted or will be revoked if the activities or intended activities of the meeting room users negatively impact normal operations in any of the following ways: The meeting is conducted in a noisy, disorderly or inflammatory manner. The size of the meeting presents personal safety or building security issues, or creates an undue parking demand on library lots or the surrounding neighborhood. The activities of meeting room users disrupt or will be disruptive to other library patrons’ use of library facilities or distract library staff from the performance of their duties. The meeting room users neglect to pay all required fees, or neglect to pay for damages to the meeting room. Misrepresentation of information supplied on Meeting Room Agreement form Repeated failure to show up for scheduled reservations or frequent cancellations Physical abuse of facilities and/or equipment Failure to adequately supervise participants of meeting Failure to vacate the room by the scheduled reservation time Violation of Library Policies Small Group Room Guidelines Lake County Public Library provides small group rooms for the use of eligible cardholders. The rooms may be used in accordance with the following guidelines: Eligible Users must be at least 18 years old and and present their own LCPL card for small group room use. (In House Use cards are acceptable for small group room bookings). The library cardholder who booked the small group room is responsible for other users and must remain in the small group room. Users are limited to one 2-hour reservation per day. After two hours of use, users may continue until the room is reserved for a new user. Please be respectful to staff and other users by leaving the room quickly (within 5 minutes) when notified that time has ended. Reservations accepted up to 2 months in advance. Users may have up to 2 reservations at a time – limited to one reservation per day. Room users may not exceed a room’s capacity. Capacity ranges from 1 to 10 people depending on branch; call or email the library to see if your group can be accommodated. Library staff are not responsible for personal belongings left unattended. Small group rooms unoccupied for more than 15 minutes may be reserved by another user. Small group rooms close 15-minutes before the branch closing time. Violation of these guidelines or the Library’s Rules of Conduct could result in loss of Small Group Room Privileges. Back to List Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library - 10/26/95 Revised - 3/25/04 Revised - 5/26/16 Revised - 3/23/17 Revised - 8/29/19 Reviewed - 4/24/25 Small Group Room Guidelines Issued: Administration, 3/8/18 Revised: 1/26/24