MSSF Library Update

Curt Haney & Mackenzie Hridel

A complete inventory of books and other items in the library are available for members to reserve on the MSSF website. Just go to the “members only area” and click on Library. Reserve the books you would like to check out and a message will be sent automatically to the librarian. You will then be contacted so you can arrange a date and time to pick up the items in either San Francisco or Berkeley.

The library committee has added a new member to our team, her name is Mackenzie Hridel, and she lives in Berkeley. This means members will be able to check-out and return books to the library easier in the future.

When in-person MSSF general meetings resume, members will be able to reserve books in advance on our website and then pick them up and return them at the meetings.

Members will need to acknowledge the library agreement when checking out a book from our library. Please review the library rules below.  

1.  Books may be borrowed at regular meetings, up to 4 at a time (or more, at the discretion of the Librarian), by any member of the Society who has signed this agreement and who has not borrowed any books that are overdue or missing. However, the Librarian may withhold any book from circulation. The Librarian may require proof of membership and may also ask to see a photo ID or other proof of identity.
2. When a book is borrowed, the borrower will sign the Librarian’s register and return the book by the stipulated date and in substantially the same condition as it was in when the book was borrowed. The loan period is usually two months but in April it is 1 month, and in May it is until September. When a book is returned, the Librarian will initial the register to clear the borrower of responsibility.
3. A member may place a request to reserve a book on the MSSF website at any time, as long as the book is not already reserved or checked out by another member.
4. A fine of $1.00 per month, or partial month, may be charged on each overdue book. However, within two weeks of the stipulated due date, a borrower may ask the Librarian to renew the book. If the book has not been requested by another member, the Librarian will specify a new return date.
5. All books that have been borrowed should be returned at the General Meeting in May. Any book that is not returned then may be treated as missing.
6. A missing book will be charged to the borrower at the cost to replace it. If a book is not generally available, the Librarian may decide to advertise for it, or purchase a different but generally equivalent book. In addition to the cost of replacement, a charge of $10.00 will be made on each missing book.
7. If a book has been substantially damaged while it has been borrowed, the Librarian may request to repair it, or in an extreme case, to replace it according to the above procedure.
8. The Librarian may cancel these rules and issue new ones. This agreement will then be nullified except for its clauses affecting books that are already borrowed. Before any other books may be borrowed a member will be required to accept the new rules.
9. Disputes between the Librarian and a borrower will be referred to the Council whose decision is binding.
10. The Librarian may be contacted by email at; Librarian@mssf.org or by reserving a book on the MSSF website.

 
I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE CURRENT LIBRARY RULES DATED 1 JAN. 2022.
 
NAME: __________________________________________________________
 
SIGNATURE: ______________________________________________________
 
ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________
  
PHONE: __________________________________________________________
  
EMAIL: __________________________________________________________
 
DATE: ___________________________________________________________