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The Hesston Public Library is located at 110 E. Smith, in Hesston, Kansas. 

Our mailing address is P.O. Box 640, Hesston, Kansas 67062-0640

Call us at 316 327-4666. FAX # 327-4459. E-mail: hesst1lb@southwind.net

Mission Statement
Library History
Collections
Library Hours
Library Services
Staff and Library Board of Trustees
Programs
Library News and Coming Events : See information on new policies for Internet users.

Founded in 1937 as a project of the Hesston Women's Civic Club, the library was established as a "free" library of donated books collected "for the betterment of the Hesston community". Until it became officially a tax-supported public library in 1967, volunteers from the Civic Club operated the library with both limited resources and limited hours of service. In 1972 a bond issue was passed and the city acquired the old Post Office building to house the library. Since 1972, two additions have been built on the original building. The Hesston Public Library was recognized in 1986 as one of 50 outstanding public libraries in the United States by the University of Illinois Research Center. Hesston Public Library is a Core Library of the South Central Kansas Library System, which has its headquarters in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The library circulates over 30,000 items, including books for all ages, periodicals, recordings (records, audio-cassettes, and CDs), videos, filmstrips, and audio-visual equipment. Special collections include educational toys (including a puppet theater), sewing patterns, and the following subject collections: quilts and quilting, ecology and the environment, landscaping and trees, transportation, intergenerational relations, and the Amish and Mennonites. Most books may be checked out for three weeks. Videos and periodicals have a 3-day checkout period. Toys are checked out for one week, as are new books, and best-selling titles.

• Library Services for the Handicapped
• The ENLITE (large print) program
• Free Library Cards for Kansas Residents
• Rotating Collection from SCKLS
• Reference Help (in person or by telephone)
• FAX service
• Internet access
• Community Room for meetings
• Interlibrary Loans
• Automated catalog and search capabilities

• A. Christine Buller, Library Director
• Ellen Voth, Library Assistant
• Karen Mason, Library Assistant
• Lois Thiessen, Story Hour Teacher
• Lori Nelzen, Custodian

• Cheryl Davis (Chair)
• Merle Bender
• Brenda Randel
• Dwight Roth
• Gerry Epp
• Kenneth Steider
• Sheryl Fuqua

• Children's Pre-School Story Hour
• Summer Reading Program for Children
• Community Outreach for home-bound and handicapped
• Book Reviews
• TALK (Talk About Literature in Kansas) Program

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For More Information:

• Hesston Public Library
• 110 E. Smith (P.O. Box 640)
• Hesston, Kansas 67062
• Telephone: 316 327-4666
• FAX: 316 327-4459

Library Calendar--August 1998

• Monthly meeting, Board of Trustees, August 26, 1998, 6:30 p.m.

New collection: Books and videos about Amish and Mennonites, purchased with an Interlibrary Loan Development Program grant from the Kansas State Library Network. Special display in exhibit case features informational materials on the Old Order Amish.

Lexile Measurements: Many of the books in the public library collection now are marked according to lexile reading levels. Look for blue dots on the spines, and check the notebook at the circulation desk for lexile measure of each title.

Book sale: Used books, and titles discarded from the library collection are for sale at very reasonable prices. Sales of old books help pay program costs for Summer Reading Program, and Pre-School Story Hour. Summer sidewalk sale of books now on! All items priced at just a dime.

New requirements for Internet users: The board of trustees has approved new policies for use of the Internet at the library as follow:

Mission: The Hesston Public Library provides free access to the Internet for library patrons. Recognizing this service as part of its mission and role, the library offers Internet access as a reference tool.

Disclaimers: Staff: Library staff will assist patrons in accessing the Internet. Library staff also may offer searching suggestions and may answer basic questions. However, library staff cannot provide in-depth training concerning Internet computer jargon or personal computer use.

Accessibility: The Internet is an unregulated medium. As such, while it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages, it also enables access to some material that may be offensive, disturbing, and/or illegal. The Hesston Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet, and cannot be held responsible for its content. All Internet resources accessible through the library are provided equally to all library users. Parents or guardians, not the library or its staff, are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children.

Availability

• 1. The Internet workstation is available during library hours to all patrons on a first-come first-serve basis.
• 2. Users are limited to one hour of use per person per day.
• 3. To protect the library from liability for illegal use of the Internet, each user must sign an Internet use agreement, then register at the circulation desk at each subsequent session. Users of the Internet workstation must have a valid Hesston Public Library card/or must be residents of the City of Hesston.
• 4. Children under the age of 18 must read "My Rules for Online Safety" before using the Internet workstation.
• 5. Patrons under the age of 14 must have a parent or guardian seated with them while using the Internet workstation.

Regulations

• 1. You may send e-mail from the Internet workstation, but library staff must assist you. Replies to the library e-mail address are discouraged.
• 2. In order to prevent computer viruses that are common on public computers you may not use your own software programs or diskettes on the Internet workstation. Patrons may purchase clean diskettes, available at a nominal charge from the Library Director.
• 3. You may use the networked printer for a fee of 10 cents per page. Please observe copyright restrictions when copying data or files from the Internet.
• 4. You may not download files from the Internet onto the computer hard disk.
• 5. Bookmarks are for library staff use only. Please do not bookmark your favorite sites.
• 6. The library Internet workstation is intended for reference and research use only. "Chat" is not allowed.
• 7. You must take good care of all hardware, software, documentation and all other equipment that are the property of the Hesston Public Library. You may not change the software settings, Windows setups, or move or delete icons, etc. When there is any problem with any equipment or materials, immediately report to a library staff member.

Misuse of the Internet workstation or any other library computer will result in loss of your computer privileges.

This page was created November 18, 1997.

Comments or Questions? Email Chris Buller at: hesst1lb@southwind.net.