Policies

This policy provides a framework for compliance with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code and addresses specific areas required by the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation associated with the AODA.

View the Accessibility Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the Oakville Public Library remains fiscally responsible by exclusively allocating its funding toward delivering high-quality library services to Oakville residents, without providing community assistance funding.

View the Administration of Funds Policy (PDF)
This policy defines the manner in which Oakville Public Library Board members will fulfill their duties and carry on business with each other, with staff and with OPL’s partners.

View the Board Code of Conduct (PDF)
The Oakville Public Library Board will monitor its own effectiveness in fulfilling its major responsibilities and achieving strategic goals. The evaluation process identifies key areas for board improvement and any necessary follow-up action. This policy ensures that the board assesses its effectiveness. The board will evaluate its effectiveness on an annual basis, as an agenda item for the final annual (November) board meeting.

View the Board Evaluation Policy (PDF)
The orientation of new Oakville Public Library Board Members is necessary for there to be a common and shared understanding of the authority and role of the library board. This policy sets out the requirements for board orientation.

View the Board Orientation Policy (PDF)
The purpose of these procedural by-laws is to establish a clear and consistent framework for the governance, decision-making, and operations of the Library Board, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective stewardship of library services for the community.

View the Board Procedural By-Laws (PDF)
In order to be effective, Board members must have sufficient knowledge of board governance and issues that are central to the role of the library in the community. Ongoing training ensures that board members focus on good governance, strategic directions and policy implications rather than on operational details. This policy ensures that board members have access to, and avail themselves of, training opportunities.

View the Board Training Policy (PDF)
The collections at the Oakville Public Library are selected and maintained in support of the library’s mission, vision, and values. This policy outlines the principles and criteria used by staff to develop and maintain the library’s collections, while informing the residents of Oakville of the criteria used to select materials for inclusion in the library’s collections.

View the Collection Development Policy (PDF)

Personal information collected by Oakville Public Library (OPL), is collected under the authority of the Public Libraries Act, R.S.O 1990, Chapter P. 44 and will be used for the purpose(s) of:

  • account related activities such as fines, holds, overdue notices
  • account related activities for creating an appointment for a library service such as Library Takeout pickup, Grab and Go pickup, booking public access computer or technology services
  • account related activities when registering for a program, an event and/or an appointment in a Creation Zone
  • account related activities related to room and space rentals
  • account related activities related to signing up for OPL email communications
This policy ensures that the Oakville Public Library is compliant with all legislation related to contests and lotteries. This policy outlines the circumstances in which it is appropriate for OPL staff, board members, volunteers and/or family members to participate in OPL contests.

View the Contests and Lotteries Policy (PDF)
The Oakville Public Library is a community place and our goal is to deliver an excellent library experience in the most respectful manner. Oakville Public Library encourages positive behaviour in line with the library’s vision, mission, and values as outlined in the Strategic Plan. Library staff are committed to providing a supportive, safe and welcoming environment for all library customers, staff, and volunteers.

View the Customer Code of Conduct (PDF)
To ensure that Oakville Public Library protects the personal information and privacy of its customers in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O 1990, Chapter M.56 (MFIPPA) and Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

View the Customer Privacy Policy (PDF)
This policy describes the formal process for individuals and groups seeking to provide feedback to the Oakville Public Library Board regarding matters related to library services, policies, programs, or any other relevant concerns. The purpose of this policy is to ensure an organized and respectful process for delegations to present viewpoints and engage positively with the Board of Directors.

View the Delegation to the Library Board Policy (PDF)
The purpose of the policy is to establish the conditions Oakville Public Library regulates and supports the display and distribution of community information from individuals, community groups, agencies, institutions and government.

View the Display and Distribution Policy (PDF)
This policy sets out the duties and responsibilities of Oakville Public Library Board Members in the course of performing their function.

View the Duties and Responsibilities of Individual Board Members Policy (PDF)
The Code of Conduct has been established to ensure that employees adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct. This policy is not intended to address every situation and represents general standards and expectations for all employees.

View the Employee Code of Conduct (PDF)
Oakville Public Library provides exhibition space in its facilities to individuals or groups wishing to temporarily display artwork. These spaces allow the library to share the creative life of the community and foster a dialogue with the public at large. The purpose of the policy is to establish the conditions governing the temporary display of artwork.

View the Exhibit Policy (PDF)
The Oakville Public Library supports a volunteer group, Friends of the Library (FOL), which supplements the efforts of paid library employees, enhances services to the public, and organizes/executes a variety of fundraising events on behalf of OPL. The FOL creates opportunities for community members to actively participate in fundraising for the Library, and welcomes their extended knowledge, talents, and skills.

View the Friends of the Library Volunteer Policy (PDF)
Oakville Public Library welcomes and encourages monetary gifts from individuals, groups, foundations, and corporations for the purpose of enhancing services that OPL provides for the residents of the Town of Oakville.

View the Fund Development Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for fostering diversity and social inclusion at Oakville Public Library, to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is able to participate freely with respect, dignity, and freedom from discrimination.

View the Inclusion Policy (PDF)
Oakville Public Library is committed to embedding and integrating an explicit, proactive, sustainable and systematic approach to minimizing and managing risks that impact the town's ability to achieve its objectives. This policy outlines OPL's approach to risk management.

View the Integrated Risk Management Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for fostering intellectual freedom at Oakville Public Library, to create an environment that supports intellectual curiosity and enquiry and champions intellectual freedom as the prerequisite for an informed, democratic society.

View the Intellectual Freedom Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to set the framework for public access to the internet for all library customers, including equitable access to technology containing the internet, while maintaining a welcoming and supportive environment free from discrimination and harassment, and ensuring usage conforms to all applicable laws.

View the Internet Access & Acceptable Use Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to ensure equitable access to services, to maintain a welcoming, safe and supportive environment, and to outline the conditions of use and the fees where applicable.

View the Library Space Booking Policy (PDF)
Oakville Public Library is committed to the provision of mandatory learning to deliver high quality customer service in a safe and supportive environment and to provide guidelines to ensure all staff maintain the requisite skills and knowledge to promote workplace health & safety and accessibility in compliance with legislation.

View the Mandatory Learning Policy (PDF)
The Oakville Public Library is committed to keeping its community informed, and ensure its messages to the media are clear, consistent, and accurate. The Media Relations Policy provides a clear list of individuals who are permitted to speak to the media on behalf of OPL.

View the Media Relations Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to facilitate and maximize access to collections, services and programs for all customers in a fair and consistent manner and to ensure stewardship of assets.

View the Membership Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all library workplaces and facilities are in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations and that every reasonable precaution is taken to provide for a healthy and safe work environment.

View the Occupational Health Safety and Workplace Violence Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to communicate the decision-making framework that Oakville Public Library uses with external organizations, individuals, community groups, and agencies, in the development and delivery of services and programs when engaging with external partners.

View the Partnership Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to provide a formal mechanism to create, revise, rescind, approve, and publish policies for the Oakville Public Library, ensuring accountability, transparency, and equity in all policy decisions.

View the Policy Development Framework (PDF)
This policy supports compliance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, the Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Board Members, and the Employee Code of Conduct.

View the Political Use of Space and Resources Policy (PDF)
View the Privacy Statement for Bibliocommons
The purpose of this policy is to guide the development and delivery of inclusive, community-based, high quality programming; to support Oakville Public Library’s mission, vision and values; and to preserve the library’s commitment to providing universal access to lifelong learning opportunities.

View the Program Development and Delivery Policy (PDF)
The purpose of the Oakville Public Library Board is to manage and control the affairs of the public library in service to the community in accordance with the Public Libraries Act, RSO 1990, C 44. This policy sets out the work of the board and the ways in which the board achieves its purpose.

View the Purpose of the Board Policy (PDF)
The Oakville Public Library charges fees in accordance with the Public Libraries Act, RSO 1990, c. P.44. In doing so, OPL strives to balance its philosophy of equitable access with its obligation for financial accountability. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that staff and the public are aware of the nature of the fees charged, the approval process and where a record of the fees can be found.

View the Rates and Fees Policy (PDF)
This policy provides leaders and employees with an overview of the recruitment phases and standard practices that govern recruitment at Oakville Public Library, and outlines roles and responsibilities throughout the recruitment process to ensure all recruitment practices are transparent and consistently applied.

View the Recruitment Policy (PDF)
This policy complies with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as amended. Oakville Public Library will not condone discrimination or harassment with respect to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.

View the Respectful Conduct Policy (PDF)
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the rights of children and youth in Ontario public libraries are protected, and that parents/guardians or caregivers understand their responsibility to provide supervision and care for their children while accessing library programs, collections, services and spaces.

View the Safety and Wellbeing of Children and Youth Policy (PDF)
View the Terms of Use for BiblioCommons
The Oakville Public Library supports a volunteer program that supplements the efforts of paid library employees and enhances services to the public. The volunteer program creates opportunities for community members to actively participate in the operation of the library, welcoming the extended knowledge, talents and skills of volunteers.

View the Volunteer Policy (PDF)

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