Reference Policy

Reference and information service is an integral part of the Library's commitment to service the needs of the residents of Inola and the surrounding area.  The Library staff will give polite, reasoned explanations to all inquiries.  It is the primary intent of the Library to provide answers to the patron's questions.

Oklahoma law protects the confidentiality of library user's records.  Reference service is also confidential*.  Staff members shall not discuss patrons, their borrowing habits or their information requests except as required in seeking assistance from other staff members to find the desired information.

The Library will provide information for users, but will NOT interpret or evaluate any type of information.  All answers are to be found in the appropriate source and the title source and page numbers provided to the patron.

The Library's ability to provide reference service will be limited by the following factors:  Patron's time limit, complexity of the materials to be used, number of patrons needing assistance, and number of staff available to help patrons.

Telephone reference service is limited to information that is readily available, does not require extensive searching and may be imparted over the telephone.  If questions cannot be answered quickly, they will be taken as a call-back or referred to another agency.

*The "Confidentiality of Library Users" Records Law is O.S. 65 ~1-105 (1991)