About Seymour Library

	Seymour Public Library	About Seymour Public Library

History

Library Boards

Borrowing Policy

Rules

Directions

History

The Seymour Library Association was established in 1876 with a bequest from the estate of James S. Seymour, former president of the National Bank of Auburn. For many years, the library was located on the second floor of the Auburn Savings Bank Building, and charged borrowers an annual fee to help defray operating costs. In 1896, Willard E.Case approached the Library’s Board of Trustees and offered to build a new library, provided that the building be known as the Case Memorial, in memory of his parents.

The trustees happily accepted, and work began on the Case Memorial in 1901. Designed by the New York City firm of Carrere and Hastings, the building took two years to complete, with much of the woodwork being done by European craftsmen. The Seymour Library moved to the Case Memorial in 1903.

An expansion and remodeling program was completed in 1973, providing increased shelving capacity for 120,000 volumes. A second building project in 1993 enlarged the overall size of the Case Memorial to 19,400 square feet, and provided a new entrance with easier access, an elevator, and security system. All capitol expenditures have been borne by private giving. The Case Memorial Building is the property of the Seymour Library Foundation, Inc., and is leased at no cost for use by the Seymour Public Library District. Since 1980, the Library has been listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Service Area

In October, 1992, registered voters in the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco agreed to participate in a special district, and provide property taxes in support of a public library. Consequently, the Seymour Public Library District was born on January 1, 1993 with a popularly elected Board of Trustees, and the Seymour Library Association ceased operation. A new charter was granted by the New York State Department of Education. In October, 1995, registered voters in the Town of Sennett residing within the Auburn School District agreed to join the special district.

Non-district residents who reside within the area served by the Finger Lakes Library System are eligible for restricted borrowing privileges. Others are required to pay an annual borrower's fee of $60 for the first household library card, and $5 for each additional card within the same household. When applying for a borrower's card, all persons are required to provide formal identification that includes name, residential address or property/school tax receipt, and signature. Cards must be presented when borrowing library materials, and are not transferable.

Trustees

The library is governed by a board of trustees. The trustees are:

Stephen F. Lynch, president
Leah Lesch, vice president
John J. Klink, secretary
Jill Fandrich, treasurer
Patricia Messina
Susan Ahner

The board of trustees will meet in the History Room at the library at the following times:

5 p.m. Jan. 28, 2010
5 p.m. Feb. 25, 2010
5 p.m. March 25, 2010
5 p.m. April 22, 2010
5 p.m. May 27, 2010
5 p.m. June 24, 2010
5 p.m. Sept. 23, 2010
5 p.m. Oct. 28, 2010

Members of the Seymour Public Library Foundation Board are:

Sherie K. Barnes, president
Walter M. Lowe, treasurer
Sheila B. Mikkelson, secretary
Mike Cuddy
John Latanyshyn

Officers of Friends of Seymour Library are:

Suzanne Klink, president
Ann Bryant, vice president
Marianne Larson, treasurer
Patricia Hayes Myers, secretary
Patricia Messina, ex-officio, trustee representing Seymour Library Board of Trustees
Sheila Mikkelson, ex-officio, library director representing Seymour Library

Back to Top

Borrowing Policies

Videos, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are loaned for seven days. Adult circulating periodicals, Civil Service test booklets and new fiction may be borrowed for 14 days. All other materials may be borrowed for four weeks.

An overdue fine of 15 cents per day is charged for each item borrowed on an adult or a child's card, and $1 per day for videos, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, up to the retail price of the item. To ensure equitable use of Civil Service Test booklets, an overdue fine of $5 per day is charged.

A borrower is responsible for all materials loaned on his card, and is expected to reimburse the library for lost or damaged property.

Limitations on items which may be borrowed by an individual at any one time are three audio books or tele-stories; five DVDs, videos or Blu-ray discs; one resume book; one Civil Service Test booklet per title, not to exceed two booklets per patron.

Requirements for obtaining a children's borrower's card:

There is no minimum age or identification requirement, but the child must be accompanied by an adult (at least 18 years old) willing to sponsor the child. This adult need not be a relative or District/System resident, and must provide formal identification with signature and residential address.

As co-signer on the application, the adult accepts financial responsibility for all materials charged to the child's card, and may be informed of the details of the child's library status. NOTE: All minors under the age of 18 require an adult co-signer upon registering for a borrower's card.

A new adult co-signature will be required each time the child's card is renewed. If a registered borrower, valid adult co-signers must have an account in good standing, i.e., all outstanding property returned and total fines paid down to under $20.

In most instances, young children are unable to provide formal identification with their current residential address. If the co-signer does not reside with the child, the library will accept a verbal address. If the co-signer lives with the child, he will be asked to provide identification with current residential address.

Rules regarding children not residing within the library district themselves, but who have a parent or legal guardian who owns non-corporate district property:

The following conditions must be satisfied before a children's borrower's card will be issued:
- The child must be under the age of 14 years of age, and be able to print his own (first) name.
- The parent or legal guardian owning district property must be the one to sponsor/co-sign each child's application. This adult must appear in person with valid formal identification which provides signature and current residential address.
- Ownership of district property must be non-corporate, i.e., in personal name. If necessary, the owner will be asked to provide proof of private ownership, such as a tax receipt/bill.
- The parent/legal guardian need not reside within the district.
- If a borrower, the co-signer's account must be in good standing.

Teacher obtaining borrower's card for student:

Teachers employed by institutions located within the district/system may act as agents for the library on behalf of their students, so long as the children reside within the district/system. In these instances, prior arrangements must be made with the Children's Librarian.

Back to Top

Rules of Behavior for Seymour Library

1. Seymour Library is to be used for library purposes only. Any behavior that interferes with such use or that is not consistent with such use is not permitted. Objectionable behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

2. Loud, abusive, aggressive, threatening or obscene language and/or behavior

3. Destroying or damaging library books, materials, furniture or other property

4. Blocking aisles so that access to library materials and services is prevented

5. Sleeping, playing games and/or other activities that interfere with library use

6. Using the library in bare feet

7. Smoking or consuming food or beverages in the library

8. Using or distributing alcohol or drugs

9. Criminal activities as defined by federal, state, or local laws

10. Playing audio equipment so that others can hear it

11. Bathing in the public restrooms

12. Circumventing or attempting to circumvent the library security system

13. Using rollerblades, roller skates, skateboards, or other sports equipment in the library or on library property

14. Loitering

15. Entering unauthorized workspaces or office areas

16. The library expects parents to have their young children under personal control at all times. Shouting, screaming, running, climbing on library furniture or shelving is not allowed.

17. Tampering with, altering, editing or in any way damaging computer hardware/software may result in criminal charges and suspension of library privileges.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees, March 26th 1996

Back to Top

Directions To Seymour Library:

Seymour Library is located on the west side of downtown Auburn at 176-178 Genesee Street. For specific directions to Genesee Street from any starting point, use the following link to a map generating site on the internet: Mapquest.

Back to Top