| 13. | All information requests will be handled equitably within standard time and fact limit guidelines. |
| Guidelines |
| 13.1 | Questions from students of all ages and homework assignments will be handled in the same manner as any other information request. | |
| 13.2 | Contest and trivia questions will be treated in the same manner as other information requests. | |
| 13.3 | Telephone directory assistance will be provided. It includes searching telephone directories, city directories, and electronic databases for names, telephone numbers, addresses, or nearbys. | |
| 13.4 | For a discussion of standard time and fact limit guidelines see section 22. |
| 14. | Information services staff will not offer personal opinions, interpret information, perform mathematical calculations, or provide appraisals. When on the telephone, staff will read the information verbatim, citing the source and date. |
| Guidelines |
| 14.1 | Information services staff will not interpret legal, medical, or technical information. Staff may refer the user to an appropriate organization where subject specialists are available. |
| 14.1.1 | Staff will not interpret legal information. If a user calls to request the text of a law, it will be read verbatim provided it is not too long. Pocket parts and supplements will be checked to ensure accuracy of the information. If additional information is needed, staff will suggest that the user come in to consult the libraryÕs holdings. Staff may also refer the user to an appropriate library or organization. | ||
| 14.1.2 | Staff will not give medical advice. | ||
| 14.1.3 | Staff will not interpret technical or mathematical material of any type, including tables, charts, equations, or formulas. |
| 14.2 | Consumer evaluation questions will be handled in the same manner as any other information request. Staff will not interpret evaluations, recommend a product, or relate personal preferences. | |
| 14.3 | Antique identification and pricing guides offer a good starting point for evaluating collectibles. Users will be advised that prices may vary according to condition and locale. Referrals to antique dealers or other organizations may be necessary. |
| 15. | Information services staff will provide assistance in locating tax information. Staff will not provide advice in the selection of appropriate forms or interpret tax law. |
| Guidelines |
| 15.1 | Many commonly used forms and publications for individuals and businesses are available free or in reproducible format at all libraries. | |
| 15.2 | Specialized federal individual and business tax forms may also be available in paper or reproducible formats at the area libraries. | |
| 15.3 | Tax forms from other states may be available in reproducible formats at the area libraries. | |
| 15.4 | Staff will refer the user to government and private sources for those tax materials not provided to the library under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service guidelines. |
| 16. | Requests that go beyond the scope of the HCL collection may necessitate obtaining interlibrary loan materials or referring the library user to specialized collections or organizations. |
| Guidelines |
| 16.1 | Genealogical research, patents, standards, advanced technical and medical information, and legal research are examples of subject requests that often go beyond the scope of the HCL collection. | |
| 16.2 | Staff will help the user locate materials available within the HCL collection. Staff may also perform online searches, request interlibrary loan materials, or make referrals to appropriate specialized collections and organizations. | |