Patron Behavior Guidelines

Behavior Which May Result in Being Asked to Leave the Library:

1. Abusive, threatening, or menacing language
2. Physical, sexual, or verbal harassment of an individual, public or staff. This includes harassment through ACORN, the Internet or other computer resources.
3. Unreasonable, intentional noise which affects the ability to function of those individuals working in the area
4. Taunting, following, stalking, provoking or challenging an individual
5. Fighting or wrestling
6. Threatening harm to persons, or property
7. Hindering, impeding, or preventing the movement of an individual into, out of, or about a library facility or vehicle
8. Unauthorized possession or mutilation of library materials
9. Unauthorized possession or mutilation of an individual’s personal property
10. Exhibiting unacceptable behavior which indicates an individual is under the influence of alcohol, beer, or any controlled substance
11. Selling, purchasing or offering for purchase any item or service while on library property or library vehicles
12. Destruction, mutilation, or damaging of library property, facilities, or vehicles
13. Failure to wear shoes
14. Any other act(s) not covered above which threaten an individual, public or staff, library property, library materials, library facilities, and library vehicles
15. Any illegal act
16. Trespassing in a non-public area of any library facility

Behavior For Which an Individual May Be Warned as Inappropriate - One or More Warnings May Result in Being Asked to Leave:

1. Sleeping
2. Eating and/or drinking except at a library-sponsored event
3. Smoking
4. Selling, purchasing, or offering to sell products to any individual
5. Panhandling
6. Horseplay on an escalator, elevator, or stairway
7. Loud talking or laughter which disturbs others
8. Use of public restrooms or library facilities for bathing or laundering purposes

Behavior For Which No Action Will Be Taken:

1. Staring into space or at an individual
2. Play chess, checkers, cards, or other games which do not hinder library operations and in which no gambling takes place
3. Personal hygiene
4. Quiet talking

Approved by the Board of Trustees      October 26, 2000