Behavior Policy

Patron Code of Conduct Policy

Prohibited behavior while in the library or on library grounds:

  • Destroying, damaging, altering, or defacing library materials, furnishings, equipment, or any part of the facility or fixtures.
  • Removing materials from the library without first properly checking them out. (Patrons who trigger the library’s theft detection system may be subject to search.)
  • Leaving young children or vulnerable adults unattended or unsupervised.
  • Annoying, harassing, or threatening another person.
  • Behaving in a disorderly, loud, or disruptive manner.
  • Consuming alcoholic beverages on library property.
  • Having open beverages of any kind or eating food in the library proper.    (Contained beverage containers are acceptable.)
  • Bringing animals inside the library or leaving them unattended on library property.  (Exceptions to this are Service animals, the animals owned and cared for by the Children’s Room staff, and animals that are part of a library-sponsored or endorsed program.)
  • Skateboarding, roller-blading or bicycle riding.  Skateboards, scooters or bicycles in lobby.
  • Smoking within 50' of the library entrance.  The vaping of e-cigarettes shall be subject to the same rules as smoking tobacco cigarettes.
  • Loitering and/or pan-handling.
  • Carrying a weapon of any type unless authorized by law.
  • Any other conduct that could reasonably be judged as inappropriate in a public place.

 Behavior permitted only when authorized by library management:

  • Selling products, soliciting donations, circulating petitions, distributing leaflets, taking surveys and other similar activities.
  • Entering non-public areas of the library.

 Staff responses to prohibited behavior:

  • Advise the patron that their conduct is prohibited and request that they stop the behavior or they will be asked to leave the library.
  • If the patron does not comply, the library manager on duty shall ask them to leave the library.  (If the patron is a young child, staff shall use their judgement regarding allowing the child to contact a parent and then to remain in the library until the parent arrives.)
  • If the patron refuses to leave the library, the library manager shall request assistance of the Superior Police Department.
  • If the behavior of a patron threatens the safety of other library patrons, staff, or property, or the patron is breaking a law, the Superior Police Department shall be called immediately.
  • The library manager on duty shall fill out an incident report for the library director.

 Consequences of repeat offenses or major behavioral problems:

  • The library director, after consultation with the library manager on duty at the time of an incident, may decide to ban the offending patron from the library for a period of time.
  • The banning will be for a period of one day to one year, depending on the nature and the seriousness of the offense.
  • The offending patron (if they can be reached) and all staff shall be notified in writing of the reasons for the banning and the dates covered by the banning.  A copy will also be sent to the police and the Library Board President.  Banned patrons will be charged with trespassing by the police if they return to the library.

The responsibility for interpretation and enforcement of this policy rests with the library director, or in her/his absence, a library manager.

6/19/02

Rev. 4/13/05, 10/9/2013, 6/11/2014