North Bingham County District Library
PATRON CODE OF CONDUCT
The North Bingham County District Library has established certain standards of acceptable behavior on library property in order to maintain an atmosphere that promotes the use and enjoyment of the resources and services of the library, promotes the safety of the general public and the library staff, and protects the building, furniture, equipment, and materials of the library.
Any activity that interferes with the rights of other patrons to use the library, disrupts the normal functioning of the library, could result in physical, emotional, or mental injury to oneself or others, or could result in damage to the facilities, equipment, or materials is considered disruptive and unacceptable behavior.
The library reserves the right to require anyone who engages in disruptive behavior to leave the premises, the right to restrict privileges for a specified period of time, and the right to ban the individual from the library for a specified period of time or permanently. In most cases, a staff member will notify the individual that he or she is in violation of the standards of conduct and will provide one verbal warning. Unlawful activities will be reported immediately to the police.
Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to the following:
Loud Talking and Laughing. Sensitivity to noise varies from one person or group to another; however, if one person or group is heard above the general noise level in the library at a particular time, this person or group will be requested to lower their voices.
Fighting. Includes any type of fighting, whether real or pretend.
Throwing Objects. Includes wadded up papers, paper airplanes, other small objects, and larger objects that could cause injury.
Boisterous Behavior. Includes running, horseplay, and annoying other patrons.
Cellular or Portable Phones. Use of cellular or portable telephones is discouraged. Please set your phone to vibrate so as to not disturb other patrons. If you answer it please speak softly and briefly.
Abusive or Obscene Language or Gestures. Includes language or gestures that convey a rude, hostile, intimidating, offensive, sexually explicit message or are conveyed in a coarse or crude manner and any language that verbally abuses another individual.
Solicitation. Includes selling anything for personal gain or a charitable cause, begging, panhandling, taking surveys, distributing leaflets or circulating petitions among other patrons and staff members.
Eating and Drinking. Generally prohibited in the library except in designated staff areas, but especially near the computers. The only exception will be refreshments served as part of a library program. A water fountain is provided for your convenience.
Smoking. The library is a smoke-free zone. Smoking is prohibited throughout the facility and on library property. The flower planters at the front door are NOT ashtrays.
Sleeping. Pertains to habitual sleeping or those who are noisy, sprawled on furniture, or generally disturbing other patrons.
Loitering. Defined as a person who wanders around the library without apparent legitimate reason and disturbs other patrons.
Animals. Except for the pets that reside at the library, animals of any kind are prohibited unless serving as an aide animal or part of a library-sponsored program.
Unattended Children. A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must accompany children under age 8 at all times in the library unless they are attending a library sponsored program.
Improper Attire. Patrons must wear shoes and shirt in the library building.
Abuse of Library Equipment, Furniture, and Materials. Includes but is not limited to placing feet on tables and chairs, standing on furniture, mutilating or defacing books or periodicals, and mistreating equipment or computers. For more information on computer abuse, see the library’s Computer use and Internet Policy. Personally monopolizing library space, seating, tables or equipment to the exclusion of other persons or staff is not permitted.
Rollerskates, Rollerblades, Skateboards, Scooters and Bikes. Can be ridden to the library but not on library property.
Blocking Aisles or Doorways. Includes obstructing aisles or doorways or in any way interfering with the free movement of any other persons. Please park bicycles in or next to the bike rack, not in front of the door.
Weapons. Carrying weapons, simulated or real, of any type on library property is not permissible except by law enforcement officers.
Staff members must check out all circulating materials and equipment to patrons at the circulation desk before they can be removed from library property.
Playing Music. Includes playing music or other media at a level that is disruptive to other patrons. If on the computer, please ask for headphones.
Hygiene. A person may be required to leave the library if his/her personal hygiene interferes with the orderly operation of the library or with the ability of other patrons to use and enjoy the facility.
Unattended Items. Library employees are not responsible for personal belongings left unattended or found at the Circulation desk.
Filming. Permission must be obtained from the Director or his/her designee prior to taking photographs, videotaping, or doing similar types of filming in the library.
Illegal Behavior. Any staff member who witnesses illegal behavior will notify his or her immediate supervisor who will contact the policy when necessary. Illegal behavior includes but is not limited to the following:
Assault. Intentionally or by reckless conduct causes injury to another person.
Criminal Mischief. Intentionally damages the property of another (includes vandalism and mutilating library materials).
Drunk and/or Disorderly Conduct. Causes public inconvenience by fighting, unreasonable noise, abusive or obscene language or gestures, threatening behavior, hazardous or physically offensive condition.
Harassment. No one shall threaten, harm, endanger or harass staff, volunteers or library patrons. This includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate touching, derogatory comments or questions of a personal nature directed at the staff or others. This also includes interfering with an employee’’s ability to perform his or her job.
Public Lewdness. Intentionally exposes the private parts of the body in a lewd manner in a public place.
Theft (Larceny). Wrongfully takes, obtains, or withholds the property of another.
Trespass. Knowingly enters or remains unlawfully on the premises.
Controlled Substances. Includes using, selling, or possessing controlled substances on library property, and entering library property while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal controlled substances. The use of alcohol is prohibited on library property.
Expulsion. The Library Board of Trustees authorizes the expulsion of library patrons from the library premises at the Library Director’’s (or his/her designee) discretion. This will happen when the rules of conduct are not followed or when other disturbances caused by a patron harass a staff person or any other person. The police may be called if necessary.
Agreement. Upon signing your library card or the parent authorization card for a minor, you agree to abide by the rules of the North Bingham County District Library.