PATRON CONDUCT POLICY

Date Approved: September 9, 1996

Date Revised: June 19, 2000

Date Amended: January 8, 2007

To assure that all patrons have full access to the facilities and services of the Bacon Memorial District Library, users must comply with the Library Code of Conduct as well as all applicable laws, including City of Wyandotte ordinances. The Library Code of Conduct states the following:

USE OF LIBRARY PROPERTY

1) All materials that are removed from the Library must be checked out.

2) Library materials should be returned in the condition in which they are taken from the library; there is a charge for damaging library materials.

3) Vandalism and destruction of library property is prohibited and such conduct may result in the institution of legal proceedings against the offender and/or the denial of library service until such time as the cost of the library materials has been repaid.

4) Patrons who fail to return materials worth more than $30 or to pay fines above this amount may not check out additional library materials until the balance is below this amount.

Debts of more than $60 are automatically reported to a collection agency, and must be cleared completely, including a collection agency fee, before materials may be checked out again.

5) Overdue fines are charged from the day after the due date, and patrons receive notices of overdue materials after 14, days. No notices of fines for returned materials are sent. If a patron claims to have returned materials which are charged out to him/her, up to three claims will be accepted even if the material cannot be found in the library. Claims above three will be considered lost materials and the patron will be charged according to this policy.

PATRON BEHAVIOR

People 10 years and older are permitted to use the library facilities, materials and services, unattended by others, as long as the patron accepts the following responsibilities:

1) refrain from conduct in the library that is disruptive to staff or to other library patrons,

as determined by a complaint, including:

a. carrying on a conversation that can be heard more than five feet away,

b. continuing to speak to a patron or staff member after that person has asked the patron not to speak to him/her or has requested that a staff member convey this request, or

c. Cell phone use for business while in library facilities should be limited. Ringers should always be muted or turned off.

Any sound device such as headphones on computers, iPods, etc. may be used with sound at a low level so that it is not “heard” by others

2) cooperate with library staff when asked to stop unwelcome conduct, to stop using a piece of library equipment or to leave the library;

3) keep all personal belongings in his/her possession at all times --library staff are not responsible for items being stolen or damaged.

4) refrain from abuse of other library patrons and library staff, either by verbal

or physical means;

5) Smoking is prohibited anywhere in the library facility and within 10 feet of an exterior door or window

6) Refrain from eating in the public area of the library;

7) Drinking alcoholic beverages during regular business hours is prohibited in the library or on the grounds.

8) place bicycles in the bicycle racks;

9) refrain from using skate boards, rollerblades, or other such items on library property;

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN

1) Adults who bring children to the library are required to supervise them for their safety and to prevent them from disturbing other library patrons;

2) Library staff cannot take responsibility for the supervision of children left unattended; the Library accepts no obligation to supervise or protect:

a ) children of 9 years of age or less shall not be allowed entry into

library alone and must be supervised by a responsible adult

b ) persons of 10 years and older using the library without adult supervision.

3 ) Children under the age of 12 years may not be left at the Library after the posted closing time; if such a child is left alone for a period of 15 minutes or more beyond closing time, the police will be called to take charge of the child.

COMPLIANCE

The library staff on duty shall oversee and enforce compliance with this Library Code of Conduct. The Library Staff will implement the following measures for violations of the Library Code of Conduct:

1) a verbal warning,

2) an order that the patron be permitted to use the library facilities and services only if attended by a person responsible for the behavior of that patron,

3) an order to leave the library premises for the day. If the offending patron refuses to leave the Library when asked, the police will be called for assistance.

APPEAL

A library patron who disagrees with the form of discipline chosen by the library staff member may complain to the Library Director. The Library Director will investigate the situation and make an appropriate response. This may mean denying service to the offending patron if s/he does not agree to cease the prohibited behavior, arriving at a mutually accepted agreement, to restoring the patron’s privilege to full use of the library facilities and library materials. A patron who disagrees with the decision of the Library Director may appeal to the Library Board. Any and all decisions by the Library Board concerning a patron’s adherence to the Library Code of Conduct and the appropriate measures to be taken for a violation of that Code shall be and are final.