Code of Conduct for Public Library Behavior

 The Stevens County Library has an obligation to its patrons to maintain an atmosphere conducive to reading, study, research, and the pursuit of life-long learning opportunities.  Library patrons are expected to use the library, including its facilities, grounds, resources and materials, in a responsible, appropriate, and courteous manner.

Kansas Statute 12-1227 states:  “Every library…shall be free to the use of the inhabitants of the municipality in which located, subject always to such reasonable rules and regulations as the library board may adopt, and said board may exclude from the use of said library any and all persons who shall willfully violate such rules.”

 UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR  

1. The possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, firearms or other weapons (except for an on-duty law enforcement official) on library property.
2. Smoking in the library or within a 15-foot perimeter of library entrances.
3. Food and drink in areas other than the library meeting room during scheduled meetings and in the staff-only areas of the library.  Special permission may be obtained from the director as an exception to this code.
4. Disorderly, drunken, dangerous, disruptive, or threatening behavior, abusive and/or obscene language.
5. Children under the age of five (5) years in the computer lab.
6. Playing audio and/or computer equipment so that others can hear.  Ringing cell phones and/or phone conversation in the library.
7. Rollerblades in the library; bicycles parked in areas other than the bicycle rack on the south side of the building.
8. Loitering within the library building or on library property.
9. Violation of established library policies and procedures.

These rules are for the comfort and protection of all.  Library staff will courteously and firmly enforces them. 

A.     If a library staff member is aware that a patron is not observing the Code of Conduct for Library Behavior, the patron will be requested to comply with the policy.  The library staff member will state the rule that has been violated and allow the patron to choose to comply with the policy or leave library property.

B.   If the library patron does not choose to comply with library policy in response to the first request, the library staff member will ask the patron to leave library property.

3. The police department will be notified if a library patron refuses to leave library property following library staff request. 
4. The staff member handling any violation of the code of conduct for public behavior will file an incident report with the director within two (2) working days of the date the incident occurred. 
5. If police department involvement becomes necessary, the incident will be brought to the attention of the Stevens County Library Board for review. 

RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS

A patron that feels wrongly accused of violating the Stevens County Library’s Code of Conduct for Public Library Behavior may ask to have the incident reviewed by the Director.

A.     If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, the complainant will be supplied with a standard printed form.  The complaint form is to be completed prior to further consideration of a complaint.

B.     If the Director has not received the formal complaint within two weeks of the initial complaint, the circumstances will be considered closed.  If the complaint is returned, the incident will be re-examined.

C.     Upon receipt of a completed complaint form, the Director will call together all staff members involved in the incident. 

D.     The group will meet to discuss the incident, and will prepare a report on the incident containing their recommendations on disposition of the matter. 

E.      The Director will notify complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the Library Board. 

F.      If the complainant is still not satisfied, he/she may ask the Director to present an appeal to the Library Board, which shall make a final determination of the issue.  Library Board decisions are final.

Rev. 06/21/2005