Courteous Conduct Policy
Statement
The Centerville-Center Township Public Library serves all visitors, regardless of age, economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. The Library staff is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all library users. To that end, the following rules of conduct and courtesy must be maintained. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in loss of library privileges.
Definition and Scope
Indiana Code 32-30-6-6 states:
“Whatever is: (1) injurious to health; (2) indecent; (3) offensive to the senses; or (4) an obstruction to the free use of property; so as essentially to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, is a nuisance, and the subject of an action.”
In order for the Centerville Center Township Public Library to serve the citizens of the community, behavior that meets the definition of a nuisance will not be tolerated. Patrons must, at all times, be respectful of other patrons, library personnel, the building, and its contents.
Some examples of behaviors that are unacceptable in the Library include, but are not limited to the following:
- Violating any local, state, or federal law
- Failure to comply with any library policy
- Any behavior that endangers the safety or health of others
- Disturbing the public peace and quiet by loud, aggressive, boisterous, abusive, profane, harassing, or threatening language or behavior
- Improper use or destruction of Library materials or property
- Smoking or using tobacco in any form, including vaping and electronic cigarettes, inside the Library or on Library grounds
- Any sexual behavior or conduct, either consensual or non-consensual
- Causing strong, pervasive odors, including those caused by perfume or cologne or body odor
- Inappropriate dress, such as bathing suits, wet clothing, or failure to wear shoes, shirts, and pants/skirt
- Failure to supervise children or teenagers in one’s care
- Carrying uncovered drinks or eating meals in the Library
- Blocking doors and passageways with bodies or belongings
- Discourteous use of cell phones/electronics, including loud and prolonged conversations, cell phone use at service desks, speaker use, ringers/notification sounds, and audio/visual sound
- Bringing in animals, other than Service animals or those approved for Library programs
- Running, climbing, hiding, or other rowdy behavior
- Entering staff areas and workspaces without permission
- Moving or misusing Library furniture or equipment
- Refusing to comply with reasonable requests of any member of the Library staff
The above examples do not constitute a complete list of behaviors that might be considered disruptive. The Library Director and other staff members (who are on duty at the time) shall have the responsibility for enforcing the Courteous Conduct Policy and determining when behavior in the Library is inappropriate.
Procedure/Enforcement
- All patrons determined to be behaving inappropriately will be informed of this Library policy and be given an opportunity to immediately cease the behavior.
- After being informed of the policy, repeat violations may result in suspension of Library privileges, as follows:
- A first official violation will result in being banned from the Library and library property for one (1) full day.
- A second official violation will result in being banned from the Library and library property for one (1) full week.
- A third official violation will result in being banned from the Library and library property for a period of six (6) months.
- After the fourth official violation, the patron will be considered a chronic offender. This will result in an indefinite loss of library privileges. A report by the executing staff member shall be made detailing the offences that lead to the ban from the library. This report shall include all incidents witnessed by other staff members as well. This shall be kept on file indefinitely unless successfully appealed following the guidelines in the library’s internal Policy Manual.
- If a patron becomes belligerent and will not leave library property, this is considered criminal trespass and the local police will be called for assistance.
- The Library reserves the right to determine library bans on a case by case basis. The Director may implement any consequence described in this policy in any order based on the severity of the offense.
- Appeal requests may be made in writing to the Library Director. Further appeals may be made to the Library Board.
Effective: January 11, 2012; revised November 12, 2013, September 8, 2015, April 12, 2022.