PURPOSE

The Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library strives to provide and maintain high quality materials, resources, programs and services for all library users. In order to achieve that goal, library staff and library users must act in partnership to ensure that everybody can experience a safe, clean, pleasant and productive environment for study, research, information and entertainment.

GUIDELINES

All Library Users can expect to: 

• Receive courteous service. 
• Talk to a staff member as needed. 
• Contact staff for reference and information service. 
• Have contacts addressed in a timely manner. 
• Suggest new materials and services. 
• Register for library cards and pay fines without undue hassle or delay. 
• Have problems resolved within 48 hours, whenever possible. 
• Have staff operate the library in the best interest of the users. 
• Have a safe, clean, comfortable and reasonably quiet building. 

Library Users may not:

• Behave in a way that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library or disturbs library users or staff. This includes, but is not limited to, rowdiness, running, noise, vandalism, cursing, using threatening language or other inappropriate behaviors. 
• Disobey the reasonable request of a library staff member. 
• Harass library staff or users, including verbal or physical harassment or abuse. 
• Enter a staff-only area. 
• Remain in the library after closing or when requested to leave due to emergency situations or disruptive behavior. 
• Refuse to abide by library regulations regarding return of materials and payment of fines. 
• Remove library materials without authorization. 
• Conceal library materials for the exclusive use of an individual or group. 
• Mutilate library materials by marking, underlining, removing pages, or in any way defacing them. 
• Mutilate or deface library property including, but not limited to, furnishings, walls, machines, elevators, trash cans, etc. 
• Tamper with or intentionally damage computer hardware, software, printers, operating systems or peripheral devices. 
• Use restrooms improperly, including, but not limited to bathing, shaving, washing hair, or doing laundry. 
• Rearrange library furniture or borrow furnishings from other parts of the library without permission of the library staff. 
• Lie down on any floor, chair, table or seat in the library, climb or place feet on furniture, or block aisles, exits or entrances. 
• Talk on cell phones in areas of the building where their use is not designated. 
• Leave belongings unattended for longer than 30 minutes. Briefcases, handbags, backpacks and other packages are subject to inspection. 
• Enter or be in the library barefoot, without a shirt, or be otherwise attired so as to be disruptive to the library environment. 
• Disturb others with offensive bodily odors to the extent that the use of the library facilities, collections or services is disrupted. 
• Smoke or use smokeless tobacco within the library. 
• Consume food within the library, except as allowed at library approved events. 
• Enter the library with uncovered beverages. 
• Possess, sell, distribute or consume any drugs or alcoholic beverage. 
• Disturb library staff or users by prolonged or chronic sleeping. 
• Enter the library with animals, except those used to aid persons with disabilities, as certified by a medical professional or as part of a library program. 
• Enter the library with equipment that presents a hazard, including, but not limited to, bicycles, grocery carts, skate boards, wheeled shoes, etc. 
• Sell merchandise and services or solicit donations of any kind on library premises, except at library approved events and with prior approval by the library. 
• Solicit signatures on petitions within the library building. 
• Engage in any activity that violates federal, state, local or other applicable law, ordinance or regulation. 

RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of all library users to behave in a way that promotes the Code of Conduct as stated under Purpose. Failure to comply with this policy or the reasonable direction of a library staff member may result in being asked to leave the library premises and possible suspension of library privileges.

The library will actively pursue disciplinary action. Library employees will contact the police department if deemed necessary. 

ENFORCEMENT

• Enforcement of the Code of Conduct will be applied equitably. 
• Anyone not complying with this Code of Conduct or any other reasonable request of the staff will first be warned by the library staff and will be advised of the next course of action to be taken by the Library if the unacceptable behavior continues. 
• Library staff on duty is authorized to direct individuals to leave the library premises immediately if they continue to violate the Code of Conduct rules after being warned to discontinue unacceptable behavior. 
• Anyone may, without prior notice or warning, be removed from the library premises if his or her presence or conduct is threatening, willfully malicious or poses an immediate and imminent danger to any person or property. 
• Violators of the Code of Conduct may be excluded from the library for a period from one day to one month or longer, and their library privileges may be restricted or suspended.  
• Any person who is excluded from the library for a period for one month or longer will be notified of such in writing by the Director and has the right to appeal by requesting a hearing before the Library Board of Trustees, provided such hearing is requested by written notice addressed to “Library Board of Trustees” and mailed no later than thirty (30) days after the date on which the notification of the exclusion was mailed to such person. 

The Board of Trustees of the Barren County Public Library reserves the right to amend any or all of the above regulations or restrictions without notice at any time.