Code of Conduct The Clinton Public Library makes every effort to accommodate and serve with dedication and respect people of every background, opinion, socio-economic status, appearance, and lifestyle. However, we are also fully justified in requiring certain standards of behavior, decency, respect and decorum from those who use our facilities.
The Code of Conduct is designed to protect the rights of individuals who are in the library or use library materials and/or services, to protect the rights of staff members to conduct library business without interference, and to preserve and protect library materials and facilities.
The Board of Trustees of the Clinton Public Library by adopting the following standards, seeks to provide an atmosphere appropriate to the use of its facilities and services including participation with library sponsored social media or online services.
Visitor Expectations:
As a visitor to the library, you can expect:
- Excellent customer service
- Respect for your privacy
- A welcoming environment
Library customers are expected to:
- Supervise behavior and safety of minors for which you are responsible. Adults who cannot care for themselves must also be monitored by their caregivers while on library property.
- Attend to personal belongings. The library is not responsible for belongings left in/on library property.
- Use library and library furniture, equipment and materials for their intended function.
- Shoes and shirts must be worn.
- Maintain acceptable personal hygiene. Persons with odor offensive enough to constitute a nuisance to others will be required to leave the library.
- Use covered containers when bringing beverages into library buildings and comply with posted ‘Food’ and ‘Drink’ guidelines and restrictions. Where allowed, food and drink may not cause stains or offensive odors, nor be left unattended. Trash must be disposed of properly.
- Use restrooms only for their intended purpose. Bathing, shaving, and laundering are prohibited.
- Refrain from solicitation of any kind for any purpose without prior approval of the Library Director.
- Use library parking areas, sidewalks, and lawns safely.
- Leave the library at the designated closing time.
The following actions and forms of conduct are not permitted:
- Engaging in any activity in violation of Federal, State, local or other applicable law or library policy.
- Behaving in a disruptive or potentially harmful manner.
- Harassing or speaking abusively to other customers or to library staff via any form of communication.
- Engaging in sexual activity of any kind, sexual harassment, or indecent exposure.
- Tampering with, damaging, or destroying library facilities, materials, and equipment or hacking library social media or online services.
- Creating disruptive noises, using profanity, yelling, or screaming. Cell phone ringtones should be muted.
- Bringing animals and pets into the library, with the exception of service animals.
- Sleeping in or on library property, lying down, blocking walkways, exits, or entrances, leaving belongings unattended, or monopolizing library space with excess personal belongings.
- Monopolizing seating or library spaces while not engaged in reading, studying, or use of library materials or services.
- NO tobacco and e-cigarette products, including vaping, smoking, chewing, and other tobacco use, in library facilities or in unauthorized areas.
- Trespassing in nonpublic or unauthorized areas, being in the library without permission of an authorized library employee before or after library operating hours, or camping on grounds.
- Possession or the consuming of alcohol, illegal substances, or a weapon (except as permitted under Indiana Code 35-47-11.1) on library property.
- Gambling of any kind is prohibited on library property.
- Panhandling, soliciting, selling, circulating petitions, conducting interviews or surveys or other activities that result in the disruption of library patrons or library operations, as determined by the library staff, are prohibited.
- Washing or drying clothes, bathing, or shaving in any rest room is prohibited.
- Food and covered beverages is permitted in library facilities except in the Genealogy Room and Computer Workstations. Drink containers must have secure lids; leftover food and containers must be disposed of promptly and properly.
- Use of library office equipment and/or telephones is not permitted. Courtesy phones for emergencies are available at the information desks if needed.
- Videotapes, or use of other recording devices must be authorized by the individuals involved or by the parents or guardians of minors. Visitors photographing, videotaping, or recording on library premises have the sole responsibility for obtaining the necessary releases and permissions from persons who are to be photographed, videotaped, or recorded. Taking photographs or videotaping of a minor requires the permission of the minor’s parent or guardian. The library undertakes no responsibility for obtaining these releases.
- Visitors may not enter non-public areas unless accompanied by library staff.
- Vandalism in any form of library property, inside or out, is prohibited and a criminal offense.
If your conduct or activities violate our rules, you will be asked to change your disruptive behavior. Failure to do so may result in the loss of library privileges, up to and including removal from the building and contacting police.
Handguns:
All individuals possessing firearms on library premises must comply with state and federal law and also MUST comply with the following provisions. Failure to comply with these rules will result in removal of said person from library premises.
- Handgun Possession-Ind. Code35-47-2-1. No person may possess a handgun on library property or inside any library building (“Library Premises”) unless they also possess a valid permit to carry a handgun in the State of Indiana. Any person carrying a handgun on Library Premises must provide proof of license upon request by library personnel.
- Criminal Recklessness-Ind. Code 35-42-2-2. All firearms carried on Library Premises must be secured in a manner which prevents potential injury or serious bodily harm to any other person or to property.
- Criminal Recklessness-Ind. Code 35-42-2-2 and Pointing a Firearm-Ind. Code 35-47-4-3. No person may point, brandish or display a firearm in any manner that is intended to threaten or intimidate any library patron or library staff member.
- Criminal Recklessness-Ind. Code 35-42-2-2. Persons may not carry a firearm in any manner which violates Indiana’s Criminal Recklessness Statute.
Violators will receive a warning and an opportunity to cease a behavior that violates this policy. Continued or repeat violations may result in suspension of library privileges for a duration commensurate with the severity of the offense, the patron’s history of policy violations, and any other relevant factors. When violations of behavior occur in library sponsored social media or online services, comments may be withdrawn or access revoked.
Patrons engaged in behaviors that pose a serious imminent risk to health or safety may be immediately expelled from the library without warning and with or without the assistance of local law enforcement.
When possible, patrons who have their library privileges suspended will be provided with written notification stating the specific library policy violated and specifying the length of the suspension. Appeal requests may be made in writing to the Library Director. Further appeals may be made in writing to the Library Board. As determined by federal, state, or local law and library policy, misconduct may lead to legal action or criminal prosecution.
Disruptive behavior at the Clinton Public Library will not be tolerated. If a person persists in behaving in a disruptive manner he/she or they will be asked to leave the library premises, which includes the entire area of library property. If the person or persons who are asked to leave refuse, the library employee shall call the local police in rectifying the situation (IC 35-45-1-3). The library reserves the right to expel a disruptive person preventing him or her returning to the library. Any patron expelled from the library who returns will be charged with criminal trespass.
Approved-Board of Trustees 2/11/10
Updated and Approved -Board of Trustees 12-29-14
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