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Statement of Policy & Text
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No one may engage in conduct that interferes with anyone else’s ability or right to use and benefit from the Library facilities. (See Guidelines below for types of unacceptable conduct.)
Customers/users who engage in such conduct may receive a warning from the Library staff and/or an opportunity to cease the violation or leave the Library.
Illegal activity, any willful or repeated violations of conduct or other posted Library regulations (e.g. computer use rules), may result in removal from the facility and/or suspension of Library privileges. Where authorized by Federal, State or local law, conduct violations may also result in arrest. Enforcement will be by Library staff and/or Library Security and, if necessary, San José Police Department and/or University Police Department as appropriate.
State law permits library staff to search purses, bags, parcels, briefcases, and other packages. To prevent the theft of books and library materials, state law authorizes the detention for a reasonable period of any person using these facilities who is suspected of committing library theft (California Penal Code section 490.5).
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Need for the Policy
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The library serves all customers/users in an equal manner, and so is open to everyone. The Library's goal is to make information and literature available to every person in a secure, relaxing, and pleasing environment that supports education, reading, research, and learning.
To enable the library to fulfill its mandate to allow all customers to enjoy the Library facility and participate in Library programs in peace and safety, regulations must be set to govern Library conduct. (See References.) These regulations also cover penalties for infractions and, when appropriate, removal from and denial of access to the Library.
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Requirements & Guidelines
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Customers/users of the SJPL and SJSU Library have a right to:
- A library environment free of disruptive activity.
- Confidential access to library materials.
- Library materials that are complete and not defaced.
- Surroundings free from tobacco smoke and carelessly discarded waste materials.
- Quiet areas for individuals to study and to engage in research.
Customer/user conduct is unacceptable if it:
- Impedes other persons from a timely use of facilities or materials.
- Excludes others from using the library for its intended purpose.
- Results in injury to oneself or others.
- Results or may result in damage to library materials, building, or equipment.
Examples of unacceptable conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
Behaviors that disturb the normal functioning of the Library:
- Engaging in illegal activities.
- Being in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or drugs while in the library.
- Smoking inside library facilities or within twenty feet of the library entrance.
- Eating, except in certain areas designated by library staff. Only covered drinks may be consumed during computer use. No customer is permitted to leave food and drink residue or otherwise create a custodial workload on library property.
- Creating loud noises that are disruptive to other customers are not allowed.
- Causing strong pervasive odors that constitute a nuisance to others are not permitted.
- Wearing gang-related apparel or using gang-related gestures. The library is a gang-free facility.
- Any activities that are intended to interfere with or disrupt computer networks, library services, or equipment.
Creating a disruptive or unsafe environment:
- Illegal behaviors such as acting in a lewd or lascivious manner; voyeurism; peeping.
- Harassing, threatening, or intimidating staff or other customers, including physical, sexual, racial, or verbal abuse.
- Bringing weapons into the library.
or vandalizing library facilities, equipment, or materials.
- Soliciting, petitioning, panhandling, or gambling.
- Removing library materials without checkout.
- Behaviors prohibited by other library policies.
Inappropriate use of facilities or equipment:
- Using restrooms inappropriately, such as for bathing, laundering, or loitering.
- Blocking aisles or any other passages in such a way as to prohibit free flow of pedestrians, strollers, or wheelchairs.
- Using furniture or building facilities in ways which may cause damage or excessive or unreasonable wear, e.g. lying down, putting feet on the chairs/walls, etc..
- Using electronic devices or any other noisemakers that interfere with other library users, except when authorized by library staff.
- Leaving young children unattended anywhere in the library, including the children’s areas. A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must accompany any children who do not know their first and last names, their phone number, and the first and last name of the person who brought them to the library.
- Bringing any animals except service animals, or animals authorized by library staff, onto library property.
- Running, riding skateboards, scooters, roller shoes, roller skates, roller blades, or similar devices inside library facilities or on library premises. Such items are permitted inside library facilities provided that they are carried, not ridden, and stowed away from the public right of way.
- Bringing bicycles, unicycles, tricycles or other similar conveyances into library facilities, or leaving such conveyances at the entry or exit areas in a manner that blocks ingress or egress. This regulation does not apply to wheelchairs, other medical devices, or strollers, or other similar devices, provided they are utilized and stored in a manner that does not restrict public access.
- Camping in library facilities or on library grounds. “Camping” refers to the use of library property for living or accommodation purposes.
- Leaving personal items unattended in the library.
- Misusing library spaces that are designated for particular customers. Such spaces vary by branch, and include, but are not limited to:
- Children’s Rooms are reserved for children under 18 and their caregivers, or customers using the children’s collections at the discretion of library staff.
- Teen Rooms are reserved for customers between the ages of 12 and 18, or customers using the teen collections at the discretion of library staff.
- Certain computers and study rooms are designated for customers working individually and quietly, and other uses of these spaces are not permitted.
- Using the Internet in ways that interfere with a safe, welcoming and comfortable environment for the public and staff.
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Applicable Personnel/Departments
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All Library Staff
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Approval(s)
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Reviewed and approved by:
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Signature/Name
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Date of Approval
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KMT
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7/703
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King Management Team and Assistant City Librarian, SJPL
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9/16/03
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KMT (REVISION)
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2/28/08
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Distribution
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http://www.sjlibrary.org/legal/policies.htm
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History & Dates
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Category of Policy: Administrative/Operations, User Services
Author(s): SJPL Supervising Librarian:Lisa Rosenblum
SJSU Associate Dean: Jo Bell Whitlatch
Authors of revision: Mary Nacu and Daisy Porter (1/30/08)
Authorized by: Core Team, 7/7/03
Date Written: 6/21/03
Date Effective: 8/22/03
Date(s) of Revision(s): 9/16/03; 05/27/04dk; 2/23/05,5/13/08gd
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References
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A. Teen Center Policy
B. Children - Unattended Policy
C. Suspension Policy, King Library
D. Suspension Policy - San Jose Public Library
E. Computers - Internet Access and Use Policy
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ID#: PL_249
Supersedes/amends: DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR LIST and CUSTOMER CONDUCT POLICY, KING LIBRARY
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