The North Scituate Public Library encourages people to visit the library. Those using the library and its resources have the right to expect a safe, comfortable environment that supports appropriate library services.
People demonstrating disruptive behavior will be required to leave library property after one warning from library staff. If the individual does not leave on his/her own accord, police may be called for assistance. Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, individuals who have been asked to leave library property may be barred from returning to the library. Those who have been barred must talk to the director or his/her designee before being readmitted. Juveniles will be asked to bring a parent or guardian to such a conference.
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- noisy or boisterous actions,
- running,
- conversation that is disturbing to other individuals or employees, including but not limited to profanity or other abusive and threatening language,
- actions made to deliberately annoy others or which prevent the legitimate use of the library and its resources, including but not limited to following or staring at other individuals, initiating unwanted conversations, impeding ingress or egress from the building,
- possessing any weapon on library property except those in the possession of police,
- damaging, defacing, stealing or misusing any library property,
- fighting,
- using tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs in any form on library property,
- using skateboards, roller-blades, roller-skates, or any other sports equipment anywhere on library property,
- distributing literature, taking surveys, or asking individuals or employees to sign petitions or similar activities,
- tampering with, altering, editing, or damaging library computers, software or equipment,
- leaving children under the age of eight unattended.
Personal appliances, such as computers and calculators, may be used as long as the noise level is low and use does not interfere with others. Personal listening devices must be used with headphones, and cannot be played at a level which can be heard by other individuals. Because of the lack of outlets and the concern for electrical overload, all appliances must be battery powered and may not be plugged into library outlets. Portable telephones and pagers must be turned off or switched to a non-audible signal and must be answered outside the library.
Young children (ages 7 and under) are not safe when left unattended in the library. Staff cannot know if children are leaving with a parent, a friend, or a stranger. Library staff will not deliberately seek out unattended children; however, unattended children frequently become disruptive when they become bored. Parents are responsible for ensuring the appropriate behavior of their children while in the library. If a parent or other responsible adult cannot be located, unattended children will be placed in the care of the Scituate Police. Under no circumstances will library staff take a child out of the building or transport children to another location.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 10/16/2001