Every visitor has the right to use library spaces and services undisturbed, and library staff has the right to work without undue interference. All visitors and staff should be free from any threat of harm, invasion of privacy, or gross indignity. Those whose conduct is disruptive to library operations and other visitor’s use of the library may have the privilege of using the library abridged or denied. Visitors who violate these rules and regulations may be asked to leave, or the authorities may be called. Suspected child abuse will be reported to Children’s Protective Services.
To safeguard these rights, the following rules apply to visitor behavior on all library property, library-maintained online environments, and in all communication with staff in the course of library business.
Respect Staff and Visitors
Visitors will respect the right of other visitors to enjoy the library free from disturbances that would not be reasonably expected in a public place. Visitors will additionally respect the right of library staff to do their work in a safe and respectful environment.
Conduct not permitted includes but is not limited to:
- Harassing, or threatening others, verbally or physically.
- Interfering with the use of or access to the library by other visitors.
- Interfering with staff carrying out work activities.
- Failing to comply with the direction and requests of library staff related to appropriate use of the library and compliance with policies.
- Behaving in a loud, boisterous, abusive, threatening, insulting, profane, or other manner so as to create a nuisance or disturb the peace of other users of the library.
Respect Library Spaces and Property
Visitors will honor the community’s continued investment in the library by practicing good
stewardship of library spaces and property.
Conduct not permitted includes but is not limited to:
- Improper use of library facilities. Use computer and digital equipment in accordance with the Computer and Internet Policy.
- Intentionally damaging, vandalizing, mutilation, defacing, abusing, stealing, or altering library property or the property of others.
- Removing library property from library buildings without permission.
- Entering non-public areas of library buildings.
- Negligence while consuming food and drink in library buildings. Eat only light snacks in the library (no messy food or full meals) and drink only covered beverages.
- Leaving personal items unattended or allowing personal items to block access to library spaces and resources. Library staff is not responsible for monitoring or locating personal property.
- Selling, soliciting, and/or promoting commercial enterprises or non-library activities on
library property. - Bringing animals into library buildings with the exception of service animals individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability as recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Solicitation of names on petitions or distributions of print material inside the library
building. - Distributing leaflets, printed material, or posting notices not authorized by library administration inside the library building.
- Use of library parking lots for illegal activities. Vehicles left in the parking lot after closing will be reported to public safety authorities.
- Leaving a motor vehicle stranded on library property without informing the administrative office of the library of the reason for doing so and the time during the ensuing twenty-four (24) hour period when it will be removed. Motor vehicles left on library property for 24 hours or more are considered abandoned and may be removed by the library. All expenses related to the removal of any such motor vehicle or part thereon, including but not limited to fees for towing and/or for the storage of the motor vehicle shall be the sole responsibility of the motor vehicle owner. The motor vehicle owner shall reimburse the library for any costs and expenses it incurs in removing an abandoned motor vehicle.
- Using library property, including but not limited to any parking lots to maintain, repair, or
sell a motor vehicle or any other equipment or machinery. - Playing of audio equipment so others may hear it. Use headphones with all electronic and communications equipment.
- Using threatening or harassing language.
- Using a cell phone, pager, or other electronic device in a manner that disturbs others; cell phones and pagers should be set to silent or turned off, and when talking on a cell phone, persons should use a low conversational voice.
Respect the Health and Safety of Others
Visitors will respect the right of other visitors and library staff to experience a safe and healthy environment while on library property and will do their part to maintain that environment.
Conduct not permitted includes but is not limited to:
- Use of tobacco, herbal, or cannabis products, or use of e-cigarette devices in the library, within 30 feet of the library’s main entrance or on the library smoke free campus.
- Possessing or selling alcohol or any controlled substance or be being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance as provided in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/102 (f), 204, 206, 208, 210 and 212) as same is amended from time to time.
- Participating in illegal games of chance or gambling.
- Engaging in sexual activity or sexually harassing staff or other visitors.
- Exhibiting bodily hygiene that constitutes a nuisance or health hazard to others.
- Possessing or use weapons on the library property and in the course of library related activities except for law enforcement and/or security personnel while engaged in official duties. Weapons include any pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle or other firearm, BB or pellet gun, Taser or stun gun, bomb, grenade, mine or other explosive or incendiary device, ammunition, bows and arrows, dagger, stiletto, switchblade knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length, nunchakus, and metal knuckles or other similar weapon that is capable of causing death or bodily injury and is commonly used with the intent to cause death or bodily injury, and any concealed weapon except a weapon or firearm may be transported into a parking area within a person’s personal vehicle if the weapon or firearm and its ammunition remain locked in a case out of plain view within the parked vehicle. For the purpose of this regulation, the term “case” means a glove compartment or console that completely encases the weapon or firearm and its ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle or a weapon or firearm carrying box, shipping box or another container. The weapon or firearm may only be removed for the limited purpose of storage or retrieval from within the trunk of the vehicle. A weapon or firearm must first be unloaded before removal from the vehicle. For the safety and security of our visitors and staff, the library prohibits hazardous materials and substances from being brought onto library property except for library business. This includes a substance or combination of substances which because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious illness or pose a present or potential threat to human health, safety, or welfare or to the environment when improperly stored, transported, used, or disposed of or otherwise managed. Those substances considered to be hazardous materials shall include, but shall not be limited to:
- Any explosive or flammable material which might endanger the health of visitors and staff or the general safety of the library. Some examples of items in this category would include: any kind of ammunition or munitions or related mechanisms, gases and gas containers, flammable liquid fuels, any kind of firework, paint containers, and materials;
- Any chemical or toxic substance, such as: acids and alkalis, corrosive or bleaching substances, disabling or incapacitating sprays, radioactive materials, poisons;
Infectious or biologically hazardous materials, e.g., contaminated blood, bacteria, and viruses.
- Light, maintain, or make use of any fire on library property.
- Failure to monitor and care for children or vulnerable adults in one’s charge. Ensure that your children under the age of seven are in the library with a responsible caregiver (13 years of age or older) at all times. Provide transportation for your children ages 7-11 from library grounds at the time of closing.
- Engaging in any acts in violation of any federal, state, or local law including any criminal statute or ordinance.
- Entering library buildings not fully clothed (including shoes and shirt) or sexually harass< staff or other patrons.
- Using the library restroom for bathing, shampooing, washing dishes or as a laundry.
- Entering a library area or restroom designated for use only by the opposite sex unless such person is no more than four (4) years of age provided, however, the library will make accommodations for a transgender person as required by law.
- Intentionally or knowingly by any means cause bodily harm or make physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with another person on library property.
- Any activity which may be reasonably expected to result in injury to self or others.