Acceptable Behavior Policy

Acceptable Behavior Policy
North Liberty Community Library

The following is to be taken as general guideline for handling disruptive patrons.  It is not to be considered a rigid policy as each incident will have its own unique set of circumstances requiring judgement and flexibility. 

1. Children under the age of nine (9) years may not be left unattended in the library.    Please refer to the Unattended Child Policy.
2. Food will be allowed in the Library at staff discretion.  Please check with the staff person on duty at the Circulation Desk.
3. Telephone calls on the library’s courtesy phone should be kept under two (2 minutes). The person will be allowed to use the telephone one time only unless there is an emergency. Calls will be limited to family or emergency calls only and should be kept under two (2) minutes. The library’s courtesy phone is limited to outgoing calls only. 
4. When patron behavior is disrupting other patrons or library staff, library staff will take the following steps:
5. Kindly ask the patron to desist.  One warning shall be given.
6. If the behavior persists or the patron is disruptive in any way, he/she will be     

asked to leave the Community Center for the rest of the day (unless more time is.   deemed an appropriate consequence for the behavior. Please see Community
Center Patron discipline Policy and Incident form.

1. If a patron will not leave and continues disrupting others, the parents (in the case of a minor) or the local law enforcement officers (in the case of an adult or a child whose parents cannot be reached) will be called.
2. In the case where an incident report has been written and the patron has been expelled from the building, the patron will be asked to appear before the Community Center Review Board before being allowed back in the library.
3. If a patron is causing minor distractions (unruly children, talking loudly, etc.) and won’t desist when asked by a staff person,  the patron will be asked to leave the Library, but not necessarily the Community Center, for the rest of the day.
4. Theft of any item from the library is a crime and shall be dealt with 

accordingly.  When necessary, local law enforcement officers shall be called.

1. Vandalism of any type to the library will not be tolerated and can be considered a crime. When necessary, local law enforcement officers will be called. 
2. Disruptive behavior also pertains to inappropriate use of the Internet and other

Library Services.    

• Written October 1999
• Reviewed and revised October 2000
• Reviewed and revised April 2001
• Reviewed and revised April 2002
• Reviewed and revised April 2003
• Reviewed April 2004
• Reviewed and revised April 2005
• Reviewed April 2007
  Reviewed and Revised April 2008
  Reviewed April 2009
  Reviewed and Revised April 2010
  Reviewed and Revised April 2011
• Reviewed and Revised April 2013