Patron Behavior Policy

Last Updated Date

The Wasco County Library Service District’s behavior rules are intended to protect the rights and safety of both library patrons and staff, and to preserve and protect the library’s materials, facilities, and property.

Any person who violates rules 1 - 2 while in or on the library premises will be immediately ejected and excluded from the premises without first being given a warning to be decided by the Library Director, Assistant Director, and if they are not available, by the most senior full-time staff member. Any person so excluded may lose all library privileges for a period of up to one year, and the incident reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

  1. The arrest of or issuance of a citation to a person for committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state, or local criminal statute or ordinance, which statute or ordinance is intended to protect the rights and safety of both library patrons and staff, and to preserve and protect the library’s materials, facilities and property.
  2. Possessing, selling, distributing or consuming any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs.

Any person who violates rules 3-13 while in or on the library premises will be given one warning; if the improper behavior continues after a warning has been given, then the person will be asked to leave the premises for the day. A subsequent violation of rules 4 through 15 by that person will result in that person’s immediate ejection and exclusion from the library premises. Any person so excluded may lose all library privileges for a period of up to one year.

  1. Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library, or disturbs library staff or patrons, including, but not limited to, conduct that involves the use of abusive or threatening language or gestures, conduct that creates unreasonable noise, or conduct that consists of loud or boisterous physical behavior or talking.
  2. Using library materials, equipment, furniture, fixtures or buildings in a manner inconsistent with the customary use thereof; or in a destructive, abusive, or potentially damaging manner; or in a manner likely to cause personal injury to the person or others.
  3. Disobeying the reasonable direction of a library staff member.
  4. Soliciting, petitioning, or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable, or religious purposes inside the library building, including the doorway or vestibule.
  5. Interfering with the free passage of library staff or persons in or on the library premises, including, but not limited to, placing objects such as bicycles, skateboards, backpacks or other items in a manner that interferes with free passage.
  6. Bringing bicycles or other similar devices inside the library building, including the vestibule, without the permission of the library staff.
  7. Operating roller skates, skateboards or other similar devices on library premises.
  8. Smoking or other use of tobacco is not allowed inside library building, including the vestibule.
  9. Bringing animals inside the library building (with the exception of service animals), except as allowed at a library-approved event.
  10. Violating the library’s rules for use of the Internet.
  11. Taking library materials into restrooms or meeting room if the materials have not been checked out.

Any person who violates rules 14 - 16 while in or on the library premises will be given up to two warnings; if the improper behavior continues after the warnings have been given, then the person will be asked to leave the premises for the day.

A subsequent violation of rules 15 – 16 by that person will result in that person’s immediate ejection and exclusion from the premises. Any person so excluded may lose all library privileges for a period of up to six months.

  1.  Creating electronic device noise which disturbs others.
  2. Leaving one or more children under the age of 10, who reasonably appear to be unsupervised or unattended, anywhere in or on the library premises for a period of 10 minutes or more.

Any person who violates rules 16 and 17 while in or on the library premises will be excluded from the premises until the problem is corrected.

  1. Entering the library building with bare feet or a bare chest.
  2. Disturbing others because of offensive body odor.

Appeal Process

A person who has been excluded from the library or had their library privileges suspended under any of the above rules may appeal within one week the decision imposing the exclusion and/or the suspension of library privileges to the Library Director.  The Director’s decision may be appealed to the Library Board by submitting a written notice of appeal to the Library Director, within 5 business days of the receipt of the Library Director’s decision.  The Library board shall consider the appeal at their next regularly scheduled meeting.  The Board shall have the power to affirm or reverse the decision of the Library Director, and a copy of the Board’s decision shall be provided to the person appealing the decision.

ADOPTED by the Wasco County Library Service District Board of Directors