Policy on Appropriate Library
Behavior
The staff and the Board of Trustees of the Hopkinton Town
Library are responsible for determining the rules of behavior necessary to
afford all library users access to the building and its materials as well as
to ensure the safety of library users and staff, and to protect the Library's
resources and facility from damage. To promote the diverse activities the
Library offers, the following policy on behavior at the Hopkinton Town Library
and on library property has been established. The policy will be courteously,
but firmly, enforced by library staff.
Examples of appropriate library activities include:
browsing for materials, reading, quiet conversation, homework, writing reports
and researching. Library computers are to be used without disturbing others.
Group study which may create enough noise to disrupt others should be
conducted in the local history room or the craft room subject to the
permission of library staff.
Examples of inappropriate activities include: running,
throwing, loud or abusive talking, eating or drinking, putting feet on
furniture, loitering, gambling, certain public displays of affection,
excessive socializing, proselytizing, soliciting, selling, distributing
leaflets, use of tobacco products, and other activities which disrupt the
Library. Except for seeing eye/service dogs, no
animals or other pets shall be allowed in any part of the library, unless the
animals are part of a scheduled presentation. Illegal activities,
especially vandalism, will not be tolerated.
Disruptive behavior is defined as behavior not compatible
with customary library uses. This behavior may represent a physical danger to
people or property, or may interfere with the legitimate library business of
other users or the library staff.
Anyone behaving inappropriately or disruptively will be
advised that the behavior must stop. In most cases, verbal warnings will be
issued to any person or group violating the above expectations. A written
warning will be given if the individual in question still does not comply.
Further disregard of this policy statement will result in expulsion from the
library and its grounds. However, no warning is required, if, in the judgment
of the library staff, the behavior in question (a) violates federal, state,
county or municipal laws, or (b) poses an immediate threat to the safety or
well-being of other library users or staff.
Library employees are
authorized to enforce these rules. The Library reserves the right to revoke or
restrict library privileges for behavior contrary to these regulations. In
cases where voluntary compliance does not occur, the police may be called for
assistance. Habitual abusers of this policy may be banned from the premises
for a period of time.
Adopted by the Trustees of the Hopkinton Town Library on
February 15, 2005
Revised by the Trustees of the Hopkinton Town Library on
October 16, 2007
