Adopted October 1998,Amended 10/16/00, 10/15/01, 11/18/02, reviewed 10/20/03, 10/18/04, 10/17/05, amended 10/16/06,reviewed 10/15/07, 10/20/08, amended 10/19/09, reviewed 10/18/10, amended 6/20/11, reviewed 10/17/11, amended 10/15/12, reviewed 10/21/13, amended 10/20/14, 10/19/15, reviewed 10/17/16, amended 10/16/17, 10/15/18, reviewed 11/18/19, 11/16/20, 10/18/21, amended 5/16/22, reviewed 10/16/23

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The Delphi Public Library Board of Trustees has established certain standards of acceptable behavior on library property in order to maintain an atmosphere that promotes the use and enjoyment of the resources and services of the library, promotes the safety of the general public and the library staff, and protects the building, furniture, equipment, and materials of the library.

 

Any activity that interferes with the rights of other patrons to use the library, disrupts the normal functioning of the library, could result in physical, emotional, or mental injury to oneself or others, or could result in damage to the facilities, equipment, or materials is considered disruptive and unacceptable behavior.

 

The library reserves the right to require anyone who engages in disruptive behavior to leave the premises, the right to restrict privileges for a specified period of time, and the right to ban the individual from the library for a specified period of time or permanently. In most cases, a staff member will notify the individual that he or she is in violation of the standards of conduct and will provide one verbal warning. Unlawful activities will be reported immediately to the police.

 

Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to the following:

 

• Loud Talking and Laughing. Sensitivity to noise varies from one person or group to another; however, if one person or group is heard above the general noise level in the library at a particular time, this person or group will be requested to lower their voices.

 

• Fighting. Includes any type of fighting, whether real or pretend.

 

• Throwing Objects. Includes wadded up papers, paper airplanes, other small objects, and larger objects that could cause injury.

 

• Exhibiting Boisterous Behavior. Includes running, horseplay, playing on the elevator, and annoying other patrons.

 

• Conducting Loud Conversations on Cellular Phones. Courtesy to other patrons is expected. Cell phone use is permitted, but loud or lengthy cell phone calls that may be disruptive to other patrons must be conducted only in the entry corridor adjacent to the Indiana Street entrance to the library.

 

• Using Abusive or Obscene Language or Gestures. Includes language or gestures that convey a sexually explicit message or are conveyed in a coarse or crude manner and any language that verbally abuses another individual.

 

• Soliciting. Includes selling anything for personal gain or a charitable cause, begging, panhandling, or circulating petitions among other patrons and staff members. Public petitions may be posted on the public bulletin board.

 

• Using Tobacco and Nicotine Products. Smoking  is prohibited in the building or on library property. Smoking includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any type of e-cigarettes. The use of chewing tobacco is also prohibited.

 

• Sleeping. Pertains to habitual sleeping or those who are noisy, sprawled on furniture, or generally disturbing other patrons.

 

• Loitering. Includes wandering around the library without apparent legitimate reason and disturbing other patrons.

 

• Bringing Animals into the Library. Animals of any kind are prohibited except those trained as service animals or those included as part of a library-sponsored program. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and thus are prohibited from entering the library.

 

• Leaving Children Unattended. A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must accompany children under age 8 at all times in the library. For more information, see the library’s brochure on Enriching Your Child’s Library Experience, which details the library’s Safe Child Policy.

 

• Wearing Improper Attire. Patrons must wear proper attire, including shoes and shirt, in the library building. Proper attire will be defined at the discretion of library staff.

 

• Abusing Library Equipment, Furniture, and Materials. Includes but is not limited to placing feet on tables and chairs, standing on furniture, mutilating or defacing books or periodicals, and mistreating equipment or computers. For more information on computer abuse, see the library’s Acceptable Use Policy.

 

• Riding Bikes, Rollerblades, Skateboards, and Scooters. These may not be ridden anywhere in the library.

 

• Blocking Aisles or Doorways. Includes obstructing aisles or doorways or in any way interfering with the free movement of any other persons.

 

• Intentionally Displaying Weapons. The intentional display of firearms during public meetings is prohibited.

 

• Removing Library Materials or Equipment. All circulating materials and equipment must be checked out at the circulation desk before they can be removed from library property.

 

• Playing Music. Includes playing music or other media at a level that is disruptive to other patrons.

 

• Excessively Displaying Affection. Includes any sexual conduct or physical contact deemed inappropriate for a public place. (“Inappropriate” sexual conduct or contact will be defined at the discretion of library staff.)

 

• Exhibiting Improper Hygiene. A person may be required to leave the library if his/her personal hygiene interferes with the orderly operation of the library or with the ability of other patrons to use and enjoy the facility.

 

• Exhibiting Illegal Behavior. Any staff member who witnesses illegal behavior will notify an immediate supervisor who will contact the police immediately. Illegal behavior includes but is not limited to the following:

 

• Assault. Intentionally or by reckless conduct causes injury to another person.

• Criminal Mischief. Intentionally damages the property of another (includes vandalism and mutilating library materials).

• Drunk and/or Disorderly Conduct. Causes public inconvenience by fighting, unreasonable noise, abusive or obscene language or gestures, threatening behavior, or hazardous or physically offensive condition.

• Harassment. Threatens or annoys another person by physical contact or abusive or obscene language or by following a person in or about a public place. Staring at, photographing, or following a patron or staff member in a manner that reasonably can be expected to disturb him or her is prohibited.

• Public Lewdness. Intentionally exposes the private parts of the body in a lewd manner in a public place.

• Theft (Larceny). Wrongfully takes, obtains, or withholds the property of another.

• Trespass. Knowingly enters or remains unlawfully on the premises.

• Controlled Substances. Includes using, selling, or possessing controlled substances on library property, and entering library property while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal controlled substances. The use of alcohol is prohibited on library property unless specifically approved by the Board of Trustees for public events.

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