Patron Conduct Policy

     The Herrin City Library is dedicated to providing access to knowledge and information through reading, writing, quiet contemplation, program participation and respectful collaboration, providing patrons the right to use materials and services without being disturbed or impeded, and providing patrons and employees a secure and comfortable environment. The Public Library Act provides the Library Board of Trustees with the general power to carry out the spirit and intent of the Act in establishing and maintaining the library and providing library services and the specific power to “exclude from the use of the library any person who willfully violates an ordinance or regulation prescribed.”

     To ensure that all patrons may have comfortable use of the Herrin City Library, appropriate behavior is expected. Violation of any of the following rules will result in a warning and/or expulsion from the property. Whenever necessary, police will be contacted. The Library Director, Assistant Director and supervisory staff have authority to carry out all provisions of this policy.

The Library Board of Trustees of the Herrin City Library establishes its patron conduct policy as follows:

1.      A patron who engages in any activity that disrupts the use of library facilities, collections, or services by patrons or disrupts the ability of the staff to perform duties shall cease such activity immediately upon request by library personnel.

2.      Due to space limitations and the general mission of the library, purely social gatherings are not permitted. Patrons are expected to be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library while they are in the building or on library property.

3.      Respectful and limited use of cell phones is permitted only in the front foyer, in the front entrance bathrooms, or on the front patio. Patrons who are asked to speak more quietly or to end a phone call shall comply immediately with that request.

4.      Solicitation is not permitted. Solicitation includes, but is not limited to, verbal solicitation or printed literature that is not approved for posting or distribution in the library.

5.      The library is not responsible for personal belongings left unattended inside or outside the building. Please do not deposit personal belongings in the library and then leave the building. The library reserves the right to remove items left on furnishings if the owners leave the building. Personal items left anywhere on the premises inside or outside may be removed or discarded.

6.      Library furniture, such as tables and chairs, may not be moved without permission of the staff. Furnishings are to be used for their intended purposes only (i.e., do not stand on chairs, do not put feet on tables or chairs, do not sit on tables).

7.      Patrons may not sit or lie on the floor.

8.      No food or drink is allowed in the library unless otherwise provided by the library for a library program. Patrons may place their food and drink on the book case by the Main Circulation Desk as they enter the library or securely place the drink away in a bag.

9.      Bicycles must be parked in the bicycle rack at the back of the library. Patrons may “check-out” a bike lock at the circulation desk for use at the library bike rack only.

10.  Smoking of any kind, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted anywhere in the building. Smoking may take place outside at least fifteen feet from the library entrance, and cigarette butts are not to be littered on library property.

11.  The library is a public building used by patrons of all ages and sensibilities. There should be no expectation of the same level of viewing privacy as would be enjoyed in the home. Use of the library’s computers or devices, or personal computers, materials or devices on library property, to access or process obscene or inappropriate material, images or sound, is prohibited.

12.  Children under the age of eight must be accompanied and directly supervised at all times by a parent/guardian or other responsible caregiver of at least 14 years of age.

13.  Adults may enter the children’s section in order to access the collection, but may not lounge in the children’s area when unaccompanied by a child in their care.

14.  Patrons may not verbally abuse, badger, stalk or harass library staff or patrons. This includes but is not limited to raising one’s voice, using foul language or gestures, personal insults, incessant arguing, staring, following, lingering in a person’s space, and asking the same question repeatedly once an answer has been provided.

15.  No prolonged sleeping is allowed in the library or on library property.

16.  Alcohol use is not permitted in the library or on library property. A person who is suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to immediately leave. 

17.  No weapons are allowed in the library or on library property. This also includes knives of all kinds.

18.  When the library is closed, no one (other than staff) is allowed on the property. This includes but is not limited to overnight parking, sleeping in a car, sitting on the bench at the library entrance, sitting or sleeping at the back entrance loading dock, sitting, standing or sleeping on library property, or placing trash in the trash cans in the back of the library.  A first offense will be given a warning. A second offense will be reported to the police as trespassing.

Consequences of policy violation:

1.      Patrons who fail to abide by library policy and/or cause severe or repeated disturbance in the library may be asked to leave and not return to the library for an extended period of time.

2.      If, following a request from library personnel, a patron fails or refuses to comply, or responds to the request in an abusive fashion, he or she may be required to leave the library premises.

3.      In situations involving minors, incidents may be reported to the parent or guardian.

4.      Library personnel will record instances in which patrons behave in a disruptive manner, and/or are required to leave the library, in a file maintained by the library for that purpose. In the instance of repeated or severe disruptive or abusive behavior, the Library Director or Assistant Director may ban the patron from the library’s property for a period of time to be determined by the Library Director. The Library Board will be made aware of any information about the patron’s behavior related to suspension or banning. In the instance of a long term ban, the library will notify the police, and attempt to notify the patron (or the patron’s guardian, if the patron is a minor) in writing. Entering library property, whether inside or outside, while banned, can result in an arrest for criminal trespass.

5.      Patrons wishing to appeal a ban may do so upon written request to the Library’s Board of Trustees.

The library may change, modify, alter or rescind any part of this policy or adopt a new policy at any time without notice.