VTL’s Mission
To inspire lifelong learning, encourage exploration and creativity, and enrich our community.
VTL’s Vision
A space for individual discovery and expression, where the community comes together through conversation, interaction, and collaboration.
In order to realize its purpose and fulfill its vision, VTL has developed the following Behavior Policy. The Board of Trustees and Directors entrust staff to exercise professional judgment in assessing acceptable behavior and taking action as defined by this policy. In addition to this policy, activities at VTL are governed by all applicable local, state, and federal statutes.
All visitors to VTL spaces are expected to:
- Respect others, including their rights and their personal space.
- Exhibit consideration.
- Refrain from disruptive or unacceptable behavior.
- Comply with VTL’s policies and procedures.
Unacceptable behaviors in VTL spaces include actions, words, or physical gestures that cause others distress or discomfort. The following behaviors are to be used as examples but do not constitute a comprehensive list:
- Entering without being completely clothed, including a shirt and shoes.
- Destroying, defacing, damaging, or stealing library property.
- Following, stalking, touching patrons or staff, standing behind computer users, or disrespecting others’ privacy in any other way.
- Talking, singing, using profanity, or yelling at a disruptive volume.
- Smoking, vaping, or any use of tobacco.
- Being impaired/under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol.
- Exhibiting poor personal hygiene or odor which causes a disturbance to others. This can also include pervasive/overpowering artificial scents, colognes, or perfumes.
- Failing to comply with the library’s Internet Access and Use policy.
- Harassing or bullying in any form.
- Inconsiderate use of cell phones or other devices at a volume that interferes with others’ use of VTL spaces.
- Creating a disturbance or potentially unsafe situation as determined by staff; i.e. by running, throwing objects, mishandling VTL’s or other patron’s property.
- Consuming beverages not in spill proof, covered, securely closed containers. Consuming food other than light snacks that disturb other patrons with their noise or odor. For example, granola bars, pretzels, dried fruit, and other quiet snacks are ok. Library staff may ask that food be consumed outside and certain areas of the library may not allow any food or drink.
- Bringing animals into the building, except service animals as defined by the ADA: www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm.
- Selling, soliciting, or panhandling without permission.
- Refusing to listen to staff when disruptive behavior is addressed.
Violation of the Behavior Policy may result in:
- The patron being asked to review the Behavior Policy or portions thereof.
- Up to three verbal warnings.
- Parent/caregiver/guardian being contacted.
- Temporary loss of certain library privileges, including but not limited to:
- Being asked to leave for the remainder of the day.
- Access to an individual space/branch/activity for a length of time to be determined by VTL.
- Access to all VTL spaces for a length of time to be determined by VTL.
- Account services.
- Supervision required from a parent/guardian/chaperone in order to be in VTL spaces.
- Permanent loss of library privileges.
- VTL staff contacting the local Sheriff’s Office.
Unattended Patrons
Valley of the Tetons Library does not serve as a daycare and librarians cannot be expected to act in place of parents or caregivers.
If a child, or any patron, is unable to leave the library unattended they should not be in the library alone. Patrons requiring care, including children, must have the phone number of a parent/caregiver that may be contacted in case of emergency, due to an unscheduled library closure, or as a consequence of violating library policy.
If the Library is closed and no caregiver is present, library staff will attempt to identify and locate the parents, guardians, or caregivers. If no one can be contacted, library staff will call the local Sheriff’s Office.
Legal review completed, adopted by the Valley of the Tetons Library Board of Trustees on April 10, 2024.
