It is the policy of the Valley of the Tetons Library to provide an environment which supports the library patron in his or her search for information and in which to read or study. The extent of that support includes a well-maintained, reasonably comfortable and barrier-free building; knowledgeable, responsive, and pleasant staff; programs, services, and materials relevant to this community; and a general sense of order.
Many people pass through our doors each day. Creating and maintaining a sense of order within our building obligates the institution to establish standards of acceptable patron behavior which staff can reasonably enforce. The following Standards of Behavior are to be used by staff as general guidelines in maintaining order within the Library.
Violation of the Standards of Behavior Policy may result in:
- The patron being reminded about the Standards of Behavior.
- The patron being asked to leave the library for the remainder of the day.
- The patron being required to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver in the library.
- The patron’s library privileges being limited or revoked.
Standards of behavior
Library patrons are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that enables all patrons and staff to accomplish their intended library tasks in a safe, pleasant, and orderly atmosphere. Staff will take appropriate action when a patron’s behavior causes disruption. Staff respects, and will respond to, complaints from patrons and will exercise professional judgment in taking appropriate action on a case-by-case basis.
Unacceptable behaviors include:
- Destroying, damaging, defacing, or illegally removing library materials or property.
- Eating or drinking near the computers. Librarians may ask that certain foods be consumed outside.
- Entering without being completely clothed (including shirt and shoes).
- Bringing animals into the building. Service animals as defined by the ADA (www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm) are the only exception to this standard and they are expected to follow the library Standards of Behavior. Animals should not be left unattended on library grounds for more than fifteen (15) minutes.
- Selling, soliciting funds, or panhandling in the library building, on the grounds, or in the parking lot, except by permission of the Library Director or designee.
- Disturbing or harassing other patrons or staff by behavior such as: following, stalking, or touching patrons or staff in the library building or the parking lot, staring fixedly or leering at staff or other patrons.
- Engaging in annoying behavior such as using profanity, having loud conversations, standing behind other patrons at the computers, and inconsiderate use of cell phones. Please step outside to make phone calls. Please use headphones if you require sound from your computer or phone.
- Creating a disturbance or potentially unsafe situation by behavior such as yelling, running, throwing objects, misusing the library facilities, lying on the floor, or playing on stairs, entrances, or furniture.
Additionally:
Unaccompanied items will be treated as lost. Smaller items will be kept in Lost and Found for up to two months and then donated. Larger or valuable items will be turned over to the Sheriff after 24 hours.
The library does not have the capacity to act as daycare. Librarians cannot act in place of parents or caregivers.
If a child, or any patron, cannot leave the library unattended, then he/she 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 an emergency, due to an unscheduled library closing, or because of a violation of library policy.
If the Library is closed and no caregiver is present Library staff will wait 10 minutes and then call the Sheriff’s Office.
Approved by The Board of Trustees of the Valley of the Tetons Library on September 10, 2018