Sno-Isle Libraries Administrative Policy

Purpose

To provide the framework for implementing the Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees (Board) Customer Use of Library Spaces Policy and ensure its fair and consistent application.

Scope

This policy provides expectations for customer conduct on Sno-Isle Libraries (Library District) property and describes the procedure for appealing Library District decisions on the suspension of library privileges.

Implementation

Customer responsibilities

In order to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all, the Library District expects customers to:

• Understand that the library is a public place shared by many.
• Avoid behaviors which unreasonably interfere with other customers’ ability to use the library and its services.
• Be courteous and respect other library customers and staff.
• Conduct themselves in a safe and orderly way.
• Respect library property.
• Safeguard personal items and ensure they do not obstruct access or impair safety for others.
• Comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
• Comply with local and statewide health and safety requirements, including practices implemented by the Library District to protect customer and staff wellbeing.
• Comply with reasonable requests from library staff.
• Follow Sno-Isle Libraries policies, including the Internet Use Policy.

Children and dependent individuals

Parents, guardians, and caregivers should be mindful that a library is a public place and they are solely responsible for supervising the activities and choices of their charges. Library staff and volunteers are not responsible for unattended children or dependents. If a child or dependent individual is left unattended, library staff members will attempt to contact a parent, guardian, or caregiver if the unattended individual is frightened or crying, acting inappropriately, perceived to be in an unsafe situation, or remains on library property at closing time with no apparent effective means to return home. If a parent, guardian, or caregiver cannot be reached, or if any customer’s immediate safety or health is threatened, library staff will contact law enforcement.

Stewardship of library resources

Customers are stewards of the Library District and its resources and are expected to value and respect these resources. Customers who engage in defacing, damaging, endangering, stealing, misusing, or destroying library property or interfering with the proper operation of library equipment may have their library privileges suspended and be referred to the proper authorities for legal action in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Staff Responsibilities

Library staff have an important role to ensure that the Library District is a welcoming public library environment for everyone. Staff are expected to:

• Weigh the degree of disruptive conduct with the onsite conditions at the time.
• Exercise their best judgment in determining conduct that is in violation of the Customer Use of Library Spaces Policy and other relevant Library District policies and rules in determining the correct course of action.
• Explain the Customer Use of Library Spaces Policy to customers.
• Request that customers conduct themselves in a way that maintains a welcoming and safe public library environment.
• Seek assistance from library supervisors, security staff, or local law enforcement to resolve ongoing, escalating, or severe customer conduct issues.

Noncompliance

Willful and persistent failure to comply with the Customer Use of Library Spaces Policy may result in loss of library privileges. In the event of a minor customer conduct issue, staff will issue one or more warnings as appropriate before implementing a loss of library privileges. Major customer conduct issues such as actual or threatened violence, discrimination, harassment, or bullying may result in an immediate loss of library privileges.

The minimum period for loss of library privileges is one day, for which the customer will be required to leave the library for the rest of the day but will retain access to online resources. This suspension may be applied for a first time, minor violation that does not cease after one or more warnings.

Repeat minor violations, as well as moderate or severe violations, may result in a suspension of library privileges, typically for a period of one week to one year. Depending on the circumstances, suspensions of longer durations may be imposed. Suspended customers will be sent, via certified mail, a letter of explanation within ten days of the infraction. Additionally, the Library Manager will have a copy of the letter of explanation to provide to the customer, should they return to the library.

In the case of a suspension of library privileges, the Library District reserves the right to issue a trespass notice through the appropriate law enforcement agency. Any incidents involving illegal activity may be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency. When library privileges are suspended, the customer will lose access to all Library District facilities, grounds, physical materials, and electronic resources for the duration of the suspension.

Appeal procedure

Any customer who receives a suspension of library privileges may appeal the decision in writing to the Assistant Directors of Community Libraries. The written appeal must be submitted within thirty days of the date of the suspension notice. The Assistant Directors of Community Libraries will review the written appeal and consult with the Director of Community Libraries to make a determination to uphold, modify, or overturn the suspension. Written notice of the decision will be sent to the customer via certified mail within fourteen (14) days. In the event the customer has no valid mailing address, the appropriate Library Manager will have a copy of the written notice of decision to provide to the customer, should they return to the library.

If the customer is not satisfied with the Assistant Director’s decision, the customer may submit a written appeal to the Director of Community Libraries within fourteen days of receiving the Assistant Director’s decision. The Director of Community Libraries shall review the written appeal and issue a determination within fourteen days, providing written notice to the customer of the outcome in the manner described above.

If the customer is not satisfied with the Director of Community Libraries’ response, a final appeal may be submitted in writing to the Executive Director within fourteen days of receiving the Director of Community Libraries’ determination. The Executive Director shall review the written appeal and issue a final determination within thirty days and provide written notice of the decision to the customer in the manner described above.

Associated Policies and Laws

• Washington State chapter 9A.48 RCW. Arson, Reckless Burning, and Malicious Mischief
• Washington State RCW 9A.84.030 Disorderly conduct
• Washington State RCW 9.41.300 Weapons prohibited in certain places – Local laws and ordinances – Exceptions - Penalty
• Washington State chapter 9.68A RCW. Sexual Exploitation of Children
• Washington State RCW 27.12.270 Rules and regulations—Free use of libraries
• Washington State RCW 27.12.290 Violators may be excluded
• Washington State RCW 27.12.330 Penalty for injury to property
• Washington State chapter 70.160 RCW. Smoking In Public Places
• American Library Association. Library Bill of Rights
• American Library Association. Freedom to Read
• American Library Association. Freedom to View
• Washington Library Association. Intellectual Freedom Statement
• Sno-Isle Libraries Board policy. Customer Use of Library Spaces
• Sno-Isle Libraries Board Policy. Equity
• Sno-Isle Libraries Board policy. Internet Use
• Sno-Isle Libraries Administrative Policy. Security Camera Use
• Sno-Isle Libraries Administrative Guidelines. Social Media

Process

This administrative policy is reviewed every four (4) years by the Director of Community Libraries (or designee), who makes recommendations to the Leadership Team for review and approval.

Policy History

Date approved: August 12, 2024
Next review date: 2028
Adopted: 2020