ITEM NUMBER: 7.57 a-b

CHAPTER 8: Administrative

Management

CODE: Policy

COMPUTER ID: AMPRO-57



Title: Behavior in the Library Policy

Effective Date: 2-2002

Authorized By: Library Director

Date of Last Revision: 4-2022



BEHAVIOR IN THE LIBRARY POLICY



Purpose:



Marathon County Public Library has established this Behavior in the Library Policy to

ensure that library facilities are safe, welcoming environments, and provide equitable

access to materials and services for all library users.





Overview:



No individual may engage in inappropriate conduct on the premises of Marathon County

Public Library or when participating in library programs. Staff will use their discretion

and may ask patrons displaying inappropriate conduct to leave library property.



Minor violations of these rules will first result in library staff attempting to educate or

warn individuals about policies and enforcement. Repeated misconduct or severe

offenses (even in a single isolated event) may result in individuals being banned from

the Library for up to one year. Threats of violence or violent behavior may result in a

lifetime ban.





Examples of Inappropriate Conduct Not Allowed in the Library:



Basic rules of behavior, including:



leaving a child under age 8 unattended (Unattended Customer Policy, 7.59 a-d)

not wearing appropriate clothing as defined by state and local ordinances,

including attire mandated by public health agencies

smoking, including the use of chewing tobacco and vaping; all items such as

cigarettes, vape pens or chewing tobacco containers must remain out of sight

while inside the library building and on building grounds (Marathon County Code

of Ordinances, Sec. 9.05)

entering nonpublic (staff) areas of the library



ITEM NUMBER: 7.57 b







using the restroom inappropriately (No changing of clothing, washing, shaving or

other grooming activities or taking library materials into the restroom)

no animals, except service animals, per Marathon County Public Library Policy

7.62 a-c (Animals in the Library)

entering the library with bodily hygiene that is noticeable by others and causes a

disruption

possessing, selling, distributing, displaying or using any dangerous weapon as

that term is defined in Wis. Stats. Sec. 939.22(10) upon entering library premises

or using or threatening the use of any other object in such a manner that it may

be considered a weapon

use of alcohol or drugs on library property, or exhibiting signs of being in an

altered state upon entering the library

any disruptive behavior, including physical or verbal intimidation of others

any activity that can be construed as sexual in nature.



Basic rules of behavior, including:



soliciting

sleeping

not keeping the peace within the library

damaging or moving library property, including furniture and other fixtures



computers (Computer and Internet Access and Use, 11.21 a-d)

o A user accepts these rules before accessing the Internet through a library

computer. These rules include viewing pornography on either personal or

library owned device.

viewing of child pornography will result in banning and a referral to the

appropriate law enforcement agency (Marathon County Code of Ordinances,

Sec. 9.04 Internet Access and Use).



Law enforcement may be called by library staff at any time staff feels it is necessary.

Library staff are authorized to contact law enforcement in response to any inappropriate

conduct or in the event an individual refuses to leave the library when expelled. Law

enforcement may also be used to deliver banning forms to patrons, especially if law

enforcement is called to remove a patron due to a violation of any of the above

situations.



For the banning procedure seeBanning Procedure 7.57A a-c