Cecil County Public Library
RULES OF CONDUCT

1. The Library is responsible for establishing rules of conduct to protect the rights and safety of Library patrons, volunteers, and staff, and for preserving and protecting the Library’s materials, equipment, facilities, and grounds.  The Rules of Conduct are posted in each Library facility.   
   Procedures for handling disruptive behavior and other prohibited conduct have been established, including calling local law enforcement when necessary.  Repeat or severe offenders may be removed from the Library for a specified period of time and/or have their Library privileges suspended.  Anyone wishing to appeal their exclusion may submit an appeal in writing to the Library Director.

2. Please enjoy the Library and respect its use by others.

3. Conduct considered improper by the library includes, but is not limited to:

• Engaging in any activity in violation of Federal, State, local or other applicable law, or Library policy.
• Failing to comply with a reasonable staff request.
• Creating public disturbances.
• Verbally threatening or harassing other patrons, volunteers, or staff, including yelling, name-calling and profanity.
• Physically threatening or harassing other patrons, volunteers, or staff, including stalking, staring, lurking, offensive touching and obscene acts such as sex acts and indecent exposure.
• Using offensive or abusive language, talking in loud tones or making other loud noises.
• Fighting or challenging to fight, running, pushing, shoving, or throwing things.
• Lying down or sleeping.
• Gambling.
• Loitering.
• Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or hallucinogenic drug substances.
• Smoking in library buildings.
• Consuming beverages in open containers.
• Consuming food - except in designated branches, meeting rooms or café areas.
  Entering or being in the Library barefoot, without a shirt, with offensive body odor or personal hygiene or being otherwise dressed so as to be disruptive to the Library environment.
• Petitioning or solicitation of any kind.
• Leaving packages, including backpacks, unattended.
• Rollerblading, skate boarding, or using wheeled recreational vehicles such as bicycles or scooters in the library.  No skateboarding on Library property.
• Using obscene or pornographic Internet sites or other violation of Library public access computing or wifi rules.
• Using cell phones in designated quiet areas.
• Theft or mutilation of books or other property.

The library is not responsible for unattended children.  Children under 8 must be accompanied by a caregiver at least 13 years old.  Please do not leave young children without supervision.
 
Adopted 3/10/08