Customer Conduct

The following behaviors and activities are not allowed:

1) Engaging in any activity in violation of federal, state, local, or other applicable law, or library policy.

2) Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library, or disturbs library staff or customers, including, but not limited to, conduct that involves the use of abusive or threatening language or gestures, conduct that creates unreasonable noise, or conduct that consists of loud or boisterous behavior or talking.

3) Bringing animals inside library buildings (with the exception of service animals), except as allowed at a library-approved event.

4) Entering or being in the library barefoot, without a shirt, with a wet bathing suit, with offensive body odor or personal hygiene, or being otherwise attired so as to be disruptive to the library environment.

5) Interfering with the free passage of library staff or customers in the library, including, but not limited to, placing objects such as bicycles, skateboards, backpacks, or other items in a manner that interferes with free passage.

6) Consuming beverages except from approved containers: covered containers, bottles with screw-on tops, and Thermos bottles.

7) Using audible devices without headphones or with headphones set at a volume that disturbs others. Library customers may not use cell phones, pagers, or other communication devices in a manner that disturbs others.

8) Soliciting, canvassing, distributing literature, selling, or begging in the library.

9) Leaving one or more children under the age of 7, who appear to be unsupervised or unattended, anywhere in the library.

Library privileges will be denied to anyone who defaces, mutilates, destroys, wrongfully takes, or wrongfully retains library materials or other library property.  After appropriate restitution, library privileges will be restored subject to all other rules of the library.

All persons using the library are responsible for their safety, the safety of children in their care, and the security of personal belongings. The Mid-Columbia Library System is not responsible for the safety of the customers against their own acts or the acts of other library customers.

It is the intent of the Mid-Columbia Library System that enforcement of this policy will be conducted in a fair and reasonable manner. Library staff and/or local law enforcement officers have the right to intervene to stop prohibited activities and behaviors. Failure to comply with the library’s established rules and policies could result in removal from the premises and expulsion from the library for a period of one day to one year, or in arrest or prosecution. Violations could also result in the restriction or termination of library privileges, including the use of library computers and other equipment. (RCW 27.12.290).