Patron Code of Conduct
So that everyone may better enjoy his or her visit to the Library, we ask each patron, regardless of age, to respect the rights of others by following these rules:
The following are not permitted inside the Library:
- Eating
- The use of tobacco products or electronic substitutes.
- Possession of a firearm or weapon.
- Sleeping
- Possession, consumption, or sale of illegal substances or alcohol.
- Loud or boisterous talking and conversation, including the use of threatening or profane, obscene, or abusive language, including racial, ethnic, or sexual orientation epithets.
- Fighting, hitting, harassing, or physical/verbal abuse.
- Rollerblades, skates, and skateboards
- Begging, soliciting, gambling, buying, or selling for personal or commercial gain (unless authorized by Library administrators).
- Bathing and shaving in the restrooms.
- Any illegal activities
**Please note this list is not exhaustive.**
Shirts and shoes are required to be worn in the Library.
Bicycles must be parked on the racks outside. We advise the use of a lock. The Library is not responsible for lost or stolen personal property.
Smoking, drinking, skateboarding, skating, and rollerblading are not permitted on Library property.
Destruction of Library materials and property is prohibited.
Persons are not permitted in the Library and will be asked to leave if they appear to:
- Be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
- Pose a health or safety risk to others
Willful damage, attempted theft, or vandalism of Library materials may result in a block on the patron’s Library account, banning the patron from the Library and/or may constitute cause for prosecution.
The Library reserves the right to expel any person whose behavior and/or clothing is determined to be disruptive, inappropriate to the Library environment, or prevents the use of the Library by other users.
Children under age 8 must be supervised by a parent or responsible companion. All children must be picked up before closing time.
Photography and/or videography is prohibited in the Library because the Library is a limited public forum and activities not compatible with the purpose of the Library may be restricted. Photography and/or videography may impede the public’s use of the Library, staff’s delivery of services to the public, or any individual’s expectation of privacy and may not be compatible with the purpose of the Library. Accordingly, this policy protects customer privacy by expressly prohibiting photography and/or videography of Library patrons in the Library without their permission.
Media is asked to seek approval from the Executive Director before taking photographs and/or videos to ensure that such activities do not impede the public’s use of the Library, staff’s delivery of services to the public, or an individual’s expectation of privacy.
The public may take photographs and/or videos in the public areas of the Library to record their own visit or capture a building’s architecture. However, photography and/or videography of patrons should be done with their consent. Permission to photograph or video record individuals must be granted by those individuals or guardians. Minors cannot give permission. Only a parent or guardian may give consent to have a minor child photographed. Library staff will not administer permissions for members of the public to take photographs and/or videos of other individuals.
Staff may stop any photography and/or videography that appears to interfere with staff’s ability to conduct business, violates a patron’s privacy, or that compromises public safety and security.
Photography and/or videography of the exterior areas of Library property is allowed, as long as such activity complies with the Code of Conduct and does not interfere with the flow of traffic and with customers or staff wishing to enter or leave the building.
Library staff have been instructed to call the police department, if necessary, for assistance in any situation that appears to threaten the safety of a Library patron or staff member.
We want everyone to enjoy their time at the library. Failure to comply with the Rules of Conduct for Patrons may result in responses including, but not limited to, removal from library premises and the restriction of library privileges. In the case of serious or repeated violations of this policy, the Executive Director reserves the right to prohibit library access.
*Thank you for helping to keep Pataskala Public Library a safe and welcoming place for our community. *