These procedures enforce the policy of the Metropolitan Library System to ensure that our library provides an atmosphere conducive to appropriate use of its services and facilities.

Procedures

Library staff, including security personnel, will enforce the Behavior in the Library guidelines in a fair and reasonable manner. Failure to comply with the library’s Behavior in the Library guidelines or policies could result in removal from the facility and termination of library privileges for a period of up to two years.

Violations could also result in arrest or prosecution. Indefinite bans may also be issued due to egregious misconduct or repeated misconduct after returning from a two-year ban.

Responding to Disruptive Conduct

If the situation warrants it any of the below steps can be skipped. A warning letter may also be appropriate in some situations.

Staff are authorized to request identification of the guest who violates library policy.

Incident reports are required for violations of library policy. It is better to document situations as they occur in case it becomes a pattern and further action is required. Library Managers and Security Manager will review every incident after being entered.

In the event disruptive conduct occurs, the Metropolitan Library System staff or the security officer on duty may take the following actions, as appropriate to the situation:

1. Level I – educate/advise
   
   1. Advise the guest the conduct is unacceptable and request compliance with library policy. Library staff will identify the inappropriate conduct for the individual and state what conduct is expected if the guest wishes to remain in the building. Advise the guest that if the conduct does not comply with library policies, they will be directed to leave the facility.
   2. When a minor is involved, staff may contact a parent or guardian as part of the educating step.
   3. If the guest responds in a verbally or physically abusive manner to the advisement, or it is an ongoing situation that has not resolved, the situation moves to level II.
   4. Staff will document as appropriate.
2. Level II – evicted for the day
   
   1. If the guest fails to comply with library policy after being educated and advised one time during a 30-day time period, which is the same as a second violation, staff or the security officer on duty will direct the guest to leave the library building and grounds for the remainder of the day.
   2. If the guest does not obey an order to leave the premises, staff or security officer will request assistance of the local police to escort the guest from the premises. If a guest continues to resist, the library may take appropriate legal action.
   3. Involved staff will complete and submit an incident report in the incident reporting software as soon as possible after the incident.
3. Level III – suspension of library privileges for more than a day but less than a month
   
   1. Suspensions lasting a day up to a day less than a month will apply to the specific location only.
   2. Depending on the nature of the disruptive conduct, the manager of the library has the discretion to ask the guest to leave the building for longer than a day.
   3. The manager of the library will notify the parent or guardian of guests under the age of 18 of each restriction beyond a one-day restriction.
   4. The involved staff will complete and submit an incident report in the incident reporting software as soon as possible.
   5. The Library Manager will update the ILS with a note on the account and remove the note when the suspension has ended.
4. Level IV – Suspension of library privileges for one to six months
   
   1. Suspensions up to six months will be decided by the library manager of the location where the incident occurred.
   2. Suspensions lasting a month up to six months will apply system wide.
   3. Repeated incidents of disruptive conduct will result in a suspension of library privileges from one to six months, which the manager of the library will invoke. “Repeated” is defined as more than two warnings (regarding any disruptive conduct) in a 30-day period, or an incident of disruptive conduct from a customer who has been evicted for the day within the previous 30 days.
   4. If a guest who has been readmitted to the library after being suspended repeats disruptive conduct, this may result in a longer suspension determined by the manager of the library.
   5. As an alternative to suspension of a juvenile, the manager may restrict a juvenile from independent use of a specified library site for a period of six months. The juvenile whose library use is restricted may use the library during the specified period only when the juvenile is accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian. The juvenile’s parent or guardian must be notified of the restriction. Failure to abide by the restriction may lead to banning the juvenile from all library premises.
   6. The staff involved will complete and submit an incident report in the online software.
   7. The manager will write a suspension letter, attach it to the incident report in the online software and ensure that the guest is given a copy (in-person or via mail).
   8. The Library Manager will update the ILS with a note on the account, set the account to Special Stop, and then remove the note and status when the suspension has ended.
   9. The Library Manager will email Library Management Team with the suspension information.
5. Level V – Suspension of library privileges more than six months
   
   1. Library and department managers can request a suspension longer than six months by recommending a ban to their regional director via email, who will then submit the recommendation via email to the Chief Guest Officer.
   2. In cases of repeated violations of the library’s rules of conduct, the Chief Executive Officer or their designee may determine a period of time up to two years that such a guest will be excluded from using the building, property and/or services. Such determination will be made upon finding that exclusion is necessary to protect the mission and services of the library, library property or the health and safety of staff and guests.
   3. In cases of severe, egregious, or illegal conduct that endangers the health and safety of staff or guests, or that endangers the mission, services or property of the library, the Chief Executive Officer or their designee may make an immediate decision to exclude a person from use of the library building, property or services for any length of time, including an indefinite ban.
   4. A one-year ban will be recommended for behaviors as such but not limited to:
      • Public bodily elimination (urination/defecation)
      • Credible threats towards guests or staff
      • Active use of illegal drugs
      • Sale or transactions related to illegal drugs
      • Carrying a dangerous weapon
      • Damage to property accompanied by a police report
      • Repeated unallowed behavior at multiple branches
      • Repeated unallowed behavior after returning from a 6-month suspension or during a 6-month suspension
      • Any behavior determined to be severe misconduct and/or unlawful
   5. A two-year ban will be recommended for behaviors as such but not limited to:
      • Causing injury to staff or guests
      • Indecent exposure (beyond elimination)
      • Brandishing or using a dangerous weapon
      • Sexual assault
      • Repeated unallowed behavior after returning from a 1-year ban or during a 1-year ban
      • Any behavior determined to be severe misconduct and/or unlawful
   6. An indeterminate ban will be recommended for behaviors as such but not limited to:
      • Physical assault of a guest, staff member, or security guard.
      • Repeated behavior after returning from a 2-year ban.
      • Any behavior determined to be severe misconduct and/or unlawful.
6. Appeal procedure
   • A person excluded from the use of the library building, property, and/or services may request in writing that the Chief Executive Officer reconsider such a decision and present evidence to the Chief Executive Officer that they no longer present a threat as described above.
   • The written appeal will be reviewed first by the Guest Services Leadership Team, which will then make a recommendation to the Chief Executive Officer for a final decision.
   • If the appeal is granted, a welcome back conversation will be held before reentry to the library.
7. Welcome Back Conversation
   
   1. Upon the end of the ban, the guest will be required to meet with a Library Manager to resume services in the library. This conversation is to welcome the guest back, review the situation that led to the ban, and set expectations for future behavior.

Expectations of Staff

1. Staff will first attempt to educate individuals about the applicable policies before taking stronger measures to enforce those policies.
2. Any staff member who observes or receives complaints of inappropriate behavior is empowered to handle the situation.
3. Staff are encouraged to handle the problem directly with the guest. A second staff member can go with for safety.
4. Immediately telephone the police if the situation is of a severe/violent nature or an emergency medical situation.
5. Contact the person in charge if the situation is of a nature that the staff member chooses not to discuss the inappropriate conduct with the guest.
6. Contact police if the guest is not responding to staff requests to conform to Behavior in the Library Guidelines.
7. Incident reports must be completed in all cases when it was necessary to call for outside help and in other situations in which the administration and staff need to be informed because of possible repercussions. Staff will complete the report in the incident reporting software.
8. In addition to written reports, staff members are encouraged to talk through upsetting incidents with their supervisor and other staff who might be involved. EAP services are available for all staff.

Contacting the Police

Normally, the manager or person-in-charge will initiate calls to the police when needed. If unacceptable conduct is reasonably considered by staff to constitute a violation of criminal law or the City municipal code, staff or the security officer on duty will immediately request police assistance.

• Police (or a security guard, if available) should be notified immediately by the library staff member who witnesses or is a victim of a crime--or by their supervisor if this would create no unreasonable delay.
• Library employees who are witnesses to, or victims of, a crime should confer with their immediate supervisors and complete and submit an incident report as soon as possible.
• Library employees most directly involved in the incident are to sign a complaint against offenders and to agree to testify in court if requested.
• If the crime involves damage to library property, the manager on duty is expected to file a police report.

Note: In all cases the manager or department head must be notified as soon as possible when the staff member discusses major offenses of inappropriate conduct with a library user who violates the Behavior in the Library Guidelines. The manager or department head will be responsible for notifying administration if necessary. Procedures for the system emergency response may be enacted.