Behavior Policy

Behavior Policy Governing the Use of Oregon City Public Library

To achieve the Oregon City Public Library's mission of providing materials and services to all members of the community, the following Behavior Rules are enforced by library staff. These rules are in place to protect your rights and safety as a library patron, as well as the rights and safety of other patrons and staff members. These rules also help preserve and protect library materials, facilities, and property. Persons who violate the following rules may be asked to leave the premises and may be excluded from the library.

The following conduct is prohibited on library property. Persons who violate rules 1 through 16 will be given a warning. If the person continues the behavior, they will be asked to leave for the day. Subsequent offenses may result in immediate removal from premises and loss of all library privileges based on the library's progression scale. Engaging in more than one of the behaviors listed in rules 1 through 16 or directing a behavior towards a child under 18 may be cause for immediate exclusion.

The following progression scale will be used to determine the length of exclusion except for certain violations which require exclusion until the issue is resolved (i.e. odor):

• First violation - education/warning
• First violation after warning - excluded for remainder of day
• Second violation - excluded up to one week
• Third violation - excluded up to one month
• Fourth violation - excluded up to 6 months
• Fifth violation - excluded up to 1 year

1. Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library, or disturbs library staff or patrons, including, but not limited to, conduct that creates unreasonable noise, or conduct that consists of loud or boisterous physical behavior.
2. Using library materials, equipment, furniture, fixtures, or building in a manner inconsistent with customary use, including obstructing use of furniture though storage of large personal items; or in a destructive, abusive, or potentially damaging manner.
3. Refusing to comply with the reasonable direction of a library staff member.
4. Soliciting, petitioning, distributing written materials, conducting surveys, or canvassing inside the library building, or in a manner that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library.
5. Bringing bicycles, grocery carts, large pieces of personal items, or other similar equipment inside the library building, or interfering with free passage into and in the library, or interfering with the use of the library by staff or patrons.
6. Operating bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, or other similar equipment in the library or library walkways.
7. Consuming food, except in specifically designated areas, or drink, except non-alcoholic beverages in closed or re-sealable containers.
8. Bringing non-service animals into the library except as allowed at a library-approved event. Tethering animals near a library entrance is prohibited and may result in a phone call to Animal Control.
9. Violating the posted Computer and Internet Use Policy.
10. Sleeping in the library.
11. Improperly using library restrooms, including, but not limited to, bathing, washing hair, or doing laundry.
12. Using personal electronic equipment at a volume that disturbs others.
13. Leaving personal items unattended.
14. Entering the Library with bare feet or a bare chest. Footwear with soles must be worn while in the library.
15. Having extremely strong or offensive odor which disturbs others. Patron may be readmitted to the library when the odor issue is resolved.
16. Smoking, chewing, other tobacco use, or vaping in library facilities.

Persons who violate rules 17 through 23 will be immediately excluded from the library's premises without being given a warning. Any person being so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of time between 1 week and permanent exclusion, dependent on the severity of the violation.

• 17. Committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal or state criminal statutes or city ordinance.
• 18. Engaging in harassment as defined in ORS 166.065, or conduct that involves the use of abusive, sexual, or threatening language or gestures.
• 19. Directing a specific threat of physical harm against an individual, group, or property.
• 20. Bringing a weapon into the library. No weapons are allowed in the library as per Oregon City Municipal Code 9.24.020.
• 21. Selling, using, distributing, or possessing alcohol or controlled substance. "Controlled substance" is defined in ORS 475.005. Alcoholic beverages are allowed only at library-approved events.
• 22. Engaging in sexual conduct, as defined under ORS 167.060, including but not limited to indecent exposure or physical contact through clothing for sexual gratification, or disregarding another person's reasonable expectation of privacy as otherwise defined in ORS 163.700.
• 23. Entering or remaining in the library after posted closing hours other than authorized by staff.

Please note: the Children's Room and Teen Room were created to be utilized by particular age groups, ages 0 to 12 and 12 to 18 respectively, and their caretakers. While all ages are welcome to browse for materials in these areas, adults without children or teens should use other areas for seating. Adults seated in the children's room or teen area without the accompaniment of a child or teen will be asked to move.

Repeat Offenses

Individuals who repeatedly violate these Behavior Rules after having been previously excluded for library rule violations will face longer exclusions. Repeat offenders need not violate the same rule to be subject to stricter enforcement and may not be warned that their behavior is inappropriate before being excluded.

Appeal

All individuals who are excluded from the library for one week or longer will be presented with a Notice of Exclusion, which outlines the appeal process.

Authorized by Anthony J. Konkol III, City Manager

[Updated January 8, 2020]