About the library > Policies > Behavior in the Library
Behavior Rules Governing the Use of Multnomah County Library
Last revised 05.27.09
The Multnomah County Library's behavior rules have a threefold purpose: to protect the rights and safety of library patrons, to protect the rights and safety of staff members, and to preserve and protect the library's materials, facilities and property.
Definitions and scope
These behavior rules shall apply to all buildings, interior and exterior, and all grounds controlled and operated by the Multnomah County Library (such buildings and grounds are hereafter referred to as the "premises") and to all persons entering in or on the premises.
Listed below are the library's behavior rules. Persons who violate these rules may be ejected from the premises and excluded from all library premises for the period of time listed below, by authority of Multnomah County Executive Rule No. 252.
Behavior rules
Any person who violates rules 1-5 while in or on library premises will be immediately ejected and excluded from all Multnomah County Library premises without first being given a warning. Any person so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of up to three years, and the incident will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
- 1. Committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state or local criminal statute or ordinance.
- 2. Directing a specific threat of physical harm against an individual, group of individuals or property. Violation of this rule will result in a minimum exclusion of one year.
- 3. Engaging in sexual conduct, as defined under ORS 167.060, including, but not limited to, the physical manipulation or touching of a person's sex organs through a person's clothing in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification.
- 4. Being under the influence of any controlled substance or intoxicating liquor. Controlled substance is defined in ORS 475.005.
- 5. Possessing, selling, distributing or consuming any alcoholic beverage, except as allowed at a library-approved event.
Any person who violates rules 6-19 while in or on library premises will be given up to one warning at the discretion of library staff; then the person will be asked to leave the premises for the day. Subsequent offenses by that person will result in that person's immediate ejection and exclusion from all Multnomah County Library premises. Any person so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of up to one year.
- 6. 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 involves the use of abusive or threatening language or gestures, conduct that creates unreasonable noise, or conduct that consists of loud or boisterous physical behavior or talking.
- 7. Using library materials, equipment, furniture, fixtures or buildings in a manner inconsistent with the customary use thereof; or in a destructive, abusive or potentially damaging manner; or in a manner likely to cause personal injury to the actor or others.
- 8. Disobeying the reasonable direction of a library staff member or library security officer.
- 9. Soliciting, petitioning, or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable or religious purposes inside a library building, including the doorway or vestibule of any such library building or in a manner on the library premises that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library.
- 10. Interfering with the free passage of library staff or patrons in or on the library premises, including, but not limited to, placing objects such as bicycles, skateboards, backpacks or other items in a manner that interferes with free passage.
- 11. Placing personal belongings on or against buildings, furniture, equipment or fixtures in a manner that interferes with library staff or patron use of the library facility, or leaving personal belongings unattended.
- 12. Bringing bicycles or other similar devices inside library buildings, including, but not limited to, vestibules or covered doorways if no bicycle rack is provided within that area.
- 13. Operating roller skates, skateboards or other similar devices in or on library premises.
- 14. Parking vehicles on library premises for purposes other than library use. Vehicles parked in violation of this rule may be towed at the owner's expense.
- 15. Smoking or other use of tobacco.
- 16. Consuming food or drink that creates a nuisance because of odor, garbage or spills. Non-alcoholic beverages in closed containers and small amounts of snack foods are allowed. No food or drink of any kind are allowed inside the John Wilson collections at Central Library.
- 17. Bringing animals inside library buildings (with the exception of service animals), except as allowed at a library-approved event, or leaving an animal tethered and unattended on library premises in violation of Multnomah County Code §13.305.
- 18. Violating the library's rules for Acceptable Use of the Internet and Library Public Computers, which are posted at every search station table.
- 19. Taking library materials into restrooms if the materials have not been checked out.
Any person who violates rules 20-23 while in or on library premises will be given up to two warnings at the discretion of library staff; then the person will be asked to leave the premises for the day. Subsequent offenses by that person will result in that person's immediate ejection and exclusion from all Multnomah County Library premises. Any person so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of up to six months.
- 20. Sleeping in or on library premises.
- 21. Improperly using library restrooms, including, but not limited to, bathing, shaving, washing hair and changing clothes.
- 22. Using personal electronic equipment at a volume that disturbs others, including, but not limited to, pagers, stereos, televisions and cellular telephones.
- 23. Leaving one or more children under the age of 6, who reasonably appear to be unsupervised or unattended, anywhere in or on library premises.
Any person who violates rules 24 and 25 while in or on library premises will be excluded from the premises until the problem is corrected.
- 24. Entering library buildings with bare feet or a bare chest.
- 25. Disturbing others because of offensive body odor.
Repeat Offenses
Individuals who repeatedly violate these Behavior Rules after having been previously excluded for library rule violations may face a longer exclusion than indicated in these guidelines. 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.
Vailey Oehlke
Director of Libraries
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