The Urbandale Public Library is a public institution dedicated to the purposes of reading, study, and research.

In order to maintain a suitable environment for these purposes, the Board of Trustees of the Urbandale Public Library has adopted the following rules governing the use of the library.

Section 392 of the Code of Iowa, subsection 392.5 and Chapter 22.05.8 of the Urbandale Municipal Code delegates to the Urbandale Public Library Board of Trustees the right to establish the following rules and regulations of conduct for public use of the library and to prohibit certain kinds of conduct within the library.

These rules have been adopted for the comfort and protection of all those using library materials and services. They will be courteously, but firmly, enforced by the library staff. We ask your cooperation in maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, conducive to the effective use of library materials and services.

Rules
No person shall engage in any conduct which disturbs or interferes with the legitimate use of the library as follows:

1. Cellular phone usage is prohibited. Please turn your phone off when entering the library.
2. Willfully annoy, harass or threaten another person,
3. Campaign, petition, interview, take survey, solicit and/or sell inside or outside on library property, unless authorized by library personnel,
4. Take pictures or video tape unless authorized by library personnel,
5. Behave in a disorderly, loud or boisterous manner,
6. Use audio or audio visual equipment, audible pagers or computer audio equipment that disturbs others,
7. Impede access to the building or an area of the building,
8. Bring animals into the library except those animals which assist persons with disabilities or as allowed at library approved events,
9. Leaving animals, bicycles or personal items in vestibule or outside entrances and walkways,
10. Leave personal items in the building overnight. The library assumes no responsibility for items left unattended,
11. Enter the non-public or locked areas unless accompanied by a staff member or through prior authorization from a staff member,
12. Have bodily hygiene that is offensive so as to constitute a nuisance to other people,
13. Use the library as a place to sleep, to bathe or to wash or dry personal items,
14. Run, jump or climb,
15. Eat, smoke, chew tobacco or drink,
16. Interfere with the privacy of library users,
17. Enter without shoes and/or shirt; bathing suits are prohibited,
18. Bring luggage or large bags into the library,
19. Deposit litter anywhere other than in garbage receptacles provided,
20. Operate, push or ride wheeled devices within library facilities. The use of baby strollers, equipment required by persons with disabilities and equipment used by library personnel is permitted,
21. Spit on any person or library furniture, floors or other materials,
22. Put feet on library furniture,
23. Skateboard, rollerblade or skate anywhere on library property,
24. Post, distribute or circulate any handbill, circular, card, booklet, placard without the permission of the library director or his or her designee,
25. Bring weapons, firearms or explosive devices into the library,
26. Consume or possess alcoholic beverages or use or possess controlled substances on library grounds or be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances,
27. Remain in the library after regular closing hours unless attending a meeting that made prior arrangements to remain in the building after closing or when requested to leave or relocate during emergency situations, drills or when not abiding by the library’s conduct policy,
28. Willfully expose patrons and/or staff to offensive images or language,
29. Engage in lengthy conversations in areas intended for quiet study,
30. Interfere with the library’s rights to maintain a clean, pleasant and safe facility,
31. Failure to adhere to copyright laws,
32. Opening emergency exits except in emergency situations,
33. Parking vehicles in unauthorized areas outside or inside the library,
34. Vandalizing or defacing the library building, furniture and equipment,
35. Maliciously accessing, altering, deleting, damaging or destroying any computer systems network programs or data belonging to the library or individuals,
36. Leaving children unsupervised (see Unattended Child Policy),
37. Engage in any form of sexual misconduct, including exposure, offensive touching or sexual harassment of other patrons or staff.

Enforcement of Rules
Enforcement of these rules for persons age nine and over may take the form of any of the following actions, depending on the severity of the misconduct which will be determined by the staff on duty at the time.

In the case of a minor disruption the patron receives one warning. At the third offense, the patron must leave the library for the rest of the day.

In the case of any misconduct that, in the judgment of a staff member, is extreme, the offender may receive only one warning, ordered to leave the building immediately, or the police may be called as appropriate. Whenever possible, two staff members, including the librarian in charge, should agree that conduct merits the drastic action of expulsion or police notification without warning.

Exceptions to the above may be authorized by the Library Director and/or his/her designee. Patrons causing disruption on repeated visits will be warned by the Director or designee that they will not be allowed to enter the building if the behavior continues. If a correction is not made, they will be barred from the library for one month. If, when their library privileges are reinstated, the disturbance continues, they will be barred from the library for one year and could be charged with trespassing.

For persons under age nine, a staff member will issue two warnings to the child and then inform parent/caretaker that the child is behaving in a disruptive manner. If the parent/caretaker refuses or is unable to control the child, they will be asked to leave with the child. If not in the building, the child’s parent/caretaker will be located and notified. The library’s Unattended Child Policy will be explained if pertinent. If the parent/caretaker has not been located within an hour, is uncooperative, or if the library is closing, the police will be called to assume responsibility for the child. Children are covered and may be banned from the library.

Approved Urbandale Public Library Board of Trustees 4/2003