Approved 16 July 2015
Library Patron Responsibilities
Lapeer District Library and its branches support the right of all individuals to use the library safely and
without discrimination. In order to properly maintain a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for our
patrons and staff, the Lapeer District Library Board has adopted the following rules and responsibilities:

Obey all laws, library policies, and local ordinances. Stealing, defacing, or damaging library
equipment, materials, or facilities is not allowed.

Respect other customers and employees. Do not annoy or harass other persons, engage in loud
or disruptive conduct, or cause a public disturbance.

Eating is not allowed in the library building (except for the meeting room) though beverages in
covered containers are permitted throughout the building.

Solicitation and loitering are not allowed.

For your children’s safety, do not leave them unattended. Children under the age of ten may
not be in the library without a custodian aged 16 and over.

To protect your personal belongings, do not leave them unattended.

Shirt and shoes are required.

The library is a smoke-free building. E-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco are included in
this prohibition.

No pets allowed in the library.
*Service animals are permitted
PENALTY: Persons not following these rules may be asked to leave the library building and grounds.
Repeated violation may result in a temporary or permanent revocation of library privileges.
Policy for Excluding Patrons from Library Premises
According to the Lapeer District Library’s Patron Code of Conduct, persons who violate the rules will be
asked to cease by library personnel. If negative behavior persists, the violator will be asked to leave the
premises. The first occurrence requiring staff to order a person to leave results in the person being
excluded from library premises for one month; the second occurrence earns loss of library privileges for
two months; the third occurrence merits six months; any future occurrence earns twelve months.
If a person behaves in such a manner that violates the Patron Code of Conduct and constitutes a threat
to other library patrons or library staff, then the library may ban a patron from library premises by
following the procedures outlined below:
1.
Library staff members have the authority to ban from the library premises for predetermined
time periods patrons whose inappropriate behavior has been documented. Staff will refer to and follow
the procedures for applying any level of exclusion from the library. This procedure details the process
for banning an offending patron for periods less than one year.
2.
In the event that a patron’s behavior constitutes an imminent serious threat to Library property,
other library patrons or staff, Library personnel may call the police for assistance. In the presence of an
officer of the law, staff will inform the patron that he/she is banned from the library for twelve months
and is not to return.
3.
A physical attack on library staff or other patrons results in a permanent banning of the attacker
and formal charges will be filed with local law enforcement.
4.
If an individual who has been excluded attempts to return to the library premises, such an act
will be considered trespassing and the police will be called to remove the person from the library
premises. Charges may be filed.
5.
Staff will notify the Assistant Director for Technical Services and the Library Director
immediately or as soon as feasible (not to exceed 24 hours) of the incident and the action taken.
6.
The Library Director has the authority to ban from the library premises for a period of twelve
months any individual whose behavior is a sufficient threat to the ability of the library to operate in a
safe manner or whose behavior prevents staff and/or patrons from using the library services, furniture,
facilities and materials for their intended purposes. If the patron facing exclusion is under the age of
sixteen (16), then banning will occur with a written notification to the individual’s parent(s) or guardian.
7.
Banning or exclusion from library premises denies the patron access to the building, grounds
and services of any library branch within the Lapeer District Library system, including telephone
reference. Patrons may remotely access the library’s webpage and any databases available through the
site, however new passwords or PINs will not be issued during the period of exclusion.
8.
If an individual has been banned and wishes to appeal this decision, notification must be made
in writing to the Library Director within ten (10) days from the date of the exclusion. The appeal will be
heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees will decide by a
majority vote to uphold the exclusion if the behavior is a sufficient threat to the ability of the library to
operate in a safe manner or if the behavior prevents staff and patrons from using the library services,
furniture, facilities and materials for their intended use. The ban will be in effect until this vote is taken.
Trustees will instruct the Library Director to contact the person making such an appeal by letter and
inform him/her of the decision of the Board.
9.
It is the sole responsibility of the individual banned for twelve months to apply, in writing, for
reinstatement of library privileges. The individual must notify the Library Director that he/she plans to
attend the regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees to request reinstatement of his/her library
privileges. Trustees will decide by a majority vote to lift or extend the ban.
10.
Following the reinstatement of library privileges by the Library Board of Trustees of a patron
whose privileges had been revoked under this policy, it is understood that even one new violation of the
Library Rules of Conduct may result in the individual being banned permanently from all locations of the
Lapeer District Library.