Patron Policies

200.1 Behavior in the Library – Patron

All library users are expected to respect the rights of others as posted. Posted rules are as follows:

We appreciate your help in keeping this community space clean, safe and family friendly.

You can expect our staff to be helpful, courteous and knowledgeable.

We expect our patrons to respect each other, library staff, and property.

A wide variety of activities are encouraged in our building, including some activities that produce noise. Library users are welcome to converse, play and collaborate at a volume that is respectful to other library users.

Children under 12 are welcome with the supervision of a parent or guardian.

To ensure that all people who use and work at the Dormann Library can do so in a comfortable and safe environment, the Dormann Library reserves the right to determine what is considered to be disruptive or inappropriate behavior by the patrons in the library at the discretion of the director or assistant director when the director is not available. In order to ensure that every patron has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the library, patrons visiting or using the library’s facilities or services must comply with the Dormann Library Policy, Behavior in the Library – Patrons while on the library’s premises.

Interfering with other patrons’ use and enjoyment of the library or with the library personnel’s duties will result in a request to leave the library. If the patron continues to be a disruption, they may, at the director’s (or the director’s designee’s) discretion, be banned from the library. The length of time of the ban will be determined based upon the severity of the behavior. (Banning/Trespassing Notice: Appendix ).

Dangerous, destructive or illegal conduct, including but not limited to the following, will not be tolerated:

• Physical abuse or assault, including fighting or challenging others to fight;
• Engaging in intimidating or harassing behaviors, including following or stalking other patrons or library staff, staring fixedly or leering at others, or attempting to peer under another patron’s or staff member’s clothing;
• Making violent or threatening statements to others;
• Damaging, destroying, stealing, or otherwise vandalizing library property.

Any patron engaging in one or more of the above behaviors will be instructed to leave the library immediately and may have his or her library privileges suspended for a period of up to one (1) year depending on the severity of the violation. In addition, law enforcement may be called and appropriate legal action may follow.

The following behaviors are also prohibited:

• Using harassing, obscene, abusive, or insulting language or gestures;
• Leaving children under the age of twelve (12) unattended by a parent, guardian, or caregiver;
• Annoying other patrons by talking, gesturing, or otherwise interfering with their ability to read, study, contemplate, or use the library;
• Interfering with library staff’s performance of their duties;
• Entering the library with animals other than service animals authorized by law;
• Entering the library with bicycles, shopping carts, or other bulky items excluding items necessary to assist individuals with disabilities;
• Using roller skates, scooters, skateboards, or other similar devices inside the library;
• Using tobacco products anywhere on library property;
• Possessing, consuming, exchanging, selling, or being under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or illegal drugs inside or outside the library building;
• Lying on the floor or sleeping;
• Using the public restrooms in any manner that is not usual or customary, including laundering or bathing;
• Failing to wear appropriate clothing and shoes;
• Making loud or unreasonable noise, including but not limited to the use of electronic equipment or mobile telephones at a volume that disturbs others. Ringer volume should be set to silent or vibrate;
• Carrying weapons of any type;
• Petitioning, soliciting, or selling merchandise or services including distribution of handbills or flyers without the permission of the library director;
• Loitering outside the library;
• Adults loitering in the children’s area without a child;
• Refusal to follow reasonable direction from library staff, including but not limited to leaving the library during normal closing procedures or following a suspension of library privileges or refusing to evacuate during an emergency.

Engaging in any of the above behaviors may result in one or more of the following consequences, depending on the severity of the violation:

• Initial warning, given copy of Behavior in the Library – Patron
• Library privilege suspended for one day.
• Library privileges suspended for seven days.
• Library privileges suspended for up to one year.
• Library privileges suspended indefinitely, pending appeal to the Board of Trustees. Depending on the severity, suspension time may be determined at the discretion of the library director.

Patrons who are suspended from the library for a period exceeding one day may petition to have their suspension reviewed by the director.

200.1a Incident Report

The library director will keep a confidential file of information on incidents in which a form has been filed. The purpose of the file is to track any serious problems that are reported by the staff. Incident reports will be used to document instances of unacceptable behavior and to track problems of a reoccurring nature.

200.1b Grievances

Patron may file a written request to director,  Board of Trustees Dormann Library, 101 W. Morris St., Bath, NY 14810, to reconsider a ban. Their written request shall set forth their reasons for reconsideration of the ban. If the director upholds the ban, the patron may appeal to the Board of Trustees within 10 days after he/she receives the determination. Such notice shall be filed with: both the library director and the Library Board President, c/o Dormann Library; 101 W. Morris St., Bath, NY 14810. The Board shall hold a hearing within 30 days after the notice has been filed. The appellant shall be notified at least 10 days before the hearing.

At the hearing, the appellant may be represented by counsel, may present evidence, and may call and examine witnesses and cross-examine witnesses of the other party. The Board President shall preside and staff shall record all the proceedings on tape. Within 30 days of the completion of the hearing, the Board shall issue a written decision stating the reasons therefore. The Board shall have the power to affirm or reverse the written determination or to remand it to the director or designee with instructions for reconsideration. The decision, except for remand, shall be a final determination for the purposes of judicial review.

200.2 Circulation

Books and other library resources are provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. (From the Library Bill of Rights)

Books, magazines and audio CD’s may be borrowed for four weeks and renewed, if necessary. New books may be borrowed for two weeks. Videos may be borrowed for seven days, seven videos per card, and renewed, if necessary. Library staff reserves the right to revoke borrowing privileges. See also 200.3 overdue lost or damaged items will be assessed a replacement charge. If a patron has a bill of more than $20, borrowing privileges will be suspended.

200.3 Overdue (Notice to Patrons)

Patrons should make sure they know when their library materials are due and return them on time. They may place library materials besides DVDs (unless otherwise instructed) in the book drop after hours. If necessary, they may call the library (or use STARCAT) to renew library materials.

If a patron has five overdues or overdues of more than six weeks, borrowing privileges may be suspended. Lost or damaged items will be assessed a replacement charge. If a patron has a bill of more than $20, borrowing privileges will be suspended. Staff may suspend privileges if an inter-library loan (ILL) is overdue.

Overdue material: Patron will receive a telephone call or email for the 1st (2 weeks) and 2nd (4 weeks) notices. If after six weeks the item(s) are still not returned, they will receive a bill for the replacement cost. If they have more than five items overdue, they may lose all library privileges not only at the Dormann Library but any public library in the Southern Tier Library System.

The Dormann Library does not charge overdue fines.

200.4 Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Patrons must have a library card in good standing to borrow material from other libraries. When material arrives, patrons will be notified and all items should be picked up promptly. Material left more than seven days will be returned to the lending library.

Repeated overdue ILLs may result in revoked ILL privileges. While the Dormann Library does not charge fees for overdue materials from within our system, any fines or fees assessed by the lending library to the Dormann Library due to patron handling or mishandling an ILL may result in fees.

See also 200.3 – Overdue.

200.5 Patron Registration

Patrons must fill out the Southern Tier Library System Borrower Application (Appendix C) form to receive a library card. Children of any age may get a library card. A parent or guardian must fill out the registration form for children under the age of 16 and sign it to indicate that he/she will be responsible for all materials checked out on the child’s card. There is a $1.00 replacement fee for lost or damaged card.

200.6 Confidentiality of Records

All records are absolutely confidential. Staff will NOT give out a patron’s name, address, telephone number, or any other information found in the database or on the registration card. Staff will not reveal what a patron has on loan to anyone other than the patron. Staff will not give out information such as who has a library card, who has a particular book, who is on a hold list, who owes money, etc.