The Westport Library Board of Trustees has adopted the following Code of Conduct to ensure that all Library patrons may enjoy the Library facilities and services in a safe and secure environment. If a patron engages in any of the behaviors prohibited below and refuses to stop doing so once warned, the patron will be asked to leave the Library. Repeated failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may lead to a ban from the Library or prosecution. Persons refusing to leave the Library facilities after being evicted, or entering the Library after being banned, may be the subject of a police complaint and charged with trespassing. This Code of Conduct will be enforced without discrimination and applies equally to all patrons, including children.
Library
patrons will treat the Library staff and other patrons with respect
at all times.
Library
patrons will not engage in any activities that violate this general
rule, including, but not limited to:
-
Threatening
or engaging in physical harm to others;
-
Verbally
harassing others;
-
Using
obscene or abusive language or
gestures;
-
Damaging,
destroying, defacing, stealing or improperly using any materials,
equipment, furniture or other property belonging to the Library or
to Library patrons or staff;
-
Carrying
a weapon without a permit;
-
Smoking
anything, including e-cigarettes, or using matches or lighters,
within the Library or within 12 feet of the Library
entrances;
-
Consuming
alcohol outside of a permitted event or displaying signs of
intoxication;
-
Using
controlled substances of any kind, or abusing otherwise permissible
drugs;
-
Bringing
non-service animals into the Library facilities;
-
Speaking
loudly, whether it be to another person in the Library or on a cell
phone;
-
Creating
noise disturbances in other ways, such as from food packaging or
electronic devices (i.e., rings, alerts, music, etc.);
-
Causing
strong aromas, such as those resulting from hot meals or not using
proper hygiene;
-
Consuming
food and beverages in the Roz and Bud Siegel Family
Children’s Library, Maker Space, and Media Studios;
-
Disposing
of trash inappropriately;
-
Habitually
sleeping;
-
Resting
feet on the furniture, or damaging it in any other way;
-
Not
wearing shirts or other tops and shoes, which must be worn at all
times while in the Library.
-
Soliciting
of any kind, including, selling services or goods, recruiting staff,
surveying public opinion, and requesting donations;
-
Taking
photos, video recordings or audio recordings without the permission
of the subject;
-
Asking
staff to monitor personal belongings or other persons in your care;
-
Participating
in lewd or sexual activity;
-
Leaving
children under the age of 12 unattended by a parent, guardian or
responsible caregiver;
-
Viewing
or reproducing pornography in any medium; or
-
Failing
to follow additional Library policies as appropriate, such as the
Unattended
Child Policy,
the Media
Studio Policy,
the Meeting
Room Policy,
and the Event
Space Policy.
