Tiffin-Seneca Public Library has established this policy to facilitate the appropriate and equitable use of its facilities, resources, and services.
1. Prohibited Behaviors
- Refusing to comply with staff’s reasonable requests
- Being excessively noisy, disruptive, or disturbing other patrons
- Consuming alcohol, using tobacco, smoking, or vaping
- Being drunk, disorderly, or under the influence of illegal drugs
- Harassing patrons, volunteers, or staff
- Photographing or recording patrons without their consent
- Being violent; or speaking in a foul, abusive, or threatening manner
- Loitering, panhandling, or soliciting
- Bringing animals (other than service animals) into the building
- Misusing, moving, or overcrowding library furniture
- Eating within the library building
- Vandalism, theft, or any other illegal activity.
NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list. Staff have the authority to determine what constitutes disruptive behavior. Illegal activities will be reported to the police.
2. Patrons must wear a shirt and shoes at all times. Hygiene conditions that constitute a public health risk or nuisance are unacceptable and patrons may be asked to leave until such conditions are corrected.
3. Brief cell phone conversations are permitted provided they do not disturb others.
4. Patrons may not leave children under age eight (8) unattended in the library. Police may be notified of unattended children. Responsibility for all children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone and not with library staff.
5. The Library reserves the right to require anyone violating these rules to leave library property. Disruptive patrons age eight (8) or older may be asked to leave after receiving one warning. No warning is necessary in cases of extreme or egregious violations of this policy.
6. Failure to comply may result in the police being called. Serious or repeated misconduct may lead to revocation of library privileges for an extended time, legal action, and/or criminal prosecution.
7. Any Library patron who has been banned from using Library facilities may appeal his or her suspension of privileges by submitting a written petition to the director within thirty days of notification of the suspension.
- The petition should state why the person’s Library privileges should not be suspended.
- Upon receipt of such a petition, the director shall schedule a hearing before the Board of Trustees at which the suspended person shall appear.
- Information from incident reports by staff and statements of other witnesses, if any, will be taken into consideration. Failure to appear will be interpreted as a withdrawing of the appeal.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the decision to suspend Library privileges may be affirmed, modified, or cancelled.