The Board of Library Trustees of the Garden City Public Library has the responsibility to provide a pleasant, orderly facility conducive to use of the Library and its grounds, materials and services. Use of the Library and its grounds is limited to those groups and individuals actually using Library materials and services. Persons not engaged in reading, studying, or using Library materials may be required to leave the building.
The administration has the responsibility for maintaining order in the Library and on its grounds to assure a pleasant experience for all users. To meet this responsibility, the staff may need to intervene in situations at the Library that 1) present danger to the safety of persons or property; 2) interfere with the rights of others; 3) constitute disturbing or inappropriate uses of the Library, or 4) involve the commission of illegal acts.
These rules have been adopted for the comfort and protection of all those using the Library and its grounds, and Library materials and services. They will be courteously, but firmly, enforced by Library staff. We ask your cooperation in maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, conducive to the effective use of the Library, its grounds and Library materials and services. If a patron is confronted with the violation of any of these rules, he/she should immediately inform a staff member. Expulsion from the Library and/or loss of Library privileges may result from violations.
The following rules shall apply:
- Disruptive behavior will not be permitted in the Library, or on its grounds. This includes disorderly conduct, whether intentional or inadvertent, that interferes with the use of the Library by patrons, or interferes with Library staff’s performances of their duties, physical abuse or threatening language and misuse of Library furnishings. Prohibited disruptive behavior also includes staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, following another person about the building with the intent to annoy that person, playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, singing or talking to others or in monologues, or by behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb other persons.
- Soliciting is prohibited in the Library, or on its grounds.
- Persons committing theft, vandalism or other illegal acts in the Library, or on its grounds will be also subject to prosecution.
- Guide dogs are the only animals permitted in the building.
- Smoking is prohibited anywhere in the Library building, including the lobby, meeting rooms and bathrooms.
- Eating and drinking are not permitted in any public areas of the building except in the Café, and at duly approved meetings or Library programs when so requested by the sponsor.
- Appropriate attire must be worn at all times in the building.
- Patrons whose bodily hygiene is offensive as to constitute a nuisance to other patrons may be required to leave the building.
This Code of Conduct may be amended from time to time as deemed fit by the Board of Library Trustees.