(516) 742-8405

Unattended Children

Adults must supervise all children under the age of 10 in the Library.

Adults must remain in the building during children’s programs and meet the children upon completion of the program.

At closing, or at the discretion of the Children’s Librarian, unattended children under the age of 10, or older if the situation warrants, will have their parents/guardians contacted for immediate pickup.

If no parent/guardian can be located, or if a pickup cannot be arranged quickly, the unattended child will be referred to the Garden City Police Department.

Use of Meeting Rooms, Exhibits and Display Space

The Garden City Public Library maintains meeting rooms to bring together the resources of the Library and the interests and activities of the residents of the Incorporated Village of Garden City. While the meeting rooms are primarily for programs sponsored or co-sponsored by the Library, they may, when not in use by the Library, be made available for meetings and programs by other nonprofit Garden City organizations* for such purposes as: giving instruction in any recognized branch of learning, education or the arts; holding social, civic and recreational meetings and entertainment, and other uses pertaining to the welfare of the Garden City community.

*A Garden City organization is defined as one where the majority of the membership is composed of residents of the Incorporated Village of Garden City, or composed of a majority of merchants having businesses located within the Incorporated Village of Garden City.

  1. REGULATIONS
    1. Library sponsored or co-sponsored programs and activities shall have priority.
      2.  
    2. All organizations shall be restricted to one meeting a month.
      3.  
    3. The Board of Library Trustees reserves the right to review all applications.
      4.    
    4. Admission fees may not be charged, nor donations accepted except with the written authorization of the Board of Library Trustees.
      5.  
    5. No articles may be sold except for the benefit of the Library.
      6.  
    6. Raffles, lotteries, games of chance or any form of gambling in which a fee is charged is prohibited in the Library or on its grounds.
      7.  
    7. Meetings conducted by organizations subject to the New York State Open Meetings Law must have their Public Sessions open to all who wish to attend. Attendance by the general public at meetings of organizations not subject to the Open Meetings Law is at the discretion of the organization conducting the meeting.
      8.  
    8. Meeting rooms are not available for any meeting solely commercial in nature, or at which goods or services are advertised.
      9.  
    9. Meeting rooms are not available to individuals for personal use.
      10.  
    10. Exhibits, decorations, or signs may be permitted only with the advance approval of the Library Director.
      11.  
    11. Neither the name nor address of the Garden City Public Library may be used as the official address or headquarters of any organization, nor may it be used for purposes other than to identify the location of the program. Any unwarranted implication that a program is sponsored by the Garden City Public Library will constitute sufficient grounds for immediate cancellation of an organization’s meeting room use privilege.
      12.  
    12. The Board of Library Trustees, or its representatives, shall have free access to the meeting rooms at all times.
      13.  
    13. Fire Department Regulations limit the number of chairs that may be provided in Meeting Room A (small room) to 35; in Meeting Room B (large room) to 96.
    2.  
  2. RESERVATIONS AND AVAILABILITY
    1. A request to use a meeting room may be made by application form provided by the Library. Requests will be reviewed within 5 business days. If a reservation must be cancelled, the Library should be informed immediately in order to make the room available to other groups.
      2.  
    2. Requests for use of a meeting room are reviewed in the order received. Authorization to use a meeting room may be revoked at any time when such use is in conflict with the best interests of the Library, when there are infractions of regulations or loud or boisterous behavior.
      3.  
    3. Permission to use a meeting room will be granted to adults only. When a meeting room is to be used by individuals under 18 years of age, adequate adult supervision must be provided throughout the meeting.
      4.  
    4. Requests may not be made on a permanent basis. Groups may request a room for once a month for one year in advance. Reservations are based on the fiscal year, June 1 through May 31.
      5.  
    5. The meeting rooms are available 30 minutes after Library opens and until 15 minutes before Library closes.
      6.  
    6. The meeting rooms are not available on the following days: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and any other day the Library is closed.
      7.  
    7. Applications for use of the Café area for exhibit receptions must be submitted and approved at least one month in advance. There is a $25.00 charge for use of the Café area. The Café area is not available until the time specified, and is to be vacated at the time specified, on the application form. The Café area is not available for use by outside nonprofit organizations.
    3.  
  3. MEETING ROOM FEES AND SERVICES
    1. There is a fee of $20.00 for the use of Meeting Room A (small room) and $30.00 for the use of Meeting Room B (large room). The room use fee will be charged for failure to provide at least 48-hour notice of cancellation.
    2. As of September 1, 2014, if a nonprofit Garden City organization has not booked a meeting room at least two months in advance of a request date, it will be open to outside nonprofit organizations at a rate of $50.00 per hour for the large meeting room and $30.00 per hour for the small meeting room. All groups must provide proof of insurance. The Library Board has the right to waive proof of insurance.
    3. Payment is due upon receipt of invoice.  Failure to remit payment will result in forfeiture of future Meeting Room reservations. 
    4. Any displays or special arrangements beyond the services normally provided by the Library must be undertaken by the organization. Library staff cannot cart or move materials used by organizations attendant to their meetings. Organizations must adhere to the placement of tables, chairs, etc., as outlined by Library staff.
      5.  
    5. Any requests for special set-ups, beyond the standard room set-up, may incur an additional fee.
     
  4. SERVING REFRESHMENTS
    1. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the premises.
      2.  
    2. The Library will furnish a coffee urn upon request.
      3.  
    3. All food must be removed from the premises and the kitchen left in a clean and orderly condition.
      4.  
    4. An appropriate additional fee will be charged for cleanup if necessary.
    5.  
  5. SMOKING
    Smoking is prohibited on Library grounds, including meeting rooms and entrance lobby.


  6. TIPPING
    Tipping of Library employees is prohibited.


  7. LIABILITY
    1. Groups or individuals using the meeting rooms are financially responsible for any damage to the Library, its equipment and furnishings.
      2.  
    2. The Library assumes no responsibility for any equipment, supplies, or materials, which an organization may have on the premises.
      3.  
    3. The Library assumes no responsibility for personal injury received, or for personal property left on the premises.
      4.  
    4. The Library assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property owned by exhibitors.
    8.  
  8. AMENDMENT OF RULES
    The Board of Library Trustees reserves the right to review and amend these regulations, as it may deem expedient.

SUMMARY OF FEES

Room Maximum Capacity Maximum Seating Nonprofit G.C. Organization Fee Outside Nonprofit Organization Fee
Meeting Room A (small room) 72 35 $20.00 $30.00 per hour
Meeting Room B (large room) 225 96 $30.00 $50.00 per hour
Café Area Reception     $25.00 Not Available
Use of Kitchen Facilities $15.00 $20.00

Acceptable Patron Behavior – Code of Conduct

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Soliciting is prohibited in the Library, or on its grounds.
  3. Persons committing theft, vandalism or other illegal acts in the Library, or on its grounds will be also subject to prosecution.
  4. Guide dogs are the only animals permitted in the building.
  5. Smoking is prohibited anywhere in the Library building, including the lobby, meeting rooms and bathrooms.
  6. 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.
  7. Appropriate attire must be worn at all times in the building.
  8. 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.