Library Rules of Conduct

1. Eating, drinking, sleeping, smokeless tobacco, or smoking anywhere in the library building is prohibited.

2. Appropriate attire must be worn, (i.e. shoes and shirts)

3. Screaming, loud talking, running, constant entering and exiting of building, fighting, table hopping and abusive or offensive language is not permitted.

4. Children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult or adolescent of at least 14 years of age.

5. The use of TV's, radios, tape or cd players without headphones are not allowed.

6.  Loitering in the library building, the lobby of the building or on the library premises is prohibited.

7. Only one person at a time is permitted to use the bathroom, except small children and handicapped  persons.

8. Theft and/or vandalism of library property will be prosecuted, as will any violation of federal, state or local ordinances on library property.

9. Guide dogs or animals used to assist the handicapped are allowed, all other animal pets are to remain outside the building.

10. Campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, soliciting or sales are prohibited.  Only non-profit, educational and cultural organizations are permitted to post bulletins and distribute material on library premises.

11. We reserve the right to inspect all bags and briefcases.

12. Operation of cellular phones is prohibited.

 Anyone known to have violated any one of the above rules may be excluded from the library and/or their library privileges revoked.

 Patrons wishing to appeal such action may do so by written request to the Library Director and/or the Library Board of Trustees.

Standards of Public Conduct and Use of Library Facilities

 The Board of Trustees of the Schiller Park Public Library has the authority to determine the rules and regulations for the government of the library as may be expedient, including but not limited to, rules of behavior necessary to protect the rights of individuals to use Library materials and services, to protect the rights of Library employees to conduct Library business with out interference and to preserve Library materials and facilities.  Illinois law authorizes the Board to "exclude from the use of the Library any person who willfully violates the rules prescribed by the Board".  Ill Rev. Stat. Ch 81 Sec. 4-7 (1991).

 The Board of Trustees believes that Library patrons have to right to use the Library material and services without being disturbed or impeded by other library users.  That Library patrons and employees have a right to an environment that is secure and comfortable, and that Library patrons and employees have a right to materials that are available and in good condition.  Any conduct that disturbs Library users or staff, or that hinders others from using the Library or Library materials is prohibited.

1.  Minor Disruptions:  The violating patron may receive up to 2 warnings, however, recipient of such warnings before further action is not required.  At the third, offense, the patron must leave the building for the rest of the day.

 Examples of a minor disruption include:

1. Eating, drinking or sleeping

2. Selling for profit, soliciting for political or charitable purposes, unless the charity is a direct benefit to the Library.

3. Distribution of leaflets in the Library building.

4. Operating wheeled vehicles or using any wheeled footwear inside the building i.e. bicycles, tricycles, roller blades, roller skates, skateboards, etc., except where such use is to afford a disabled person access to the Library.

2. Extreme Disturbances:  The offender either receives one warning or may be ordered to leave the building immediately.

            Examples of extreme disturbances include:

1. Harassing others, either verbally or through actions.

2. Fighting

3. Smoking and/or playing with incendiary devices.

4. Bringing any animals, except one assisting a disabled or visually impaired, into the building.

5. Entering without shoes and/or shirts.

6. Theft

7. Vandalism

8. Possession of an illicit substance.

9. Excessive noise

10. Possession of a weapon or harmful substance.

11. Hindering or bribing employees of the Library.

12. Disorderly conduct

13. Public indecency

14. Any other unlawful conduct

3.  Disturbing and Disruptive Situations:

   1. Request to stop:   The patron will be notified that his/her behavior is unacceptable and requested to stop immediately.

   2. Refusal to comply: 

      If, following such a request to stop, the patron refuses to comply or respond to the request in an abusive fashion, he/she will be required to leave the library premises provided that he/she is age 9 or older.  In the event the disruptive patron is age 8 or younger, the staff member will locate the responsible adult.  The entire family may be asked to leave the Library if the behavior is not corrected.  If the adult responsible for the child is not located, the librarian in charge will attempt by phone to contact the parent.  If the librarian cannot contact a parent or guardian, the local police department is to be contacted and the child is to be turned over to them.

 If a patron under the age of 14 years is required to leave and does not have transportation or money to use the pay phone, the librarian in charge should contact the Child's parent by phone.  If the librarian can not contact a parent/guardian, the local police department is to be contacted and the child turned over to them.

3. Dangerous, Deviate or Illegal Behavior:  When staff becomes aware of this kind of behavior they should immediately notify the librarian in charge and call the police.

4. Repeat Offenders:

Adult Offenders:  The Library Director may require a patron to surrender his/her library card for one month and/or be excluded from the library up to 1 year.

 Minor Offenders:  In the case of patrons aged 17 years and under, the library may inform the child's parent/guardinan of the child's behavior in a letter.  The minor children who continue to cause a disruption will not be permitted in the library unless a parent/guardian accompanies the child and supervises the child in the library building.  Should the behavior continue after the above action is taken, the minor's library privileges will be revoked for one month.  If the disruptive behavior continues, the second revocation will be for one year.

5.  Reporting:

The Library Director shall be advised of each infraction of a disruptive  behavior by both adult and minor patrons.  This will be done in writing by the librarian in charge on an incident report.  This report will be kept on file by name.  The report will reflect the number of dates and incidents the patron was disruptive and the action taken.

6. Appeal:

 Any patron may make their appeal in writing to the Library Director and/or Schiller Park Board of Trustees.  The matter will consider on the next available monthly board meeting held once each calendar month.

4. Library materials shall be properly checked before removal from the premises.  Patrons may be asked to open briefcases, bags, purses, back packs, etc., for inspection upon exiting the library building.

5. Children aged 8 years and under may not be left unattended in the library.  The library board stated that it is the parents' responsibility to provide child care, the library and its staff will not be used for this purpose.

1. Children age 8 and under:  Children age 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult/guardian or an adolescent of at least 14 years of age while using the library resources.  If the child is attending a library program the accompanying adult is to remain in the library until the program is finished.  If the child should become ill, injured, or disruptive this adult of the adolescent is to be contacted.

2. Children age 9 and up:  Children age 9 and up are allowed to use the facilities, unaccompanied by an adult, provided their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons or staff.

3. Continued failure to comply:  If the same child is left unattended repeatedly the librarian in charge will contact the parent.  If the situation recurs the police will be notified.

4.  After Library closing:   If unattended children age 13 and under are present in the library at closing time or at the time of an emergency closing, the librarian in charge shall attempt to contact a parent/gaurdian by phone to come pick up the child immediately.  If unsuccessful the librarian in charge will contact the local police department.  At least two staff members should wait with the child until the police have arrived to take custody of the child.

5. Staff reporting:  The librarian in charge shall report all action taken to the Library Director.

6.  Use of Library Facilities

1. Sleeping, smoking and tobacco chewing are prohibited in the library at all times.

2. Shoes and shirt are to be worn at all times.

3. Telephone:  Phone lines are installed for library business.  Public use of library telephones is prohibited, except in the case of an emergency.  Operation of cellular phones is prohibited.  Pay phone is available for patron use.

4. Loitering:  Loitering is prohibited in the library building, in the lobby of the building to on the library premises.

5. Food and beverages:  Food and beverages are prohibited in the library except as specified below.

1.  Public areas:  Foods and/or beverages of any kind are prohibited in the public areas of the library.

2. Meeting room:  Foods and/or beverages may be allowed in the meeting room as part of a meeting or program if approved by the library director.

3. Staff areas:  Foods and/or beverages are allowed in the non-public areas for use by library personnel.

6. Bathrooms:  No more than one person at a time is permitted in the bathrooms except  small children and handicapped persons.

7. Controlled substances:  Illicit possession, distribution or use of controlled drugs or substances is prohibited in the library at all times.

8. Possession of dangerous weapons:  Possession, distribution or use of explosives, firearms, or other dangerous weapons or instruments is prohibited in the library at all times.

9. Theft:   Anyone found committing a theft and/or vandalism will be prosecuted.

7.  Animals:   Animals are prohibited in the library at all times except for the below reasons.

1. Animals that are part if a library sponsored program are exempt from this prohibition.

2. Registered assisted animals are exempt from this prohibition.  Proof of registration of an animal may be requested.

8.  Fundraising:  Solicitation within the library is not permitted.

1.  Receptacles:  No organization or individual shall be permitted to place in the library any receptacles which solicit donations.

2. Tickets:  No organization or individual shall be permitted to sell tickets of any kind, or ask library personnel to sell tickets of any kind within the library.

3. Direct contact:  No organization, business, or individual shall be permitted to solicit purchase, signatures or to solicit donations or information directly (person to person) from patrons staff within the library.

4. Exceptions:  Fundraising within the library is permitted for:

1. A library sponsored sale or solicitation.

2. A sale or solicitation which has been approved by the Library Board.