Library Conduct Policy Adopted

The Library Board of Trustees held a special meeting last week to address the conduct and behavioral issues at the library, primarily with middle school students who congregate inside and on the porch after school.

The board approved a Conduct Policy and the Library Refusal of Service Policy, presented by Interim Library Directory Carol Lloyd. 

“These are the first two steps in working through this issue,” Lloyd said. “The county is also working with the city and the school district to come up with a way to deal with some of these issues. There are ideas being discussed, and we are in process.”

During public comment, Mattie Serna, a library patron, spoke about her most recent experience trying to access the library after school: “The parking situation is difficult and intimidating. I don’t love it.”

Trustee Sue Segura thanks Lloyd for her work, saying this step is long overdue. “I, too, pulled up to the library, and there were so many kids. They were sitting on the steps, and I’m not intimidated by kids, but finally, I told them to get apart and let me through.”

Board Chairman Jessica Rowe explained that the policy has become necessary. “We need this groundwork to support our staff and patrons in a sustainable and permanent way. Taking this step helps us with enforcement and assists with behavior.” 

There has been a push to solve the situation which has worsened over the past year before the new librarian takes over. Kathy Thorsen was offered the position of Library Director and will begin work on Oct. 14. She will replace C.L. Quillen, who was terminated earlier this year after a tumultuous one-year tenure. 

“We would like to support our incoming director and the people working in our library,” said Rowe.

The goal of establishing these policies, as Lloyd explained, “is to address behavior issues, not target any specific age, and to ensure that staff can perform the business of the library and patrons have the ability to come in and use it the way a library is supposed to be used.” 

She said the policy is basic and addresses obvious behaviors, which all come back to being able to “conduct business to benefit the community.” 

The Conduct Policy states: 

In order to provide a safe and appropriate environment that allows all users to use the library to the fullest extent, the following activities and behavior are prohibited on Library property:

 • Any illegal activity, including behavior which violates Federal, State, or local laws, codes, ordinances, and policies.

 • Disturbing the peace or quiet of any person by loud or unusual noises, or by tumultuous and offensive conduct, threatening, traducing, quarreling, challenging to fight, or fighting.

 • Using obscene language or actions directed at other members of the public or Library staff.

 • Assaulting, harassing, or annoying others in the library.

 • Removing materials from the library without checking out the material using a valid library card or through other standard library procedures.

 • Any activity or behavior that interferes with library staff’s ability to perform their job.

 • Smoking or vaping in the library or on library property other than in the designated smoking area.

 • Use or possession of illicit drugs.

 • Use or possession of alcohol unless previously approved by the library director. 

• Damaging, defacing, destroying, or marring library materials or property. 

• Riding skateboards, bicycles, scooters, or similar vehicles on library property.

 • Congregating on the library porch or property in a way that impedes public access to the building and/or parking lot or otherwise interferes with use of the library.

 • Refusing to follow directions from library staff or comply with library policies.

 • Interfering with the peaceful conduct of activities normally carried on in the library or on library property.

Violation of the rules and regulations set forth in this Conduct Policy may result in suspension of library privileges and services.

Civil Deputy District Attorney Jeff Weed clarified the process in the Refusal of Service Policy that establishes a timeline for an appeal, saying that if the board's decision is appealed, the county commission will ultimately make the final decision. 

Rowe said she wanted everyone to understand the process. “We let ourselves know what sorts of things we have at our disposal to be able to enact the things we need to.” 

The board modified the language of the Refusal policy to include age—“…without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, gender orientation, or disability, or age,” and required the appeal hearing to be held in a public meeting. 

Lloyd reiterated that all the library policies are on the website for the community to access at: ChurchillCountyLibrary.org.