The Watertown Public Library serves people of all ages, providing many community services and programs. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that everyone is able to experience the library environment safely and productively. No person shall engage in unacceptable conduct when using the library facility or participating in library programs.

Unacceptable conduct shall include:

* Any individual or group activity which is disruptive to other persons using library facilities
* Any individual or group activity that is inconsistent with activities such as reading, studying and other similar conduct normally associated with a public library
* Any individual or group activity which violates any federal law, state law or municipal ordinance
* Any individual or group activity which is determined by a library employee to be unsafe

Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to the following:

* Excessive and disruptive conversations / discussions in the library building
* Eating or drinking in any area of the library building, except in the meeting rooms with permission
* Obstructing other’s work by overuse of computer workstations
* Selling or soliciting in the library building
* Smoking or use of tobacco products in the library building
* Bringing any animal into the library building, except working animals which assist the disabled

1. First infraction will result in a warning that loss of library privileges may result.

2. Second infraction will result in loss of library privileges for a length of time to be determined by a library employee.

Serious offenses include, but are not limited to:

* Stealing, damaging or vandalizing library property, including removing protective covers or barcodes from books, magazines and other media with the intent to steal library property
* Exhibiting abusive, obscene, or profane conversation and/or behavior toward library staff or patrons, or being in a general intoxicated state
* Committing any crime or violation of a municipal ordinance on the premises of the library
* Engaging in behavior that is harassing or threatening in nature to library staff or patrons
* Knowingly entering non-public areas of library facilities without permission
* Leaving children unattended for extended periods of time or after library hours

Any patron who commits a serious offense will be immediately reported to the Watertown Police Department for removal from the building. The patron will lose library privileges for an extended length of time, possibly permanently. The director will determine the length of time privileges will be suspended depending on the nature of the offense, the extent of damage or disruption caused, any history of prior infractions of library policies and other relevant circumstances.

Library privileges shall include, but are not limited to the following:

* Access to the library building and the public collection housed therein
* Borrowing materials from the library as per the circulation policy
* Use of the Internet as per the Internet policy
* Use of the typewriter and word processing computers
* Use of the microfilm reader and reader/printer
* Access to materials from the Watertown History Case
* Obtaining help from the staff
* Reserving and using library meeting rooms as per the meeting room policy
* Attending library story hours and other library programs

February 3, 2003