Code of Conduct

To allow all patrons of the Mahopac Public Library to use its facilities to the fullest extent during regularly scheduled hours, the Library Board of Trustees has adopted the following rules and regulations.

Any patron not abiding by these or other rules and regulations of the Library may be required to leave the Library premises and/or be denied the privilege of access to the Library’s materials and resources by the Library’s Director. Library employees may contact the police if deemed advisable.

A patron whose privileges have been denied may have the decision reviewed by the Board of Trustees. Any appeals on policy matters must be submitted to the Board of Trustees in writing. This includes any patron whose privileges have been denied. [See Procedures for Disruptive Youth and Procedures for Disruptive Adults.]

PATRONS SHALL:
• Engage in activities associated with the use of a public library.
• Respect the rights of other patrons.
• Obey the reasonable requests of Library staff.
• Check out any materials removed from the Library on a valid library card or through other standard library procedures such as interlibrary loan.
• Be responsible for any fines, fees or other charges due in accordance with the Library’s standard schedules.
• Wear attire appropriate to a public building, including shoes.
• Maintain a generally acceptable standard of personal hygiene. Unpleasant body odor, which may offend other Library patrons or staff, is considered unacceptable.

PATRONS SHALL NOT:
• Consume food or beverages except in designated areas.
• Smoke or use tobacco products.
• Use cell phones, except in designated areas.
• Possess or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, except that alcohol may be possessed at Library functions for which the serving of alcohol has been approved. [See Mahopac Public Library Policy on Alcohol Use.]
• Engage in any illegal activity while in the Library building.
• Possess firearms, other weapons, or explosives.
• Interfere with the use of the Library by other patrons, or interfere with Library employees’ performance of their duties.
• Harass or annoy others through noisy or boisterous activities, with offensive or abusive language, with lewd or indecent behavior, by fighting, provoking a fight or demonstrating threatening or intimidating behavior, by staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, by following another person about the building with the intent to annoy that person, by playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, by singing or talking loudly to others or in monologues, or by behaving in a manner which can be reasonably expected to disturb others in accordance with New York State Penal Law Section 240.20.
• Gamble, solicit funds, and/or distribute literature or promotional material. Sale or marketing of goods or services by individuals or groups is prohibited.
• Deface, mar, or destroy Library property including books, magazines, newspapers, recordings or other items in the Library collection, Library furnishings, walls, machines, etc.. Anyone who intentionally defaces or destroys library property may be subject to criminal and /or civil penalties under New York State law.
• Bring pets or animals into the Library other than guide dogs, or therapeutic animals licensed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, or as part of an approved Library program.

Policy Adopted: February 16, 2000
Revised: February 28, 2007; November 18, 2009; April 27, 2011

Click HERE to return to the Library Policies page.