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LIBRARY STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

The Provo City Library is supported by the taxes of Provo residents who expect our facility to be clean, comfortable, and safe. To this end, the Library is responsible for establishing standards of conduct to protect the rights and safety of library patrons, volunteers and staff, and for preserving and protecting the Library’s materials, equipment, facilities, and grounds.

Library staff are authorized to enforce these Standards of Conduct on library property. People who willfully violate these rules are subject to exclusion from the Library; egregious and/or repeated violations may result in immediate exclusion or a longer exclusion than indicated in these guidelines. Repeat offenders need not violate the same rule to be subject to stricter enforcement and may not be warned that their behavior is inappropriate before being excluded.

Classes of Violations – Violations have been grouped by their severity into four (4) classes. Classes are indicated with a roman numeral.

  • Class I – Any person who violates a Class I rule while on Library premises may be immediately ejected and excluded from the Provo City Library without first being given a warning.  The offender may be excluded from the premises and lose all Library privileges for a period of up to three (3) years. When appropriate, the incident will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
  • Class II – Any person who violates a Class II rule while on Library premises may be asked to leave for the day. Subsequent offenses may result in that person’s immediate ejection and exclusion from the Provo City Library for a period up to one (1) year.
  • Class III – Any person who violates a Class III rule while on Library premises may be asked to leave for the day. Subsequent offenses may result in the person’s immediate ejection and exclusion from the Provo City Library premises for a period of up to six (6) months.
  • Class IV – Any person who violates a Class IV rule while on Library premises may be asked to leave the property until the problem is corrected.

The following is a list of prohibited behaviors while on Library property:

Dangerous, Destructive, or Illegal Behaviors

  • Illegal Behavior (Class I) - Committing or attempting to commit any activity that violates any federal, state, or local criminal statute or ordinance.
  • Threatening or Harming Others (Class I) – Directing a specific threat of physical harm against an individual or group of individuals.
  • Lewd Behavior (Class I) - Engaging in sexual conduct or lewd behavior.
  • Pornography (Class II) – Viewing materials that violate the Library’s Internet and Online Access Policy (see complete policy). This may include, but is not limited to, displaying or disseminating visual images containing pornography, obscenity, graphic violence, or other images harmful to minors or inappropriate in a public setting.
  • Soliciting (Class II) – Soliciting, petitioning, or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable, monetary, or religious purposes inside the Library or on Library property.
    • Petitioning outside Library property must be done in accordance with the law (see Provo City Code Section 6.20.090).
    • This rule does not include rented use of Library meeting rooms. Organizations renting rooms must follow the Meeting Room Use Policy.

Misuse of Library Facility and Materials

  • Damage or Theft (Class I) – Stealing, damaging, defacing, or destroying Library property.
  • Improper Use (Class II) – Using Library materials, equipment, furniture, fixtures, or building in a manner inconsistent with customary use.
  • Restroom Use (Class II) – Improperly using or loitering in the Library restrooms.
    • Improper use includes but is not limited to being in a state of undress outside a bathroom stall, bathing, shaving, washing hair or clothing.
  • Materials in Restrooms (Class III) – Taking Library materials into restrooms.
  • Sleeping (Class III) – Sleeping, lying down, or placing head on table for prolonged periods of time.

Disruptive Behavior and Hygiene

  • Disobedience (Class II) – Disobeying the reasonable direction of a Library staff member.
  • Harassment (Class II) – Intentionally engaging in harassing or threatening behavior towards other patrons or Library employees for the purpose of annoying, intimidating, or causing fear to the recipient.
    • This includes aggressive and unwelcome conduct and/or unwelcome comments of a personal, romantic, or sexual nature and staring with the intent to intimidate or annoy.
  • Foul Language (Class II) – Using loud, abusive, threatening, or profane language.
  • Noise (Class III) – Creating unnecessary noise, including the use of cell phones, headphones, and other communication, audio, and electronic devices which disturbs other patrons or staff.
    • The speaker function of electronic devices should not be used in common areas of the Library.
  • Quiet Floor (Class III) – Using a cellphone to make or receive phone calls while on the 2nd Floor of the New Rogers Wing, which has been designated as a quiet area.
    • Calls can be taken anywhere else in the Library or within the study rooms.
    • Patrons must follow reasonable requests from librarians to eliminate excessive noise while in this quiet area.
  • Shirts/Shoes (Class IV) – Entering the Library with bare feet or a bare chest.  Patrons should wear shoes, clothing, including tops or shirts, at all times.
  • Body Odor (Class IV) – Having offensive body odor that can be detected by a reasonable person from six (6) feet away or personal hygiene that unreasonably interferes with another patron’s ability to use the Library.

Youth and Youth Areas

  • Unattended Children (Class III) – Leaving children unattended or unsupervised where the child may be in danger or when the child’s behavior is disruptive to other patrons. (See Unattended Children and/or Disruptive Behavior Policy)
  • Loitering (Class III) – Loitering in the Children’s department without reason to be present.

Personal Belongings

  • Unattended Belongings (Class II) – Leaving personal belongings unattended.
    • Library staff may inspect and/or remove personal items left unattended on Library property in order to preserve a safe environment.
  • Wheeled Devices (Class II) – Bringing bicycles, shopping carts, or other large wheeled conveyances inside the Library. 
    • Wheelchairs, strollers, and mobility devices are only permitted if being used to transport, as a mobility device, an adult or child.
    • Skates, skateboards, collapsible scooters, hoverboards, and other similar devices must be carried while on Library property.
    • Bicycles and electric scooters should be stored in designated racks outside the building.
  • Animals (Class II) – Bringing non-service animals into the Library buildings. No animal should ever be left unattended inside or outside the Library.
    • Any animal that is causing a disturbance or a mess inside the Library or on Library property may be asked to leave.
    • Animals are allowed when they are being used for Library programming.

Eating, Drinking, and Smoking

  • Alcohol or Controlled Substances (Class I) – Possessing, selling, distributing, consuming, or being under the influence of any controlled substance or alcohol.
  • Smoking (Class II) – Smoking or other tobacco use, including but not limited to, using electronic cigarettes or cigarette rolling.
    • In accordance with state law, smoking within twenty-five (25) feet of a building entrance is prohibited.
  • Food (Class II) – Consuming food or drink at public computers.
    • Away from computer areas, food and drink are allowed.  However, please remember to:
      • Keep the food to small snacks.  Messy, greasy, odorous and/or noisy foods are not allowed in the Library. Group and/or party foods (plates of food, pizza, cake, etc.) are inappropriate and not allowed.
      • Keep all drinks covered. Open containers are not allowed. All beverage containers must have a lid.
      • Dispose of everything properly. This includes all wrappers, crumbs, and containers.
      • Library staff reserve the right to ask anyone to remove inappropriate food and drink from the Library.
      • This rule does not include rented use of Library meeting rooms. Organizations renting rooms must follow the Meeting Room Use Policy.

Any suspension of Library privileges longer than one (1) week may be appealed to the Library Board. Provo City Code 2.26.120 allows the Library Board of Directors to “Make and adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with law, for the governing of the library” and to “exclude from the use of the library any and all persons who shall willfully violate such rules.”  (see also Utah Code 9-7-404)

Board of Directors
Provo City Library
Approved January 11, 2006
Revised & Approved March 8, 2017
Revised & Approved May 10, 2023