Seattle Public Library proposes changing “rules of conduct”

With four Seattle Public Library branches in West Seattle, it’s likely a lot of people will want to know about this – so we’re sharing the announcement just in from SPL re: proposed “rules of conduct” changes (with a public hearing set for next week). If you remember a WSB Forums thread about someone who said they got in trouble for taking off their shoes in a local library, one of the rule changes will be of note:

LIBRARY PROPOSES CHANGES TO RULES OF CONDUCT

The Seattle Public Library regularly reviews its Rules of Conduct to ensure they reflect the Library’s needs for effectively managing behavior in its facilities to ensure they are safe, welcoming and clean for all customers and staff.

Changes being proposed include:

· Organizing the list of rules into categories of severity, from behavior that results in a first-time warning (sleeping, being barefoot, unattended items, etc.) to those that result in a one-year exclusion (alleged criminal behavior).

· Clarifying the rule against distributing literature, gathering signatures, soliciting contribution or conducting surveys without Library authorization to specifically include plazas outside library entrances.

· Clarifying the size restrictions for items brought into the library to prohibit bringing in items that occupy floor space in excess of 14”W x17” H x 20.” Items are measured in totality. Personal items (purses, laptops, briefcases) are excluded. This change supports the Library’s ability to manage crowded spaces and safely evacuate buildings.

· Clarifying the rule related to wheeled devices to allow wheeled luggage that conforms to the size rule for items brought into the Library.

· Clarifying the rule that prohibits entering or being in the Library barefoot, or without a shirt to specify, “or removing one’s footwear or shirt while in the Library.”

· Clarifying the rule related to sleeping in the library to prohibit “appearing to be sleeping.” Initial contact for this rule would be educational.

· Clarifying the rule related to failure to comply with a reasonable staff request with the following wording: Failing to comply with a reasonable staff request to cease behavior that interferes with the effective functioning of the Library.

· Adding a rule prohibiting verbally intimidating staff, volunteers or other patrons.

· Extending the maximum exclusion period from one year to two years. The maximum length of exclusion for a single incident will remain one year; this change allows the Library to issue a consecutive exclusion to patrons who do not comply during an existing exclusion period.

The Library Board will be considering these proposed policy changes to the Rules of Conduct at its 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 4. The public is welcome to provide comments at the meeting. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to Marilynne.gardner@spl.org until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 26. For more information, visit the Library Web site at www.spl.org and select “About the Library,” which includes a section on Library policies, or call Marilynne Gardner, chief financial and administrative officer, at 206-233-5109.

zero-to-life in West Seattle May 21, 2009 (3:10 pm)

But it’s so hard to fall asleep with my shoes on! ; )

darex May 22, 2009 (7:26 am)

If patrons being barefooted is such a pressing issue for them, then they’re pathetic. I should hope that they have more important problems to fixate upon.

No doubt library patronage is down these days. Harassing patrons on the matter of how they choose to dress in a PUBLIC institution is surely not the way to increase use of this PUBLIC resource.

Glad I don’t live in Seattle!

cakeitseasy May 22, 2009 (8:43 am)

Convoluted addendum to the rules is just a way to legally banish homeless from the library. (Duh). And yet they do nothing to stop the rising tide of inappropriate behavior from ‘regular’ patrons. Sit me next to a quiet, sleeping, shoeless hobo any day rather than a cell phone chatting, conversation gabbing, loudmouth who uses the library as a community center/lunch room/hangout lounge rather than a quiet place for study and reading.

Patrons who reek however, should be banished.

marty May 22, 2009 (9:21 am)

Seems to me that libraries must be headed the way of the dinosaur. The library was a useful and necessary place when I was in school, but now it is easier/faster to get information from the internet. I’m sure encyclopedia salesman are long-gone too!

rarelycomment May 22, 2009 (12:16 pm)

Library usage is WAY up, in Seattle and nationwide:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008630228_libraries15.html

It took me about 8 seconds to find this info. People can inform themselves before opining on a blog. They could even use the free Internet/WiFi in the public libraries to do so.

WSB May 22, 2009 (12:26 pm)

That free service, very popular around here indeed, is something we often point to as a vital bridge in the “digital divide” that causes concern as the news industry transitions away from paper and ink. Our logs show more than a few WSBers accessing from the library system! – TR

marty May 22, 2009 (7:21 pm)

RarelyComment: Look at what they are using. Audio books/tapes, CD’s, and DVD’s can all be downloaded to a home computer. What we really need are computer labs for those who cannot afford a computer. The library system is WAY behind on current ways to share electronic data/information. one audio book at a library can be checked out to one person. One audio book in a database can be checked out to thousands. Let’s spend less on brick and mortar libraries and more on current computing abilities. Time to get out of the dark ages.

JB May 23, 2009 (7:06 am)

These aren’t the only rule changes that are being proposed. Rules relating to checkout policies are also going before the board, including:

– limiting the number of items you can have checked out to 50 (down from 100)
– limiting the number of items you can have on hold to 25 (down from 100)
– charging $5 for interlibrary loan requests
– charging overdue fines for children’s materials

Don’t like these changes? Go to the board meeting and let them know!
The meeting is Wednesday, May 27, at 4:30 p.m. on Level 4 of the Central Library.

datamuse May 27, 2009 (9:25 am)

Marty, are you volunteering to teach all those people how to use those computers? Because, as a librarian, that’s what I spend a lot of my time doing. My library looks a lot like a computer lab these days, come to think of it.
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One audio book in a database can be checked out to thousands.
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Why yes, yes it can.
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Are you even aware of how much is available in SPL’s digital collection? Neither am I, because I don’t work there, but at my library, 90% of our periodical offerings are digital, and we’re not unusual.
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Strangely enough, though, our book checkouts are up, too. Guess print’s not quite dead yet.

Sorry, comment time is over.