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Behavior in the Public Sectors of the Ann Arbor District Library
According to Michigan Statutes, the Library Board may exclude from the use of the Library any and all persons who shall willfully violate such reasonable rules and regulations as the Library Board may adopt (MCL 397.206). Such exclusion from this Library shall occur on the orders of the Director or Director's designee. In this document, “withholding of Library privileges” is defined as meaning that an individual may not enter or use the Library.
Behavior prohibited by Ann Arbor City Charter and Ordinances, as well as Federal or State Law, is also prohibited on the premises of the Ann Arbor District Library.
The Ann Arbor District Library reserves the right to establish and implement policies and procedures as needed, including, but not limited to: user registration; scheduling and regulating use of audio, video, and computer equipment; scheduling and collecting fees for public use of meeting rooms; regulating usage of any Library property and materials, including without limitation, specialized equipment and/or services provided by the Library and made available to the public. Such policies and procedures are intended to make Library property and/or services available to everyone on an equitable basis, to protect the rights of staff members to conduct Library business, and to safeguard the Library's property against misuse or abuse.
The Ann Arbor District Library Board hereby adopts the Rules of Behavior attached to this declaration of policy, and directs the Library Director to institute the necessary proceedings of enforcement. The Library Director is further authorized to propose additional Rules of Behavior to the Board as the need may arise.
In addition, the Ann Arbor District Library:
1. Prohibits the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages on Library property.
2. Prohibits smoking on Library property, or in any other designated NO SMOKING area.
3. Bans all weapons from Library premises, except for concealed weapons that are exempt from licensure under Michigan law or lawfully licensed and carried in compliance with Act 372 of 1927, as amended.
PERSONS WHO VIOLATE THE ABOVE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO THE WITHHOLDING OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES AS FOLLOWS:
4. Requires patrons to wear shirts and shoes, or other footwear, at all times in the Library for hygiene and safety purposes.
5. Prohibits the disturbance of other Library patrons and staff, or interfere with other Library patrons or staff's use of the facilities through extremely poor personal hygiene.
6. Prohibits foods in the Library except in designated areas. Beverages in covered containers are permissible.
7. Prohibits sleeping on Library property.
8. Prohibits the use of roller skates, roller blades, or skateboards on Library property.
9. Prohibits patrons from bringing bicycles into the Library buildings, securing bicycles to the handicapped ramp railing at any entrance or exit, or parking bicycles in such a manner that they obstruct patrons entering or exiting the Library.
10. Prohibits all campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, survey-taking, soliciting, sales, or other speech or conduct, which results in the disruption of normal Library activities.
11. Prohibits board games, gambling, card playing, or other games of chance or skill on Library property, except patrons may play board games when such games are provided by the Library as part of an organized activity.
12. Bans conversation and other sounds in louder volume than the general noise level of the area.
13. Bans animals from the Library and entrance/exit areas except those used to assist the handicapped.
14. Prohibits loitering in areas posted as “No Loitering.”
PERSONS WHO VIOLATE THE ABOVE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO THE WITHHOLDING OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES AS FOLLOWS:
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any person may, without prior notice or warning, be immediately removed from the Ann Arbor District Library if his or her presence or conduct on the premises poses an immediate and imminent danger to any person or property.
Persons whose library privileges are withheld for more than 30 days pursuant to the above rules may appeal to the library Board of Trustees by appearing in person during the Citizens' Comments portion of the agenda at a special or regularly-scheduled Board meeting. This appearance must be within sixty days after the Library’s mailing of notice of withholding of privileges. Such persons' suspension from library premises shall be rescinded for the limited purpose of attending any Board meeting necessary to hear their appeal. To ensure such persons sufficient time to address the Board, time limits placed on Citizens' Comments shall be extended at the discretion of the Board. The Board shall hear the appeal, and respond in writing within 10 days.
Policy adopted by the Ann Arbor District Library Board December 12, 1995. Revisions adopted August 1997; December 1998; October 21, 2003; September 20, 2004; January 28, 2008