The Red Oak Public Library’s conduct rules have a threefold purpose: to protect the rights and safety of library patrons, to protect the rights and safety of staff members, and to preserve and protect the library’s materials, facilities and property.

Definitions and scope

These conduct rules shall apply to all buildings, interior and exterior, and all grounds controlled by the Red Oak Public Library (such buildings and grounds are referred to as the ‘premises’) and to all persons entering or on the premises.

Listed below are the library’s conduct rules. Persons who violate these rules may be ejected from the premises and excluded from all library premises and activities for the period of time listed below.

Conduct rules

Any person who violates the following rules while in or on library premises will be immediately ejected and excluded from all Red Oak Public Library premises without first being given a warning. Any person so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of up to three years, and the incident will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state or local criminal statute or ordinance, and in particular, Library Laws of Texas. Annotations of Library-Related Legislation, Criminal Offenses, Penal Code, Chapters 42 and 43.

Any person who violates the following rules while in or on library premises will be given up to one warning at the discretion of library staff; then the person will be asked to leave the premises for the day. Subsequent offenses by that person will result in that person’s immediate ejection and exclusion from all Red Oak Public Library premises. Any person so excluded shall lose all library privileges for a period of up to three years

• Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library, or disturbs library staff or patrons, including but not limited to conduct that involves the use of abusive or threatening language or gestures, conduct that creates unreasonable noise, or conduct that consists of loud, threatening, or boisterous physical conduct or talking.
• Using library materials, equipment, furniture, fixtures or buildings in a manner inconsistent with the customary and appropriate use thereof; or in a destructive, abusive or potentially damaging manner; or in a manner likely to cause personal injury to the individual or others.
• Disobeying the reasonable direction of a library staff member.
• Soliciting, petitioning or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable or religious purposes inside the library premises, including the doorway or vestibule of any library building or in a manner on the library premises that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library.
• Interfering with the free passage of library staff or patrons in or on the library premises including, but not limited to, placing objects such as bicycles, skateboards, backpacks or other items in a manner that interferes with free passage.
• No food or open drink of any kind is allowed inside the library.
• Bringing animals inside the library (with the exception of service animals) except as allowed at a library-approved event, or leaving an animal tethered and unattended on library premises is not permitted.
• Violating the library’s rules for acceptable use of the internet and library public computers.
• No sleeping in or on library premises.
• Using personal electronic equipment at a volume that disturbs others, including but not limited to cell phones, portable music players, televisions, hand held gaming systems, etc.
• Leaving one or more children under the age of ten (10) who reasonably appear to be unsupervised or unattended, anywhere in or on library premises.

Children

The Red Oak Public Library welcomes children. Library staff members are trained to help children with library materials and services. We want to provide a safe and appropriate environment for all library users. However, our library is a public building. The library does not have facilities or staffing to provide childcare and childcare is not the library’s role.

Parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety, comfort and conduct of their children while in the library. Please make sure your child comes to the library with a responsible person fifteen (15) years of age or older.

Library staff members will take the actions outlined below in these or similar situations:

• A child is alone and frightened or crying in the library
• A child is alone and doing something dangerous, or another person in the library seems to be a danger to the child
• A child is alone and is not following the library rules
• No caregiver comes to pick up the child at closing time
• Any child under the age of ten (10) is alone in the library

Library staff members will evaluate the situation and try to contact the child’s parent or guardian. If staff cannot reach the parent or guardian, they will place the child in the care of the appropriate local law enforcement agency.