To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: APPROVE the amended Library Patron Conduct Policy and Suspension Policy, as recommended by the County Librarian.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the amended Library Patron Conduct Policy and Suspension policy, as recommended by the County Librarian.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Public Library seeks to provide materials and services to the public in an environment that is safe, pleasant and conducive to comfortable library use. No one may engage in conduct that interferes with anyone else’s ability or right to use and benefit from library facilities. Anyone who engages in behavior that disrupts someone else’s use of the library may be asked to leave the library. To ensure that all library visitors have a pleasant, productive and safe experience, all library visitors are required to adhere to the current Library Patron Conduct Policy, approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 21, 2015. As use of the library grows and changes, the Library sees the need to update the current Patron Conduct Policy to further clarify and define acceptable and unacceptable uses of library facilities, materials, and services. Additionally, the Library sees the need to update the current Suspension Policy (adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2015). The Suspension Policy reinforces the Patron Conduct Policy and outlines actions to be taken by Library staff when the Patron Conduct Policy is violated; therefore, the Suspension Policy must be updated to remain in alignment with the updated Patron Conduct Policy. The amended Suspension Policy includes the option for the County Librarian to issue indefinite suspensions for library patrons who pose a serious threat to staff or the public and includes new appeal and reentry processes for patrons wishing to appeal or amend an indefinite suspension.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the Library will continue to use the current Patron Conduct Policy and Suspension Policy, which do not adequately define the types of behaviors that are disallowed in library facilities. Additionally, the Library will not have an amended Suspension Policy, which will impede the County Librarian from imposing adequate suspensions for patrons who pose a serious threat to staff or the public.