General Policies & Rules

Liberty Public Library General Policies and Rules

In order to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for reading, learning, and other Library activities, Liberty Public Library requires all visitors to comply with our General Policies and Rules.            
Please note, Library staff may:
•    Inspect any property of a patron who enters or leaves the Library.
•    Ask patrons to show their library card or other ID.

Prohibited items
The following items are not permitted in the Library:
1.    Food or Drink.
2.    Carts, large boxes, large bags, or collections of bags that are in excess of 24” x 16” x 10” (small backpacks and strollers (if used for children) are allowed).
3.    Personal items that appear to be soiled, infested, or have a foul odor that disturbs other people.
4.    Bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, or other sports equipment.
5.    Weapons, of any kind.
6.    Leashed or unleashed animals, other than guide and service animals which have not been approved by the Executive Director or his/her designee.

Prohibited Conduct
The following are examples of behaviors which are not permitted because they interfere with the enjoyment and use of the Library by other customers, present a health or safety hazard or are inconsistent with the Library’s mission.  (This list is not all-inclusive, but is provided to illustrate the types of behaviors prohibited under this policy.)

Noise Issues
•    Engaging in loud, aggressive or threatening conduct; fighting or challenging another to fight; using profane language or obscene behavior, or gestures, or engaging in harassing behavior of any kind.
•    Engaging in loud conversations, screaming, yelling, cursing, or making any other noise that disturbs other library users.
•    Using personal electronic equipment including mobile devices, with or without headphones, at a volume that is audible to others. Cellphones or other communication devices may be used for brief conversations as long as the volume is not a disruption to staff or users.

Library interference
•    Loitering, sleeping, lying down or engaging in activities that interfere with library use.
•    Interfering with another person’s use of the library or with the library personnel’s performance of their duties.
•    Not following the directions or library staff.
•    Repeatedly entering and exiting the library and creating a disturbance.
•    Blocking or obstructing aisles, pathways, walkways, stairways, entrances and exits (inside or outside) with personal belongings or self. 
•    Loitering, or remaining in the foyer, near any entrance or exit (inside or outside), or the front walkway for more than brief period (generally not to exceed 5-10 minutes).
•    Damaging, defacing, misusing or stealing of library materials, equipment or computer resources, including tampering with, unplugging, altering, editing or damaging computer hardware and/or software.
•    Leaving personal belongings unattended anywhere in the building or on the grounds.
•    Entering staff areas by customers or improperly using stairwells or other areas in and around the library building.
•    Placing feet on tables or chairs, lying on the floor, sitting on tables/stair steps, or rearranging furnishings.
•    Monopolizing Library space, furnishings, equipment, or outlets.
•    Selling any goods or services, soliciting within the library or on its premises or distributing and/or posting literature that has not been approved by the Executive Director or his/her designee.

Unhygienic or Illegal Behavior & Activities
•    Consuming food or drink.  No food or drink are allowed in the library.
•    Entering or using the premises in bare feet or without a shirt.  Clothing and shoes must be worn the entire time users are in the Library.
•    Making unreasonable use of the public restrooms, including laundering or changing clothes, clogging the sinks or toilets, bathing, having more than one person in the restroom at a time (except for small children needing assistance), being in the restroom for an excessive amount of time, or generally making a mess. 
•    Having bodily odor that is so offensive as to constitute a disturbance to other customers and/or library personnel, whether from lack of personal hygiene, alcohol, marijuana, perfume, cologne, or any other odor producing condition.
•    Engaging in any kind of sexual activity or lewd behavior or sexually harassing any other person.
•    Gambling.
•    Using, distributing or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
•    Smoking, chewing, vaping, or using any tobacco products, or marijuana in or on library premises; including e-cigarettes and vape pens or pipes.
•    Committing any act that would violate any State, Federal or local law, ordinance or regulation.
•    Using any library resource, including its public access computers/wi-fi network to engage in illegal activity which violates this policy or to injure or harass another person. 

Youth (please see Children In the Library Policy for more details)
•    Leaving a child under the age of 10 unattended on library premises. (must be accompanied by a parent or supervised by someone at least 15 years of age). 
•    Leaving a child aged 10 and older for too long (generally not more than 1-2 hours)
•    Leaving a child unattended in the restroom or elevator

Definitions and Scope
Harassing is defined as any repeated verbal or nonverbal conduct which is specifically intended or reasonably expected to frighten, embarrass, seriously annoy, or anger the person or persons who are the object of such conduct or which the person accused has reason to know is likely to produce such reactions, or as any repeated verbal communication which, by its very utterance, inflicts injury, fear, or other emotional trauma or upset, or tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace, and which conduct serves no legitimate purpose.

These rules shall apply to all buildings, interior and exterior, and all grounds controlled and operated by the Liberty Public Library (such buildings and grounds are hereafter referred to as the “premises”) and to all persons entering in or on the premises.

Loss of Library Privileges  
By authority of the Liberty Public Library, persons who violate the behavior policy may be restricted from the Library or from the use of the library facilities, on either a temporary or permanent basis.  Those unwilling to leave, or who do not leave within a reasonable amount of time after being instructed to do so by the staff, may be subject to prosecution.

Any person whose library privileges have been revoked under this policy may make a written request to the Executive Director for reinstatement of privileges.  Reinstatement of privileges may be conditioned on future compliance and will be at the sole discretion of the Executive Director or his/her designee.  

Library policies are posted on the Liberty Public Library web site (www.libertypubliclibrary.org) and are available upon request. Requests should be directed to: Executive Director, Liberty Public Library 189 North Main Street, Liberty, NY 12754, (845) 292-6070.

(Revised by the Liberty Public Library Board of Trustees on:  June 25, 2003, March 23, 2010, June 21, 2016, March 28, 2023, and March 25, 2025.)