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Code of Conduct

The library staff strives to make this facility a warm and inviting place for all people. It is the intent of The Library that all library customers should be able to use its facilities to the maximum extent possible during its regularly scheduled hours.

This Code of Conduct has been developed to minimize situations in which any library customer interferes with the legitimate library business of other customers and staff, to protect the safety of all library customers and staff, and to protect library property. Library customers shall be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library while in the building. Library customers shall respect the rights of other customers.

Unacceptable Library Behavior

• Obstructing the entrance area of the library, either inside or outside the building
• Obstructing aisles and passageways
• Leaving bicycles unattended at the library entrance rather than in the bike rack down the sidewalk
• Wearing no footwear or shirt
• Carrying a weapon, unless authorized by law
• Carrying or using a water squirt gun
• Bringing in an animal, unless it is required to assist a person with a disability
• Using rollerblades, skateboards or the like
• No food, drink, chewing gum or smoking
• Mutilating library materials
• Defacing Library property or engaging in vandalism (including graffiti)
• Engaging in noisy or disruptive behavior, including running, throwing, loud talking or crying, fighting, jumping, pushing, shoving, spitting, staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, following another person about the building with the intent to annoy that person, stalking another person, or by behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb other persons
• Engaging in any activity not in compliance with The Library’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy
• Engaging in any activity that is deliberately offensive or creates an intimidating or hostile environment for library staff and customers
• Maintaining bodily hygiene in such a way as to be offensive and to constitute a nuisance to other persons using the library
• Soliciting
• Littering
• Conducting a survey without prior permission of Library Administration
• Photographing or videotaping without prior permission of Library Administration and those photographed
• Moving or abusing furniture or equipment, including standing or lying on tables or chairs or putting feet on tables
• Attempting to hack into, damage, attack, or otherwise exploit library computer hardware and software
• Striking matches or lighting lighters
• Playing audio equipment so others can hear it
• Verbally, physically or sexually harassing or assaulting library customers or staff
• Engaging in sexual activity, contact or assault or any act of lewdness or exposure prohibited by New Jersey Statutes Annotated 2C:14-1 through 2C:14-8 and any other sexual activity which is inappropriate in a public place
• Failing, as the guardian, to safeguard a youth: see Guardians’ Responsibilities for Youths
• Leaving a youth unattended : see Guardians’ Responsibilities for Youths
• Engaging in any illegal activity not otherwise listed

Violation of Regulations

Library customers who fail to observe this Code of Conduct or other rules and regulations of The Library may be asked to leave the building or be subject to arrest. Any library customer who violates the Library Code of Conduct, rules and regulations shall be denied the privilege of access to the library by the Library Board of Trustees, on recommendation of the Library Director. Any library customer whose privileges have been denied may have the decision reviewed by the Board of Trustees.

Guardians' Responsibilities for Youths

The Library uses guardian to refer to a parent, guardian, child care provider or other person who is 18 years of age or older and who is generally responsible for the youth or specifically responsible for the youth while s/he is in The Library. The Library uses youth to refer to any person under 18 years of age: the New Jersey Statutes Annotated uses both child and infant for any person under 18 years of age.

Responsibility for a youth using the library rests with the guardian, not with Library personnel. The staff cannot know if a youth is with a guardian, friends or strangers. Any youth who is unable to care for him/herself and who is left in the library without a guardian for any period of time and/or who is not picked up at closing time is considered abandoned by The Library as set forth in New Jersey Statutes Annotated 9:6-1:

Abandonment of a child shall consist in any of the following acts by anyone having the custody or control of the child: (a) willfully forsaking a child; (b) failing to care for and keep the control and custody of a child so that the child shall be exposed to physical or moral risk without proper and sufficient protection;…

Guardians are also responsible for injury or destruction caused by youths, as set forth in New Jersey Statutes Annotated 2A:53A:

§14. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that malicious acts of vandalism by youths are increasing at an alarming rate; that such acts are frequently attributable to lack of care, custody and control exercised by the parent; that parents should have some responsibility for the conduct of their children; that while there is a reluctance to charge a child with juvenile delinquency there should be some legal deterrent to juvenile acts of vandalism and to parental neglect of child supervision. The Legislature therefore finds it desirable to establish a civil procedure for the recovery of damages for such acts from the neglectful parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child who caused such damage. L.1965, c. 111, § 1, eff. June 15, 1965.

§15. Liability of parent or guardian for willful destruction of property by infant under 18. A parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of an infant under 18 years of age who fails or neglects to exercise reasonable supervision and control of the conduct of such infant, shall be liable in a civil action for any willful, malicious or unlawful injury or destruction by such infant of the real or personal property of another. L.1965, c. 111, § 2. Amended by L.1979, c. 318, § 2, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.