Seattle library to change rules of conduct

May 28, 8:56 AMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Seattle Books Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The City of Seattle and the Seattle Public Library are cracking down on disruptive library patrons and their behaviors.  KIRO 7 learned that since January, the library system has ejected over 432 library patrons for things like lewd behavior, drug dealing, threats, public intoxication, and assault.  Of all those violations 232 of them are just from the Central Library downtown.  Last year there were 1,232 conduct violations, with a large portion of those happening downtown.

Last week, the Seattle Public Library sent out a news release with proposed changes to the current Rules of Conduct.  According to the release,

The Seattle Public Library regularly reviews its Rules of Conduct to ensure they reflect the Library's need for effectively managing behavior in its facilities to ensure they are safe, welcoming and clean for all customers and staff. 

 

Some of the proposed changes include adding a rule prohibiting verbally intimidating staff, volunteers and other patrons, extending the length of exclusion period from one year to two years, and clarifying the rule that prohibits entering or being in the Library barefoot, or without a shirt to specify, "or removing one's footwear or shirt while the Library."

For the most part, the rule proposed are rules that most large urban libraries already have.  Like the SPL, these libraries often hire security to patrol the building and have issues with patrons trying to sleep in the library. 

The Library Board had a meeting last night at the Central Library to discuss these proposed changes.  There is no word yet as to if all of these proposed changes will actually take place and when it would happen. 

Sound off:  What do you think about the Rules of Conduct SPL has?  What rules should they add?  Remove?  Leave your comments below!

Follow me on Twitter!.