Library Code of Conduct

The Board of Trustees of the Milwaukee Public Library has the right to establish and enforce regulations that will allow the Library to provide services, maintain the collection, and ensure an atmosphere within its facilities to the benefit of the greatest number of users. Upon request, patrons will be required to show their library cards or other identification to library staff or security guards, and may be asked to sign in.  Anyone who disregards these regulations is subject to removal from the library and/or restriction of library privileges.

Specific inappropriate conduct includes but is not limited to: eating, drinking or smoking; sleeping or socializing; loitering or interfering with free passage; behaving in a disorderly, boisterous or loud manner; panhandling or soliciting; using cell phones in non-designated areas; using audio or personal equipment that disturbs others or interferes with library service; being under the influence of drugs or alcohol; damaging, defacing, destroying, or stealing library property; violating computer use policies; using library restroom facilities for inappropriate purposes such as loitering, bathing, etc.; skateboarding, rollerblading, etc.; harassing or threatening another person; poor hygiene that is offensive to other persons; bringing in excessive items that cannot be stowed under a standard study chair; and bringing in animals except as required by persons with disabilities.

II.   The procedure is as follows:

Library staff or security staff may request that a patron immediately discontinue any inappropriate conduct.  Depending upon the nature of the conduct, the patron may be required to leave the library for the remainder of the day or a longer period of time.  Library staff or security staff shall document and report the incident immediately to the supervisor or manager.  Patrons who have stolen materials from the library may be restricted from entering library facilities, or more secure areas within the library such as non-public reference areas.  In certain circumstances, patrons who have failed to return materials may also be restricted from entering library buildings or more secure areas.  When an individual's inappropriate conduct is serious or repeated, the City Librarian may, at his or her discretion, restrict that individual's access to any Milwaukee Public Library building at any time.  Any of the following steps may be taken at any time to ensure a safe environment for patrons and staff.

A.  CENTRAL LIBRARY

At the recommendation of library staff or security guard, the Coordinator of Circulation and Public Services may issue a letter to the patron that his/her behavior has violated the Library Code of Conduct Policy, and that the patron shall not be allowed in the library for up to a maximum of one month.

At the recommendation of the Manager of Central Library Services or the Coordinator of Circulation and Public Services, the City Librarian may issue a letter to the patron stating that the patron's inappropriate behavior is or continues to be in violation of the Code of Conduct Policy.  The patron shall not be allowed in the library for up to a maximum duration of one year.

At the recommendation of the Manager of Central Library Services, the Coordinator of Circulation and Public Services, or the Milwaukee Police Department, the City Librarian may ban a patron from Milwaukee Public Libraries for more than one year or permanently if the patron's conduct is a threat to library patrons or staff.  All permanent bans will be brought to the attention of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees for its approval.

If a patron is banned from the Milwaukee Public Libraries for six months or more, he or she may request an appeal before the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees.  The request for an appeal must be in writing and mailed or delivered to the City Librarian at:  814 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233-2385 within 15 days of the date of the City Librarian's letter to the patron.  The request for review shall state the ground or grounds upon which the person aggrieved contends that the decision should be modified or reversed.  Thereafter, a patron who has been banned for more than one year from the Milwaukee Public Libraries may request an appeal before the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees once a year, beginning one year after the ban.  Subsequent appeals must follow the same format as the first. 

B.  EXTENSION SERVICES AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES

At the recommendation of the library staff, the Manager or Supervisor may issue a letter to the patron that his/her behavior has violated the Library Code of Conduct Policy, and that the patron will not be allowed in the library for up to a maximum duration of one month.

At the recommendation of the Extension Services Coordinator or the Manager or Supervisor, in consultation with the Manager of Neighborhood & Extension Services, the City Librarian may issue a letter to the patron stating that the patron’s inappropriate behavior is or continues to be in violation of the Library Code of Conduct Policy.  The patron will not be allowed in the library for up to a maximum duration of one year.

At the recommendation of the Manager of Neighborhood & Extension Services, or the Extension Services Coordinator, or the Milwaukee Police Department, the City Librarian may ban a patron from Milwaukee Public Libraries for more than one year or permanently if the patron's conduct is a threat to library patrons or staff.  All permanent bans will be brought to the attention of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees for its approval.

If a patron is banned from the Milwaukee Public Libraries for six months or more, he or she may request an appeal before the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees.  The request for an appeal must be in writing and mailed or delivered to the City Librarian at:  814 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233-2385 within 15 days of the date of the City Librarian's letter to the patron. The request for review shall state the ground or grounds upon which the person aggrieved contends that the decision should be modified or reversed.   Thereafter, a patron who has been banned for more than one year from the Milwaukee Public Libraries may request an appeal before the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees once a year, beginning one year after the ban.  The request must be made in writing to the City Librarian.  Subsequent appeals must follow the same format as the first. 

1. APPEALS PROCESS

When the City Librarian receives written notice of an appeal which is within the time frame noted in the banning letter for seeking an appeal, the appeal will be scheduled before the Library Services and Program Committee of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees.  The notice of their meeting will include the information that the committee may meet in Executive Session.  Written evidence and argument in support of the patron’s position may be sent to the committee via the City Librarian and will be accepted up to 7 days in advance of the meeting. The committee will also hear oral presentations limited to 10 minutes each by the library administration and the person making the appeal.  The appeal hearing shall be tape recorded.  The committee will make a recommendation on each appeal and present their findings to the Library Board in open session at their next monthly meeting or as soon as practical.  The full board will then act on that recommendation. The decision of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees regarding an appeal shall be final and mailed to the patron within (7) days of the Board’s decision.