2.70.040 Library Code of Conduct.
A. Purpose. This section Section 2.70.040 establishes a code of conduct Code of Conduct expected of persons using the Santa Clarita Public Library (Library) and the processes to address violations of this code of conductCode of Conduct. The purposes for the code of conduct Code of Conduct are to ensure that all persons have the ability to use library Library services and resources, to ensure that library Library staff may efficiently provide library services and resources, to prevent disruption to such library services and resources, and to further a peaceful, quiet, and orderly environment in which to learn.
B. Definitions.
“Children’s area” means the areas of the library Library specifically designated as such by the library Library to provide library services and resources that meets the needs of young pre-teen and younger library users.
“Teens’ area” means the areas of the Library specifically designated as such by the Library to provide library services and resources that meets the needs of young-adult and teen library users under age 18.
“Code” means the Santa Clarita Municipal Code.
“Crime” has the same definition as Penal Code Section § 15. A violation of this section Section
2.70.040 is a misdemeanor crime under Government Code Section § 36900.
“Enforcement officer” means the City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee. The City Manager's designees include, without limitation: the Library Director and library branch managersLibrary Branch Managers, the Police Chief and police officersPolice Officers, and the City’s Code Enforcement Supervisor and code enforcement officersCode Enforcement Officers.
“Library” means all of the Santa Clarita Public Library branch locations, including but not limited to their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores.
“Library premises” means the libraryLibrary, and library Library grounds and parking facilities to the extent that the grounds or parking facilities are owned, controlled, or maintained by the City.
“Library privileges” means the privilege of entering onto library Library premises and utilizing any services or resources of the Santa Clarita Public Library.
“Service animalAnimal” means a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Shoe” means an item with a sole worn on the human foot with a sole.
“Smoke” or “smoking” has the same definition contained in Section 9.50.020 of this Code.
“Wheeled conveyances” means any wheeled device used for conveyance or transportation, including bicycles, skates, skateboards, collapsible scooters, wheelies, and hover boards. This does not include medically required equipment, or wheelchairs or strollers carrying people who cannot use the library Library facilities without the assistance of such devices.
C. Criminal Conduct. A person may not commit or attempt to commit any crime punishable under state or federal law or this code on library Code on Library premises, including, but not limited to:
1. Assault or battery, as defined in Penal Code Sections §§ 240 and 242.
2. Theft, as defined in Penal Code Section § 484.
3. Obstructing or intimidating business operators, public agencies , or customers, as defined in Penal Code Section § 602.1.
4. Vandalism, as defined in Penal Code Section § 594.
5. Indecent exposure or lewd or obscene conduct, as defined in Penal Code Section § 314.
6. Possession of designated controlled substances, as defined in Health and Safety Code Sections §§ 11350 and 11351.
7. Disorderly conduct, as defined in Penal Code Section § 647.
8. Trespass, as defined in Penal Code Sections §§ 602 and 634.
9. Smoking or using tobacco products, as defined in Section 9.50.030 of this Code.
10. Curfew violations, as defined in Chapter 11.56 of this Code.
11. Consumption of alcohol in a public place, as defined in Chapter 11.18 of this Code.
12. Aggressive solicitation, as defined in Chapter 11.35 of this Code.
13. Sale, distribution, or exhibition of obscene matter, as defined in Penal Code §§ 311 and 311.5.
D. Rules of Conduct. The following behaviors are disruptive and do not further a peaceful, quiet, and orderly environment to learn. In addition to the criminal conduct listed in subsection (C) of this section2.70.040(C), no person may engage in any of the following activities or behaviors while on library Library premises:
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1. Loud or disruptive behavior, including yelling, talking loudly, running, throwing objects, abusive or threatening language, or other behavior which disturbs the quiet environment of the libraryLibrary.
2. Use of profane, obscene, imminently threatening, or violent language toward library Library staff or other persons.
3. Harassment of or the making of unwanted verbal or physical advances toward library Library staff or persons on library Library premises.
4. Possession of any unlawful or illegal substance on library Library premises.
5. Use of personal equipment in the library Library (such as cellular phones and audio players) in a manner that is disruptive, noisy, or unsafe. Personal equipment or electronic devices must be muted and made inaudible to other persons while in the libraryLibrary. Cell phones must be set to mute or vibrate.
6. Possession of any beverage in the library Library without a spill-proof lid.
7. Consumption of any food or beverages in a nondesignated non-designated location within the libraryLibrary.
8. Bringing, possessing, or maintaining on the library Library premises any garbage or item that emits a foul odor that disturbs other library Library users or staff.
9. Bringing or using any shopping carts or other wheeled conveyances within the libraryLibrary, on entryways or walkways, in a manner that blocks any passageway on library Library premises.
10. Smoking or use of any tobacco products in the library or within twenty (20) 20 feet of entrances to the libraryLibrary.
11. Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages on library Library premises, unless otherwise approved by the City as part of a special event.
12. Leaving backpacks, suitcases, or other large items unattended in the library Library (other than leaving them at a study carrel while researching the collection for materials), or keeping those items with one in a manner that obstructs entrances, exits, aisles or passageways, or otherwise impedes access to library Library resources and services.
13. Bringing animals, other than service animals, Service Animals there solely to assist a person with disabilities with tasks directly related to that person’s disability, into library Library branch locations, including but not limited to their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores.
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14. Use of library Library facilities for the purpose of sleeping, bathing, shaving, washing clothes , or other similar activities.
15. Entering the library Library or remaining in library Library branch locations, including, but not limited to, their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores, without wearing shoes, clothes that cover the upper torso area , or clothes that cover the lower torso area.
16. Soliciting, panhandling, selling products without written authorization from library Library staff, or otherwise conducting business (including tutoring for a fee) within the libraryLibrary.
17. By a person eighteen (18) 18 years of age or older, and in the absence of accompanying children or the permission of library Library staff, use or occupancy of the children’s or teens’ areas of the libraryLibrary; these areas are specifically designed to meet the needs of young library Library users and must remain open to those users and the adults accompanying them.
18. Moving library Library equipment or furniture without library Library staff knowledge or permission.
19. Tampering with library Library equipment such as computers, rental equipment, photocopy machines, elevators.
20. Carrying or possessing on library Library premises weapons such as guns, chains, clubs, and knives.
21. Making unauthorized entry into any "staff only" area in the library Library premises.
22. Refusing to relinquish computer equipment or other library Library resources after scheduled time period for use has expired.
23. Causing overcrowding in library Library seating areas by sitting more than four (4) persons to a table, two (2) persons to a computer workstation, or one (1) person to a carrel or chair.
24. Failure to leave the library Library at closing time.
25. Open display of obscene and/or pornographic imagery.
E. Supervision of Minors.
1. No person under the age of eleven (11) 11 years of age may enter, use, or remain on library Library premises without being accompanied by a person thirteen Formatted: List Paragraph, Indent: Left: 0.75", No
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(13) 13 years of age or older.
2. Any person thirteen (13) 13 years of age or older, who brings a child under the age of eleven (11) 11 years of age into the libraryLibrary, must supervise and accompany that child at all times.
F. Enforcement.
1. Any enforcement officer may enforce against any violation of the rules of conduct contained in this sectionSection 2.70.040.
2. A violation of this section Section 2.70.040 is punishable as a misdemeanor.
3. In the alternative, an enforcement officer may enforce against any violation of this section Section 2.70.040 by issuing notices of violation or administrative citations. The enforcement officer may issue a notice of violation or an administrative citation to a person in violation of the rules of conduct in accordance with Chapter
23.20 of this Code. The enforcement officer may order the removal of any person from the library for any violation of the rules of conduct concurrently with the issuance of an administrative citation. Any person removed pursuant to such an order may not re-enter onto library Library premises for the remainder of the business day.
Any person who re-enters the library Library premises after such removal will be considered a trespasser.
G. Suspension of Library Privileges. In addition to any other punishment provided for at law, any person who commits or attempts to commit a crime or violates one (1) or more of the rules of conduct set forth in this section while on library Library premises may have their library Library privileges suspended. A person whose library Library privileges have been suspended may not enter onto library Library premises or use the services of the Santa Clarita Public Library during the term of their suspension. A written notice of suspension of library Library privileges will be issued to the person.
The following schedule table governs the length of a suspension of library privileges:Library privileges based upon the nature of the prohibited conduct. The numbers represent the initial and any repeated occurrence of a violation and shows the corresponding penalty.
1. For a person’s first violation, library privileges will be suspended for one (1) week.
2. For a person’s second violation within a twelve (12) month period, library privileges will be suspended for four (4) weeks.
3. For a person’s third violation within a twelve (12) month period, library privileges will be suspended for sixteen (16) weeks.
4. If a person commits four (4) or more violations within a twelve (12) month period, library privileges will be suspended for twelve (12) months.
Any additional violation(s) beyond the highest incident number stated on the table below will result in the same highest prohibition noted. For example, body odor is subject to a warning for the first incident and a one-day suspension for the second. For every violation after the second, Formatted: List Paragraph, Indent: Left: 0.75", No
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the penalty will also be a one-day suspension. The same applies to more serious offenses. For example, the fourth incident of vandalism and every incident of vandalism thereafter will result in a one-year suspension of Library privileges.
Conduct and Code Section. See
Code Sections above for full
definition
Warning
Issued 1 Day
1 Month
3 Month
6 Month 1 Year
Alcohol
C11, D11 1 2 3 4
Animals in the building
D13 1 2
Assault or battery
C1 1
Odor
D8 1 2
Unattended minors
E2, E3 1 2
Clothing and footwear
D15 1 2
Theft of Library materials or
equipment
C2 1
Vandalism
C4 1 2 3 4
Indecent exposure, lewd or obscene
conduct
C5 1
Possession of controlled substance
C6 1
Solicitation/conducting business/sales
C14, D16 1 2 3 4
Loud or disruptive behavior
D1 1 2 3 4
Unwanted verbal or physical advances
D3, C4 1 2 3 4
Profane, obscene, violent, threatening
language
D2 1 2 3 4
Disruptive use of personal electronic
equipment
D5 1 2 3 4
Food and beverages
D6, D7 1 2 3 4
Wheeled conveyance blocking
walkways 1 2 3 4
Conduct and Code Section. See
Code Sections above for full
definition
Warning
Issued 1 Day
1 Month
3 Month
6 Month 1 Year
D9
Smoking
C9, D10 1 2 3
Unattended items
D12 1 2
Use of facilities for sleeping, bathing,
washing clothes
D14 1 2
Unauthorized adults in the children or
teen area
D17 1 2 3
Tampering with or misuse of Library
equipment
D19 1 2 3
Weapons
D20 1 2 3
Moving Furniture/Equipment
D18, D23 1 2 3 4
Unauthorized entry
D21 1 2 3 4
Obstructing operations
C3 1 2 3 4
Failure to leave building at closing
C24 1 2 3 4
Showing visually explicit materials
C13, D25 1 2 3 4
H. Fines. The City Council may set by resolution the fines to be assessed for violations of the rules of conduct. If no amount is specified by resolution of the City Council, the fines set forth in Section 23.20.060 of this Code may apply.
I. Appeals. A person may appeal an administrative citation or suspension of library Library privilege in accordance with the administrative hearing procedures outlined in Chapter 23.20 of this Code.