Mount Laurel Library

The staff of Mount Laurel Library strives to make the facility a warm, inviting and safe place for all people. This Code of Conduct has been developed to protect the safety of all library patrons and staff and to protect library property.

Patrons shall be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library while in the building. It is the individual’s responsibility to demonstrate judgment, respect for others, and appropriate conduct while using library resources and facilities in person and online. Parents or guardians, not Library staff, are responsible for the safety, care and supervision of their children at the Library.

The Library reserves the right to prohibit any behavior that is disruptive or inconsistent with the Library’s purposes. Examples of unacceptable behavior include but are not limited to the following:

• Leaving those in need of supervision unattended, including children (see Child Safety Policy) or adults
• Interfering with another person’s use of the library or interfering with the library personnel’s performance of their duties, including offensive language and/or verbal abuse
• Photographing or audio/video recording of adult patrons on the library premises without the advance consent of each adult patron being photographed or recorded
• Photographing or audio/video recording of minor patrons without the advance consent of each minor patron’s parent or guardian
• Any behavior perceived by staff or another patron as sexual harassment, invasion of privacy, voyeurism or invading personal space
• Harassment of other patrons, including but not limited to staring at another person with the intent or effect of harassment to that person, following another person about the building, behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb other patrons, or other inappropriate behavior
• Being present anywhere inside the premises without shoes, pants, and/or a shirt.
• Entering staff-only areas and workspaces without the approval of library staff.
• Threatening or physically harming staff or patrons
• Carrying a weapon into the library unless authorized by law
• Making noise or engaging in other disruptive conduct
• Sleeping in the library
• Running in the library
• Using a personal audio or communications device so that others can hear it
• Bringing animals into the library other than trained service animals that are required for a disability or an authorized educational program
• Use of tobacco products, e-cigarette devices or any form of smoking
• Use of alcohol or illegal substances
• Peddling, soliciting, selling or distributing merchandise, services or printed materials, or canvassing, campaigning, or surveying in the library without permission from the library or except as permitted at authorized library events
• Damaging or stealing library property, including misusing the restrooms (i.e. using as a laundry or washing facility)

Library patrons who fail to observe this Code of Conduct, the direction of library staff or other rules and regulations of Mount Laurel may be asked to leave the building or be subject to arrest.

Continued disregard of this Code of Conduct may result in the Library Director denying the privilege of access to the library. If further action is required, the matter may be referred to the Mount Laurel Police Department.

Any library patron whose privileges have been denied may have the decision reviewed by writing to the Board of Trustees.

Approved August 2024 by the Library Board of Trustees