3.9 Guidelines for Library Behavior 

The Springfield Town Library establishes the following guidelines for library behavior to ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all Library patrons and materials.

 1.    Respect other people’s privacy. Photographs or recording of any kind (video, audio, etc.) may only be taken with the permission of the staff member in charge and the subject. (see Patron Privacy Policy 3.4.2)

2.    Kindness matters. Be considerate of other people using the library:; no disruptive or boisterous behavior; or harmful words which restrict patron enjoyment of the library. (See Hate Speech Policy 3.3 of the Springfield Town Library Policies)

3.    Check out all library materials before taking them out of the building; treat materials with care.

4.    Alcohol, smoking, vaping, and illegal substances are not allowed on library grounds.

5.   Service animals only, not pets, are allowed in the Library.(See Animals in the Library policy 3.9.2)

6.    Wear shoes and shirts (except children in the children’s room may remove their shoes)

7.     Children aged 8 and up are allowed to use the Library alone. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the well-being and safety of their children. (See Children in the Library Policy 3.9.1)

8.   Use the Library phone for emergencies or parental contact only.

9.   Use of Library technology is subject to the Technology policy 3.10.

10.   The library director or their proxy has the authority to enact temporary rules to promote a safe environment in the library. Said rules will be subject to ratification at the next meeting of the Library Board of Trustees.

 Use of the Library implies agreement to abide by these Guidelines. When individuals disobey these guidelines, library staff may request they leave the premises. Severe or ongoing disruptive behavior may result in applying restorative practices, restriction of access, or the issuance of a Notice of Trespass.

Initial Adoption Date: May 6, 1992

Modified Date(s): specific changes to be identified after further research

  • October 1997

  • May 2010

  • February 2013

  • August 2017

  • June 2018

  • April 2019

  • December 2019

  • October 12, 2021: addition of language regarding recording in the library. Addition of authority to enact temporary rules

  • August 14, 2024: Added references to other sections when appropriate; Clarified #2; updated language in #4; added a new # 9 regarding technology; and clarified penalties.

3.9.1 Unattended Children 

The Library welcomes and encourages all children to use and enjoy its facilities, programs, and services. Sharing this environment with other people requires that everyone follows the posted Guidelines for Library Behavior. Library staff members do not serve in the place of parents for children in the Library, and parents should not view the Library as an alternative to childcare.

All children under 8 years of age must be accompanied and directly supervised by a parent or responsible caregiver who assumes full accountability for the child’s safety and behavior while in the Library. “Directly supervised” means the child and caregiver must be able to observe one another at all times, except when a child is participating in a Library program. However, the caregiver is expected to remain in the building and rejoin the child immediately following the program.

If a child under 8 years of age appears to be unattended or unsupervised, Library staff will attempt to locate the parent/caregiver, advise them of this policy, and have them return to their child. If a child is left unattended or unsupervised on multiple occasions, the Library will contact the police or Vermont Department of Children & Families.

Children 8 years of age and older are welcome to use the Library unattended as long as their behavior is in accordance with the posted Guidelines for Library Behavior. As with adults, children who fail to behave appropriately may be asked to leave the Library. Staff is not responsible for the actions and safety of minor children. For the safety of any children left waiting at the Library after closing time, police may be notified.

The Children’s Room is reserved for use by children, their parents, or caregivers, and adults using the children’s collection. Library staff may ask adults unaccompanied by a child to move to other parts of the library once their selection has been made. The computers in the Children’s Room are solely for use by children.

Initial Adoption Date: to be determined

Modified Date(s): specific changes to be identified after further research

  • September 16, 2011

  • August 8, 2017

  • August 14, 2024: Clarified language in the title and in paragraphs 4 and 5 to align with current practices.

3.9.2 Animals in the Library

Purpose 

The Springfield Town Library (“the Library”) recognizes that patrons with disabilities may have service animals that are trained to assist or accommodate a person with a sensory, mental, or physical disability or to perform tasks for the benefit of a disabled individual. The Library recognizes legal rights under federal and state laws regarding use of service animals. The Library also considers the safety and health of all its patrons, the public, and Library employees to be of utmost priority. 

Background and Definitions 

  1. Service Animal

“Service animals” are dogs or miniature horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Service animals are not required to be licensed or certified by a state or local government or a training program, nor are they required to be identified by a special harness or collar. “Service animal” includes service animals in training.

Examples of such work or tasks include but are not limited to: guiding people who are blind; alerting people who are deaf; pulling a wheelchair; alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure; reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications; calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack; or performing other duties.

Service animals support a person with disabilities; they are necessities, not pets. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks.

2. Handler

The term “handler” means the person bringing an animal into the library.

3. Emotional Support Animal

An "emotional support animal" is an animal that provides a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional conditions. Although these animals often have therapeutic benefits, they are not individually trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers.

4. Pets

“Pets” are any animal that is not considered a service or emotional support animal.

5. Disability

The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual:

  1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;

  2. A record of such an impairment; or  

  3. Being regarded as having such an impairment.

If an individual meets any one of these three tests, he or she is considered to be an individual with a disability for purposes of coverage under the ADA.

Policy 

Springfield Town Library abides by the ADA requirements and allows service animals in the library. Upon entering the library, a handler will be asked by a library employee the first of the two questions permitted under the ADA:

  1. Is the animal a service animal required because of a disability?

If the answer is “yes”, the handler will be asked the second allowable question:

2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Acceptable responses to question two fall into the following five ADA-defined guidelines for service animals: medical alert, mobility assist, autism support, seeing eye, and psychiatric.  An acceptable response to either question is that the animal is in training.  These answers may be used to explain to any complaining patron why the animal is welcome at the library.

Under the ADA, owners of public accommodations, including libraries, are not required to admit pets or emotional support animals, only service animals.  In the case of a “no” answer to the first question, or an unacceptable response to the second question, the handler will be asked to remove the animal from the library on the basis that it is not a service animal under ADA guidelines. In these cases, Library employees must give the handler the option to obtain Library services without having the animal on the premises.

Staff cannot ask a handler to remove their service animal from the library unless the presence, behavior, or actions of the service animal constitute an unreasonable risk of injury or harm to property or other persons, or the animal is disruptive and the handler does not take effective action to control it.  Handlers must ensure that the proper control and behavior requirements are met while in the library, as follows:

  • The animal must remain under the control of its handler at all times while on Library property by means including a leash, voice control, or hand signals.

  • The animal must not obstruct or disturb any space or activity of the library including but not limited to, programs, spaces, or activities.

  • The animal must not engage in other behaviors or noises that are disruptive to others in the specific environment, including, but not limited to, excessive barking, whining, growling, excessive grooming, and sniffing people, personal belongings of others, and/or tables and eating areas.

In these cases, Library employees must give the handler the option to obtain Library services without having the service animal on the premises. Fear of allergies, annoyance on the part of other patrons or employees, or fear of animal are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to handlers with a service animal.

Exceptions for Library Offerings

Pending approval by the Director or their designee, the library may have animals in the building as part of its educational and recreational offerings.

Animal Endangerment

The Library does not condone leaving animals outside the Library in a way that may endanger the animal or Library patrons. The Library reserves the right to contact the police regarding any unattended animals on its grounds. The Library also reserves the right to ban patrons who repeatedly endanger animals on Library grounds.

Citations and Related References

i) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Title II, Section 35.136 (Revised September 15, 2010); Beginning on March 5, 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals under Titles II and III of the ADA.

ii) Laskin, C. (editor) (2023). Serving Patrons with Disabilities: Perspectives and Insights from People with Disabilities. ALA Editions.

 Initial Adoption Date: May 8, 2024