Acceptable Behavior Policy
The South Dennis Free Public Library encourages people of all ages to use its facilities and resources for research, reference, study, reading, and browsing. Good public service requires that the library environment be conducive to study, reading, and research. This necessitates the willingness of all library users to be considerate of the rights of others to work safely and undisturbed. To ensure that such an environment exists, the library has established guidelines for behavior in library facilities.
Photography & Filming Policy
Professional or casual amateur photography, filming, and audio recording is permitted in the Library facilities for patrons and visitors, provided that it does not interfere in any way with Library operations or capture any identifiable likeness of members of the public or the Library staff on duty without their permission.
Child Safety
The South Dennis Free Public Library is committed to providing excellent programs and services for children of all ages. The South Dennis Free Public Library has provided the following policies for parents and caregivers regarding children while visiting the Library in order to promote a safe and welcoming environment for children of all ages.
Failure to comply with one or more of the library’s policies may result in suspension of library privileges.
The South Dennis Free Public Library encourages people of all ages to use its facilities and resources for research, reference, study, reading, and browsing. Good public service requires that the library environment be conducive to study, reading, and research. This necessitates the willingness of all library users to be considerate of the rights of others to work safely and undisturbed. To ensure that such an environment exists, the library has established guidelines for behavior in library facilities.
- Patrons should at all times be aware that they are in a shared, public space. This means that conversation, including cell phone conversation, should be carried on at a level that does not disturb or interfere with other patrons.
- The following activities are inappropriate to the library setting and are prohibited in the South Dennis Free Public Library or on its grounds:
- Smoking or use of tobacco products. This includes, but is not limited to, electronic cigarettes, or electronic vaping devices.
- Creating a disturbance by making noise, talking loudly, or engaging in other disruptive conduct.
- Interfering with another person’s right to use the library or with the library staff’s performance of their duties.
- Verbally or physically threatening or harassing other visitors, library staff or volunteers, including stalking, staring, touching, or using offensive language, and including, but not limited to violence, threats of violence, and possession of weapons.
- Playing audio equipment so that others can hear it.
- Soliciting or canvassing of any kind.
- Leaving a child under the age of ten unattended in the library.
- Defacing library materials or property. Those who damage or deface library materials or property may be prosecuted. Parents may be held liable for damage done by a child under 18.
Photography & Filming Policy
Professional or casual amateur photography, filming, and audio recording is permitted in the Library facilities for patrons and visitors, provided that it does not interfere in any way with Library operations or capture any identifiable likeness of members of the public or the Library staff on duty without their permission.
Child Safety
The South Dennis Free Public Library is committed to providing excellent programs and services for children of all ages. The South Dennis Free Public Library has provided the following policies for parents and caregivers regarding children while visiting the Library in order to promote a safe and welcoming environment for children of all ages.
- The Library is open to a wide cross-section of the public. Patrons should at all times be aware that they are in a shared, public space. Library staff is concerned about your child’s safety but cannot substitute for parents or teachers, and are not babysitters. The responsibility for the safety and behavior of children in the Library rests with the parents, legal guardians, or other responsible caregivers (hereinafter "caregiver"). Library staff is not responsible for the care and safety of unsupervised or unattended children in the library. The Library does not provide transportation, babysitting, or day care services.
- All children in the Library must follow the Acceptable Behavior policy and are expected to use the Library appropriately. Children who do not follow these rules are subject to the same consequences as other library users, including being required to leave the Library or losing library privileges.
- The children's room and programming are reserved for children, their caregivers, and adults interested in children's literature, such as teachers, librarians, and college students taking children's literature classes. Out of concern for the safety of young patrons, adults who are unaccompanied by a child or children in the children's area of the Library may be questioned by staff, and may be asked to move to another area of the Library
- Children under the age of ten may not be left unattended in the Library.
Failure to comply with one or more of the library’s policies may result in suspension of library privileges.