Policies

Policy on Library Conduct

The Library is for the use of all citizens of the Westbury School District and guests. No individual or group has the right to create an atmosphere in the Library that discourages other members of the community from enjoying its use. All Library users, staff and visitors are expected to follow the policy of Library use, which has been created to make the Library a welcoming place for the entire Westbury/Carle Place library districts. These policies include:

Behavior that maintains a quiet, orderly, safe and welcoming atmosphere.

• Users entering and leaving the building should speak in low voices and behave in an orderly manner.
• If users are not actively searching for materials in the stack areas, returning or charging out items, or seeking assistance from a staff member, they should be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library, such as studying, reading, doing research, or utilizing a computer, within a reasonable time after entering the library building. Conversations should be limited and in low voices.
• Users are encouraged to seek materials of interest or for school assignments in the stack area. Users are encouraged to seek assistance for finding such materials from the Library staff. The stack areas and other areas of the Library may not be used for running, loitering, loud conversations or horseplay.
• Members of the public who come to the Library to study or work together are encouraged to sign up for the small meeting room so that their conversations do not distract others.
• The consumption of food or beverages within the Library is not permitted.
• Obscene or abusive language is prohibited.
• Loitering inside or outside the Library is not permitted.
• Use of radios, CD players and/or electronic devices in any manner so that sound is transmitted to other patrons is prohibited.

Unless circumstances call for more stringent measures, users who do not comply with any of the above policies will be warned by a member of the Library staff that they are acting in violation of the policies of the Library and will be reminded of the Library’s policy on appropriate conduct. After one warning, if the actions continue, Library staff members will use discretion to give users a second warning or will request that offenders leave the Library property.

Library employees shall contact the appropriate law enforcement agency(ies) if deemed advisable.

Any suspension is subject to review by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the applicable Education Law.

Policy for Use of the Meeting Room

The Westbury Memorial Public Library maintains a meeting room to bring together the resources of the Library with activities and programs that interest the community. The main purpose of the meeting room is to provide a place for Library sponsored programs. When not being used by the Library the room may be made available for public meetings in accordance with the provisions of the New York State Education Law.

Who May Use the Meeting Room

The Meeting Room should be used for programs that educate or entertain and for the free and open exploration of ideas. If may not be used for partisan purposes by any group, political, religious or civic, that seeks solely to advance its own point of view.

The room is not available to organizations for the purpose of transacting regular business meetings or for fund raising or commercial purposes of any kind. Soliciting of contributions is not permitted.

Preference is given to organized groups from within the Westbury community. An outside organization that can demonstrate that at least 50% of its membership resides or works in the Westbury community is eligible to use the room at the discretion of the Director.

Computer Policy

Users must comply with United States copyright and all other applicable law.

User’s must comply with the Library’s applicable rules and procedures.

User’s understand that while using the internet they have access to a wide variety of materials, some of which may be inaccurate or outdated and that he or she uses it at their own risk.

Users understand that the Library makes no warranties, expressed or implied, that the functions of or content accessed through the Westbury Library’s computers, Internet connections or computer resources will meet the user’s specific requirements, or that it will be error-free, trouble-free, current, or uninterrupted.

The user further understands that the Library reserves the right to remove the privileges of anyone who tampers with or damages equipment or programs involved with computers or Internet access, and to charge for damages.

For users under age 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign a computer use form at the Library acknowledging that they understand that their child will be using the library’s computers. That the Internet at the Adult Library is not filtered. That they are responsible for their child’s access to computers and the Internet.

Unattended Children Policy

No child under the age of 9 may be in any library building without a supervising parent or other caretaker over the age of 13 designated by the child’s parent or legal guardian in attendance.

If we find a child under age 9 and we can’t reach a parent or other adult responsible for the care of the child, we will call the police.

Parents must be in the library building before or at closing time to pick up their child. If a child has not been picked up by the time the library closes, the Children’s Librarian-in-charge and Security staff (if available) or Custodian (if available) will wait with your child for no more than 15 minutes and then call the police.