Dear Library Directors, Can you ban a patron from using the library. This is a person who has PTSD and says that the government is watching him. He says that he is discriminated against by everyone and wears a sign on his back saying stop discrimination. When he is in the library everyone is uneasy including other patrons. Regards,S. DanielsHartford Public Library
I am not a Director but I can tell you that you need to have a policy in place before you can ban anyone from the library. It does not need to be specific to PTSD, but should include what you expect for acceptable behavior and/or non-acceptable behavior. Then when he does not comply you may ask him to leave. If he is a threat to staff or patrons you may need to get your local law enforcement involved. Also, check with your lawyer. Hope this helps! Carol DeBoer Circulation Supervisor Henika District Library 149 S. Main Wayland, MI 49348 269-792-2891 waycd@henikalibrary.org ---------- Original Message ----------- From: stephanie daniels <daniels55@yahoo.com> To: Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:45:32 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Michlib-l] Patron Problem
Dear Library Directors, Can you ban a patron from using the library. This is a person who has PTSD and says that the government is watching him. He says that he is discriminated against by everyone and wears a sign on his back saying stop discrimination. When he is in the library everyone is uneasy including other patrons.
Regards,S. DanielsHartford Public Library ------- End of Original Message -------
Stephanie, The short answer to your question is yes. However… You should have an “expected behavior” policy or “Patron code of conduct” policy. You should be able to clearly identify what code or rule the patron is breaking. At GDL, we will inform patrons who are breaking our code and provide them a copy of the code. We give them a chance to comply with the code. If a patron continues the offending action(s) staff are empowered to ask a patron to leave for the day. Again, they have a chance to come back and conform to the code another day. Habitual offenders are documented and may receive a ban of up to 12 months or even permanent, depending on the severity and other factors of the offending behavior. I’ve been the Director at GDL for about four years and have not banned anyone permanently. Here is link to GDL’s Parton Code of Conduct for your review: https://www.thegdl.org/downloads/Policies/Patron-Code-of-Conduct.pdf :o) Dave David Conklin Director Genesee District Library (810) 230-3335 Office (810) 732-1161 Fax dconklin@thegdl.org Genesee District Library Headquarters 4195 W. Pasadena Avenue Flint, MI 48504 From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org] On Behalf Of stephanie daniels Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 10:46 AM To: Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Patron Problem Dear Library Directors, Can you ban a patron from using the library. This is a person who has PTSD and says that the government is watching him. He says that he is discriminated against by everyone and wears a sign on his back saying stop discrimination. When he is in the library everyone is uneasy including other patrons. Regards, S. Daniels Hartford Public Library
Stephanie- Our method/procedure for dealing with conduct issues is almost exactly the same as Dave's. The important part is having that Patron Behavior Policy/Code of Conduct to be able to show the patron. Otherwise, they actually CAN claim you are discriminating against them. (It's also a good rule of thumb to have this posted in full view of the public - that way they can't claim that they've never seen it before...) Best of luck. Britney Library Director Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library 302 E. Main St. Belding, MI 48809 616.794.1450 "You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!" - The Doctor ---------- Original Message ----------- From: David Conklin <dconklin@thegdl.org> To: stephanie daniels <daniels55@yahoo.com>, Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 19:09:31 +0000 Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Patron Problem
Stephanie, The short answer to your question is yes. [UTF-8?]However⦠You should have an [UTF-8?]âexpected [UTF-8?]behaviorâ policy or [UTF-8?]âPatron code of [UTF-8?]conductâ policy. You should be able to clearly identifywhat code or rule the patron is breaking. At GDL, we will inform patrons who are breaking our code and provide them a copy of the code. We give them a chanceto comply with the code. If a patron continues the offending action(s) staff are empowered to ask a patron to leave for the day. Again, they have a chance to come back and conform to the code another day. Habitual offenders are documented and may receive a ban of up to 12 months or even permanent, depending on the severityand other factors of the offending behavior. [UTF-8?]Iâve been the Director at GDL for about four years and have not banned anyone permanently. Here is link to [UTF-8?]GDLâs Parton Code of Conduct for your review: https://www.thegdl.org/downloads/Policies/Patron-Code-of-Conduct.pdf :o) Dave
David Conklin Director Genesee District Library
(810) 230-3335 Office (810) 732-1161 Fax dconklin@thegdl.org
Genesee District Library Headquarters 4195 W. Pasadena Avenue Flint, MI 48504
From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org]On Behalf Of stephanie daniels Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 10:46 AM To: Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Patron Problem
Dear Library Directors,
Can you ban a patron from using the library. This is a person who has PTSD and says that the government is watching him. He says thathe is discriminated against by everyone and wears a sign on his back saying stop discrimination. When he is in the library everyone is uneasy including other patrons.
Regards,
S. Daniels
Hartford Public Library ------- End of Original Message -------
It is encouraging to me every day to see the support that the library community in Michigan provides to one another. Working with in an environment that is free and open to the public can present its challenges. You all are the people that face these challenges with a smile and open arms each day, while always remembering that the person in front of you is the reason that you are there! Keep it up! Thank you to each and every one of you for all you do for our libraries and in turn our communities! Have a beautiful weekend! Kimberly Young Library Director Houghton Lake Public Library 4431 W Houghton Lake Drive Houghton Lake, MI 48629 989-366-9230 kyoung@hlpl.org On Fri, Feb 17, 2017 at 2:12 PM, BEL Britney Dillon <belbd@llcoop.org> wrote:
Stephanie-
Our method/procedure for dealing with conduct issues is almost exactly the same as Dave's. The important part is having that Patron Behavior Policy/Code of Conduct to be able to show the patron. Otherwise, they actually CAN claim you are discriminating against them. (It's also a good rule of thumb to have this posted in full view of the public - that way they can't claim that they've never seen it before...)
Best of luck.
Britney
Library Director Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library 302 E. Main St. Belding, MI 48809 616.794.1450 <(616)%20794-1450>
"You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!" - The Doctor
*---------- Original Message -----------* From: David Conklin <dconklin@thegdl.org> To: stephanie daniels <daniels55@yahoo.com>, Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 19:09:31 +0000 Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Patron Problem
Stephanie,
The short answer to your question is yes. [UTF-8?]However…
You should have an [UTF-8?]“expected [UTF-8?]behavior†policy or [UTF-8?]“Patron code of [UTF-8?]conduct†policy. You should be able to clearly identify what code or rule the patron is breaking.
At GDL, we will inform patrons who are breaking our code and provide them a copy of the code. We give them a chance to comply with the code. If a patron continues the offending action(s) staff are empowered to ask a patron to leave for the day. Again, they have a chance to come back and conform to the code another day.
Habitual offenders are documented and may receive a ban of up to 12 months or even permanent, depending on the severity and other factors of the offending behavior. [UTF-8?]I’ve been the Director at GDL for about four years and have not banned anyone permanently.
Here is link to [UTF-8?]GDL’s Parton Code of Conduct for your review: https://www.thegdl.org/downloads/Policies/Patron- Code-of-Conduct.pdf
:o) Dave
David Conklin Director Genesee District Library
(810) 230-3335 Office (810) 732-1161 Fax dconklin@thegdl.org
Genesee District Library Headquarters 4195 W. Pasadena Avenue Flint, MI 48504
*From:* michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org] *On Behalf Of *stephanie daniels *Sent:* Friday, February 17, 2017 10:46 AM *To:* Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> *Subject:* [Michlib-l] Patron Problem
Dear Library Directors,
Can you ban a patron from using the library. This is a person who has PTSD and says that the government is watching him. He says that he is discriminated against by everyone and wears a sign on his back saying stop discrimination. When he is in the library everyone is uneasy including other patrons.
Regards,
S. Daniels
Hartford Public Library *------- End of Original Message -------*
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participants (5)
-
BEL Britney Dillon -
David Conklin -
Kimberly Young -
stephanie daniels -
WAY Carol DeBoer