To aid all patrons of the Decatur Public Library in their use of library facilities during regularly scheduled hours, the Library Board of Trustees has published the following use guidelines. These guidelines are taken from the Decatur Public Library Security Policy.

PATRONS SHALL:

• Engage in activities associated with the use of a public library. Patrons not reading, studying, or using library materials may be required to leave the building.
• Respect the rights of other patrons. Patrons shall not harass or annoy others through noisy or boisterous activities, by staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, by following another person about the building with the intent to annoy that person, by playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, by singing or talking loudly (to others or in monologues), or by behaving in a manner which can be reasonably expected to disturb others.

PATRONS SHALL NOT:

• Consume food or beverages, smoke, or use tobacco or tobacco products.
• Engage in any illegal activity while in the library building.
• Interfere with the use of the library by other patrons or interfere with library employees' performance of their duties.
• Deface or mar library materials. Patrons shall not deface, mar, or in any way destroy or damage library furnishings, walls, machines, or other library property.
• Enter the building without a shirt or shoes. Patrons must wear a covering of their upper body and shoes or other footwear. Patrons whose bodily hygiene is offensive so as to constitute a nuisance to other patrons may be required to leave the building.
• Bring pets or animals into the library. (Other than guide dogs for the visually or hearing impaired.)

Each patron shall be responsible for any fines, fees, or other charges due in accordance with the library's standard schedules. Failure to pay these fines will result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.

Any materials removed from the library must be checked out on a valid library card or through other standard library procedures such as inter-library loan.

Any patron not abiding by these or other rules and regulations of the library may be required to leave the library premises.

Any patron who violates these rules and regulations may be denied the privilege of access to the library.

Library employees may contact the Decatur Police if deemed advisable.