Chapter 2.70
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sections:
2.70.010 Public Library Established.
2.70.020 Board of Library Trustees.
2.70.040 Library Code of Conduct.
2.70.010 Public Library Established.
The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita hereby establishes the Santa Clarita Public Library. The Santa Clarita Public Library shall be governed and operated in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Libraries Act (Education Code Section 18900 et seq.). The establishment of the Santa Clarita Public Library shall be effective July 1, 2011. (Ord. 11-2 § 1, 1/25/11)
2.70.020 Board of Library Trustees.
The Santa Clarita Public Library shall be managed by the Board of Library Trustees, consisting of five (5) members, to be appointed by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Council. Each trustee shall hold office for three (3) years, except the terms of the members of the first Board of Library Trustees shall expire as provided for in Education Code Section 18911. (Ord. 11-2 § 1, 1/25/11)
2.70.030 Meetings.
The Board of Library Trustees shall meet at least once a month at such time and place as they may fix by resolution. (Ord. 11-2 § 1, 1/25/11)
2.70.040 Library Code of Conduct.
A. Purpose. This section establishes a code of conduct expected of persons using the Santa Clarita Public Library (library) and the processes to address violations of this code of conduct. The purposes for the code of conduct are to ensure that all persons have the ability to use library services and resources, to ensure that library staff may efficiently provide library services and resources, to prevent disruption to such library services and resources, and to further a peaceful, quiet, and orderly environment in which to learn.
B. Definitions.
“Children’s area” means the areas of the library specifically designated as such by the library to provide library services and resources that meets the needs of pre-teen and younger library users.
“Code” means the Santa Clarita Municipal Code.
“Crime” has the same definition as Penal Code Section 15. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor crime under Government Code Section 36900.
“Enforcement officer” means the City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee. The City Manager’s designees include, without limitation: the Library Director and library branch managers, the Police Chief and police officers, and the City’s Code Enforcement Supervisor and code enforcement officers.
“Library” means all of the Santa Clarita Public Library branch locations, including but not limited to their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores.
“Library premises” means the library, and library grounds and parking facilities to the extent that the grounds or parking facilities are owned, controlled, or maintained by the City.
“Library privileges” means the privilege of entering onto library premises and utilizing any services or resources of the Santa Clarita Public Library.
“Service animal” means a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Shoe” means an item with a sole worn on the human foot.
“Smoke” or “smoking” has the same definition contained in Section 9.50.020.
“Teens’ area” means the areas of the library specifically designated as such by the library to provide library services and resources that meets the needs of young adult and teen library users under age eighteen (18).
“Wheeled conveyances” means any wheeled device used for conveyance or transportation, including bicycles, skates, skateboards, collapsible scooters, wheelies, and hover boards. This does not include medically required equipment, or wheelchairs or strollers carrying people who cannot use the library facilities without the assistance of such devices.
C. Criminal Conduct. A person may not commit or attempt to commit any crime punishable under state or federal law or this code on library premises, including, but not limited to:
1. Assault or battery, as defined in Penal Code Sections 240 and 242.
2. Theft, as defined in Penal Code Section 484.
3. Obstructing or intimidating business operators, public agencies or customers, as defined in Penal Code Section 602.1.
4. Vandalism, as defined in Penal Code Section 594.
5. Indecent exposure or lewd or obscene conduct, as defined in Penal Code Section 314.
6. Possession of designated controlled substances, as defined in Health and Safety Code Sections 11350 and 11351.
7. Disorderly conduct, as defined in Penal Code Section 647.
8. Trespass, as defined in Penal Code Sections 602 and 634.
9. Smoking or using tobacco products, as defined in Section 9.50.030.
10. Curfew violations, as defined in Chapter 11.56.
11. Consumption of alcohol in a public place, as defined in Chapter 11.18.
12. Aggressive solicitation, as defined in Chapter 11.35.
13. Sale, distribution, or exhibition of obscene matter, as defined in Penal Code Sections 311 and 311.5.
D. Rules of Conduct. The following behaviors are disruptive and do not further a peaceful, quiet, and orderly environment to learn. In addition to the criminal conduct listed in subsection (C) of this section, no person may engage in any of the following activities or behaviors while on library premises:
1. Loud or disruptive behavior, including yelling, talking loudly, running, throwing objects, abusive or threatening language, or other behavior which disturbs the quiet environment of the library.
2. Use of profane, obscene, imminently threatening, or violent language toward library staff or other persons.
3. Harassment of or the making of unwanted verbal or physical advances toward library staff or persons on library premises.
4. Possession of any unlawful or illegal substance on library premises.
5. Use of personal equipment in the library (such as cellular phones and audio players) in a manner that is disruptive, noisy, or unsafe. Personal equipment or electronic devices must be muted and made inaudible to other persons while in the library. Cell phones must be set to mute or vibrate.
6. Possession of any beverage in the library without a spill-proof lid.
7. Consumption of any food or beverages in a nondesignated location within the library.
8. Bringing, possessing, or maintaining on the library premises any garbage or item that emits a foul odor that disturbs other library users or staff.
9. Bringing or using any shopping carts or other wheeled conveyances within the library, on entryways or walkways, in a manner that blocks any passageway on library premises.
10. Smoking or use of any tobacco products in the library or within twenty (20) feet of entrances to the library.
11. Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages on library premises, unless otherwise approved by the City as part of a special event.
12. Leaving backpacks, suitcases, or other large items unattended in the library (other than leaving them at a study carrel while researching the collection for materials), or keeping those items with one in a manner that obstructs entrances, exits, aisles or passageways, or otherwise impedes access to library resources and services.
13. Bringing animals, other than service animals, there solely to assist a person with disabilities with tasks directly related to that person’s disability, into library branch locations, including but not limited to their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores.
14. Use of library facilities for the purpose of sleeping, bathing, shaving, washing clothes or other similar activities.
15. Entering the library or remaining in library branch locations, including, but not limited to, their collection areas, meeting rooms, and stores, without wearing shoes, clothes that cover the upper torso area or clothes that cover the lower torso area.
16. Soliciting, panhandling, selling products without written authorization from library staff, or otherwise conducting business (including tutoring for a fee) within the library.
17. By a person eighteen (18) years of age or older, and in the absence of accompanying children or the permission of library staff, use or occupancy of the children’s areas of the library; these areas are specifically designed to meet the needs of young library users and must remain open to those users and the adults accompanying them.
18. Moving library equipment or furniture without library staff knowledge or permission.
19. Tampering with library equipment such as computers, rental equipment, photocopy machines, elevators.
20. Carrying or possessing on library premises weapons such as guns, chains, clubs, and knives.
21. Making unauthorized entry into any “staff only” area in the library premises.
22. Refusing to relinquish computer equipment or other library resources after scheduled time period for use has expired.
23. Causing overcrowding in library seating areas by sitting more than four (4) persons to a table, two (2) persons to a computer workstation, or one (1) person to a carrel or chair.
24. Failure to leave the library at closing time.
25. Open display of obscene and/or pornographic imagery.
E. Supervision of Minors.
1. No person under the age of eleven (11) years of age may enter, use, or remain on library premises without being accompanied by a person thirteen (13) years of age or older.
2. Any person thirteen (13) years of age or older, who brings a child under the age of eleven (11) years of age into the library, must supervise and accompany that child at all times.
F. Enforcement.
1. Any enforcement officer may enforce against any violation of the rules of conduct contained in this section.
2. A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
3. In the alternative, an enforcement officer may enforce against any violation of this section by issuing notices of violation or administrative citations. The enforcement officer may issue a notice of violation or an administrative citation to a person in violation of the rules of conduct in accordance with Chapter 23.20. The enforcement officer may order the removal of any person from the library for any violation of the rules of conduct concurrently with the issuance of an administrative citation. Any person removed pursuant to such an order may not re-enter onto library premises for the remainder of the business day. Any person who re-enters the library premises after such removal will be considered a trespasser.
G. Suspension of Library Privileges. In addition to any other punishment provided for at law, any person who commits or attempts to commit a crime or violates one (1) or more of the rules of conduct set forth in this section while on library premises may have their library privileges suspended. A person whose library privileges have been suspended may not enter onto library premises or use the services of the Santa Clarita Public Library during the term of their suspension. A written notice of suspension of library privileges will be issued to the person.
The following table governs the length of a suspension of library privileges based upon the nature of the prohibited conduct. The numbers represent the initial and any repeated occurrence of a violation and shows the corresponding penalty.
Any additional violation(s) beyond the highest incident number stated on the table below will result in the same highest prohibition noted. For example, body odor is subject to a warning for the first incident and a one (1) day suspension for the second. For every violation after the second, the penalty will also be a one (1) day suspension. The same applies to more serious offenses. For example, the fourth incident of vandalism and every incident of vandalism thereafter will result in a one (1) year suspension of library privileges.
|
Conduct and Code Section. See Code Sections above for full definition. |
Warning Issued |
1 Day |
1 Month |
3 Month |
6 Month |
1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alcohol C11, D11 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Animals in the building D13 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Assault or battery C1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Odor D8 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unattended minors E2, E3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Clothing and footwear D15 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Theft of library materials or equipment C2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Vandalism C4 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
Indecent exposure, lewd or obscene conduct C5 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Possession of controlled substance C6 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Solicitation/conducting business/sales C14, D16 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Loud or disruptive behavior D1 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Unwanted verbal or physical advances D3, C4 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Profane, obscene, violent, threatening language D2 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
Disruptive use of personal electronic equipment D5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Food and beverages D6, D7 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Wheeled conveyance blocking walkways D9 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Smoking C9, D10 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
Unattended items D12 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Use of facilities for sleeping, bathing, washing clothes D14 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unauthorized adults in the children or teen area D17 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Tampering with or misuse of library equipment D19 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Weapons D20 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
Moving furniture/equipment D18, D23 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Unauthorized entry D21 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Obstructing operations C3 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Failure to leave building at closing C24 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
Showing visually explicit materials C13, D25 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
H. Fines. The City Council may set by resolution the fines to be assessed for violations of the rules of conduct. If no amount is specified by resolution of the City Council, the fines set forth in Section 23.20.060 may apply.
I. Appeals. A person may appeal an administrative citation or suspension of library privilege in accordance with the administrative hearing procedures outlined in Chapter 23.20. (Ord. 17-3 § 3 (Exh. A), 2/28/17; Ord. 23-1 § 3 (Exh. A), 2/14/23)