Disruptive Behavior Policy

Customers whose behavior is disruptive to the Libraries’ operations or services, or infringes the rights, safety or well-being of others, may be asked to leave the facility, referred to The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility, and/or have their library privileges revoked.

Illegal behaviors or activities are never tolerated in the Libraries.  Library staff will immediately call Ohio University Police if illegal behaviors or activities are witnessed or reported.

Disruptive behavior is any activity by which a library customer:

• Violates the Student Code of Conduct
• Impedes or interferes with library operations or the acceptable and legitimate activities of other customers
• May cause damage to library equipment or furnishings
• Endangers the perpetrator or others
• Repeatedly violates other Libraries’ or University policies such as:
  • Acceptable Usage (of information technology systems)
  • Children in the Libraries
  • Collecting Research Data in the Libraries
  • Filming and Photographing in the Library
  • Hours and Access
  • Meditation Room
  • Solicitation, Postings, and Distribution of Materials
  • Study Space Noise Guidelines
  • Smoke and Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Library customers found to be engaging in behavior that is deemed disruptive by library staff will be asked to immediately cease such behavior.  If a library customer fails to stop or repeats the disruptive behavior, the library customer will be asked to leave the library for the remainder of the day.  Failure to comply with reasonable staff requests will result in library staff contacting the Ohio University Police.

Depending on the extent and nature of the policy violation and the affiliation of the library customer, library staff may choose to:

1. file a complaint with The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility to be addressed by the Community Standards Process (when the offending library customer is a student), or
2. work with Ohio University Police Department to consider banning the offender from the Libraries, in accordance with University Policy 02.002: Banning (when the offending library customer is a not a student).

The Ohio University Libraries are components of a publicly supported institution that provides access to information and services. Library staff take seriously our obligations and responsibilities related to intellectual freedom.  We stand in support of the University’s Statement of Commitment to Free Expression and University Policy 01.042: Use of Indoor Spaces.  In addition to the civil rights guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the library profession is guided by the following service statements:

1. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background or views. — Library Bill of Rights.
2. Librarians must provide the highest level of service through appropriate and usefully organized collections, fair and equitable circulation and service policies, and skillful, accurate, unbiased and courteous responses to all requests for assistance. — American Library Association Code of Ethics.

Staff members strive to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the enjoyment and comfort of all. It is also a responsibility of staff to preserve and protect library, archival, and technological resources and facilities. In providing customer service, it is important that staff strive to differentiate between situations that require tolerance and those that require action but will always err on the side of safety to our customers.