General Rules of Conduct and Appearance
Library patrons are expected to act with consideration for other Library Users and for Staff who are providing service. Conduct within the Library or on Library grounds that hinders Patrons from using the Library or Library materials is considered obstructive. Conduct that results or may result in harming people or property, or that interferes with Staff members providing service or performing their duties is considered disruptive. Specific disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Smoking or use of tobacco in any form, including ecigarettes either in the building or within 15 feet of an entrance
• Failure to wear shoes
• While food and beverages are allowed in the Library, Library Staff has the right to ask a Patron to consume food or drink in the front vestibule by the main entrance if food or drink becomes a distraction or nuisance to other Library Users or to Staff.
• Illicit possession, distribution, or use of controlled drugs or other substances
• Consumption or distribution of alcoholic beverages
• Possession, distribution or use of explosives, firearms, or other dangerous weapons as defined in the Illinois Compiled Statute (720 ILCS 5/24.1 et seq.) See “Firearms” below for complete policy regarding carrying concealed weapons on Library property.
• Solicitation on Library property
• Disruptive noise or conduct
• Failure to observe posted notices
• Improper parking
• Intimidation or unwelcome remarks to other Library Users or Staff
• Willful disregard of circulation or other service rules, or failure to observe a reasonable instruction from a Staff member
• Extended sleeping
• Theft or vandalism of Library property or the property of other Patrons
• Use of restroom facilities to launder clothes, bathe, or as a gathering place
• Damage, mutilation, or removal from the premises without authorization any part of the Library collection, building, furnishings, or equipment.
• Damage or alteration of any computer system hardware or software configuration
• Entering unauthorized areas, remaining in the building after closing or when requested to leave during emergency situations or due to disruptive behavior
• Patrons whose bodily hygiene is offensive as to constitute a disruption to others as determined by Staff shall be required to leave the building and may return when the problem has been corrected.
• Engaging in any illegal acts or conduct in violation of Federal, State or local law, ordinance, or regulation
• Leaving personal belongings unattended — belongings that have been left unattended on Library property while the Library is closed or for a period of 8 hours will be considered abandoned. Vehicle abandonment (including bicycles) will be reported to the police and are subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Other abandoned items will be secured for a period of 1 month, and after that period will be disposed of appropriately.

Acts of vandalism, theft, substance abuse, verbal or physical abuse or other more serious offenses will be reported to the police.

Any professional Librarian or Department Head witnessing willfully disruptive behavior or responding to a complaint from another Patron of such behavior is empowered to eject the Patron or group of Patrons causing the disruption for the rest of the day. Children fourteen years of age and under will be detained until a parent or responsible adult can be found to collect them.

The Library Director is authorized to suspend service or ban a Patron for up to one year. Restrictions for longer periods must be approved by the Board. Notices of suspension may be given verbally but will be accompanied by a written notice to the person, parent or responsible adult that describes the offending behavior. The Library Director will meet with the Patron to discuss the facts and circumstances prior to suspending Library privileges Patrons who refuse to leave the Library when requested to leave by a Staff member, or who return to the Library when they are banned from the premises, will be reported to the police and may be prosecuted for trespassing.

Any Patron banned from the premises may file a written request for reinstatement to the Library Board within one week after having been banned. The Board will review the request in a timely manner in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/) and render a decision. The decision of the Library Board is final (75 ILCS 16/30-55.55).

Fines
Residents of the Eisenhower Public Library District, which includes residents of Norridge and Harwood Heights, will not be charged late fines for overdue items. When one or more items are overdue, the patron’s library card account may be blocked from further checkouts until the overdue materials are returned or renewed.

Reciprocal library cardholders, however, will be charged overdue fines as per the Library’s fine schedule.

At 42 days overdue, all patrons, including residents of the Eisenhower Public Library District, will be billed for any materials still outstanding on their accounts.

At 60 days overdue, any patron account may be sent to collections. In the event that a patron is sent to collections, the patron’s account will be assessed a $10.00 collections fee.

Lost or Damaged Materials
Patrons will be billed for lost library materials. In addition to the cost of the item, patrons will be charged a non-refundable processing fee of $5.00 per item.

In some circumstances, patrons may purchase a replacement copy of the lost item and pay the non-refundable processing fee of $5.00 per item. The purchase of an exact replacement is limited to the following criteria: the item must have been published/released within the last twelve months and must be in one of these formats: book, compact disc, DVD, console game or Blu-Ray. The replacement item must be new and all media items must still be in their original packaging, unopened.

In the event that a patron loses an item on loan from another library, the patron must pay the replacement cost and the processing fee for the material. A replacement copy may not be purchased.

Refunds for lost items will only be issued thirty days from the date of payment and if the item is returned in good condition. All refunds are at the discretion of the Library.

Billing and Credit Agency
The Library uses a credit agency to retrieve overdue materials. If, after billing, the material has not been returned or paid for, the account will be forwarded to the credit agency. All credit agency fees incurred by the Library will be passed on to the patron.

Chicago Patrons
As a library which reciprocates borrowing with the Chicago Public Library, the Eisenhower Library upholds, for Chicago patrons, the circulation policies of the Chicago Public Library. Find Chicago Public Library card holder privileges and limitations o our Borrowing Terms and Fines page.

Reciprocal Borrowing Reasonable Restrictions
The Eisenhower Public Library District’s Trustees and staff believe in resource sharing and therefore make every effort to comply willingly with state and system reciprocal borrowing requirements. The Eisenhower Public Library District reserves the right to impose reasonable restrictions to reciprocal borrowers on high-demand physical material collections, such as our Eisenhower Exclusives collection, in order to offer first access to the District’s tax payers. The Eisenhower Public Library District makes every effort to duplicate titles that appear in special physical collections such as these in our regular physical collection, which is holdable and able to be checked out to all valid library card holders in good standing from Illinois public libraries.

Parental Responsiblity
Library staff is responsible for providing the best possible Library services for all users. The Library does not provide child care. Staff cannot and will not be responsible for monitoring children or a child’s Library material selections. Parents are responsible for their children while the children are in the Library.

Children under the age of 10 must be attended by a parent or caregiver age 14 or older at all times while in the Library.

All children under the age of 14 must be picked up by closing time. If no parent arrives within 20 minutes after closing time, Library staff will attempt to contact a parent or caregiver. If no one is available, Staff will contact the police to provide custody.

Levels of Conversation
There are three levels of speaking volume allowed in the Library, designated by a color. Levels are posted in the public areas. Mobile devices must be silenced or set to vibrate in all areas, as indicated. Staff members have the right to hold conversations with patrons in any area and necessary volume for the purpose of assistance or to convey vital information.

• Green Level – The volume needed to conduct business or hold normal social conversation. Brief cell phone conversations are allowed provided the conversation does not impede Library use for other Patrons. Mobile devices must be set to vibrate or silent. Our Community has many residents who have reduced levels of hearing. In these cases, the allowed conversation level between Staff and Patron is unrestricted.
• Yellow Level – A volume that is quieter than a social level, one that is respectful of Library Patrons who require a quieter atmosphere appropriate for concentration. Extremely brief cell phone conversations are allowed provided the conversation is maintained at an extremely low level. Mobile devices must be set to vibrate or silent.
• Red Level – No talking, no cell phone conversations. Mobile devices must be set to silent.

Patrons are not allowed to set their own standards. Staff members will interpret the appropriate level of conversation and cell phone use.

The Teen Space
The Teen Space is for use by patrons in 7th through 12th grade.

If adults or patrons younger than 7th grade, or older than 12th grade, are in the Space they will be asked to leave and offered another space in the Library. Adults may come into the Space to have short conversations with patrons. Longer conversations should be held outside of the Space.

• While using the Space, patrons are expected to follow these rules:
• Keep voices and conversations at a respectful level
• Respect everyone’s right to study and work.
• Turn off cell phone ringers and use headphones when watching and listening to videos or playing music.
• Use appropriate language.
• Put library materials on carts, return laptops and chargers to Answers Desk.
• Return furniture to its proper place.
• As in the rest of the library food and drink are allowed. Clean the Space before leaving. There are trash and recycling cans in the Teen Space.

If patrons are not following the rules they will be given two warnings. If a third warning is necessary, they will be asked to leave the Teen Space.

In the case of actions that violate the library behavior policy, patrons will be asked to leave immediately.

Guns on Library Property
The Eisenhower Public Library follows Illinois State Law which prohibits the carrying of any weapon, concealed or partially concealed, in the library building or on library property. In conformance with State Statute, the Library will post at all entrances to the building, driveways, and parking areas of the Library the required signs as approved by the State Police. Any violators will be reported to law enforcement and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Internet Use
In keeping with our Mission Statement to empower Patrons of all ages to be successful and informed members of the Community, we offer Internet access to our Library users. We believe access to the Internet is important to the Community, as it serves as a gateway to reliable and trusted resources, as well as to outlets of entertainment that can be essential to the enrichment of the lives of our Community members. While not all information accessible via the Internet is reliable, we firmly believe that the potential value of information available through the Internet far outweighs the possibility that users may come across material that is inconsistent with the goals of the Library.

About the Internet
The Internet is a global network of computer systems providing access to vast amounts of information. By navigating through the Internet, Users will be able to participate in a worldwide exchange of information. The Internet is an ever-changing forum of information and a wide variety of ideas may be expressed. The Library does not and cannot control the content obtained from the sources via the Internet. Users must keep the following points in mind when evaluating information obtained from the Internet:

• Information may not be accurate or current.
• Information may not be valid or reliable.
• Access to various sites is often unpredictable and availability may be uncertain.
• Certain information may be considered offensive, inappropriate, or controversial by some users.
• Some sites exist only for commercial purposes.

We urge users to be informed and to carefully evaluate information obtained from the Internet. The Library is not responsible for damages, indirect or direct, arising from a Patron’s use of Internet information resources.

Obscene Material
The Eisenhower Public Library District prohibits the use of Library equipment or the Library’s Internet connection (wireless and wired) to access obscene material, child pornography, or material that can be considered harmful to minors (720 ILCS 5/11-21). The Eisenhower Public Library District reserves the right to suspend Library privileges of persons who violate this policy. In addition, persons who violate this policy may be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities, in accordance with the applicable local, state and federal laws and statutes.

Privacy of Information between Staff and Public
The relationship between staff and patrons is confidential. Information about patron records, circulation records, or reference assistance may not be revealed to any person or governmental agency (police, F.B.I., etc.) without authorization by the Board of Trustees through legal council.

No requests for information concerning a patron’s use of library materials shall be communicated in any way to any person other than the patron except pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, a certified copy of a court order or as otherwise required under the Illinois Confidentiality of Records Act, Illinois Compiled Statutes, (75 ILCS 16/1-25).

Study Rooms
The library provides study rooms for individuals or small groups of up to six people. Each room has the capacity posted on a sign outside the room.

• Norridge and Harwood Heights residents with valid library cards may reserve study rooms up to one week in advance.
• Non-residents and residents without valid library cards may reserve the next available room in-person, on a first-come, first-served basis (During the COVID 19 pandemic, study rooms are only available to Norridge and Harwood Heights residents with valid library cards)
• Study room reservations are limited to two hours per person, per day.
• Reservations will be held for 30 minutes. If a study room is left unoccupied for 30 minutes or more, the staff reserves the right to re-assign the room. Forfeited reservations count as the two hour limit for the day (a no-show patron cannot book again that day).
• The patron who made the reservation must be in the room for the duration of the reservation.
• The library is not responsible for items left in study rooms.
  Room use is governed by the Answers’ staff.

Meeting Room
The Eisenhower Public Library District provides meeting rooms for community groups when such use will not interfere with the primary functions of the Library. As a limited public forum, the Library meeting room use will not be denied to any person or organization because of any characteristic that is protected by applicable law or because of the viewpoint or beliefs of that person or organization. These include actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other characteristic that is protected by applicable law. The Library Board subscribes to the tenets of the Library Bill of Rights, which states in part: “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.” Use of the meeting room does not constitute library endorsement of the viewpoints expressed by the participants in the programs.

Priority
First priority for use of the meeting rooms is given to Library-sponsored meetings or programs followed by Norridge and Harwood Heights Eisenhower Library Card holders with cards in good standing.

The following groups also may use meeting rooms for cultural, civic, and informal educational purposes:

• Library-related groups
• Norridge and Harwood Heights governmental organizations or representatives
• Not-for-profit organizations/corporations (as defined by 805 ILCS 105 and with proof of not-for-profit status)
• Non-business related local clubs or organizations
• Businesses holding non-commercial meeting for training or educational purposes may use the Meeting Room for a fee
• A single group or individual may book up to 12 meetings per year, once a month.
• The Meeting Room may not be used for gatherings of a purely social nature.

In each case, an adult cardholder must take responsibility for the group’s use of the room by signing a reservation and use agreement which includes an indemnification requirement. Children should not be left unattended or allowed to roam the library. All users are responsible for complying with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which require that a meeting or materials at a meeting be provided in an accessible format in response to a request.

All non-fee paying meetings (A-D listed above) must be open to the public, and groups may not charge admission nor solicit or require donations for their meetings.

All meetings must begin no earlier than one half hour after the library opens and must end no later than one half hour before the library closes.

Reservations
The Meeting rooms may be reserved only by a person with an Eisenhower Public Library District card in good standing or an officer of a business. This contact person is responsible for the room. He or she must be present at the library before staff will open the meeting room to the group, and he or she must be present throughout the scheduled meeting. The Meeting Room may be reserved no more than 90 days in advance once all library programs for the season are confirmed, and must be reserved at least seven working days in advance. All meetings must be open to the public, and groups may not charge admission nor solicit or require donations for their meetings.

• Meeting Room reservation request forms (agreement, dates requested, setup, and signed consent) must
  be submitted to the Business and Community Liaison at least one week before the requested date.
• Reservations are not final until confirmed by library staff.
• Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
• A group may meet a maximum of 12 times per year
• An individual may make a maximum of 12 meeting room reservations per year.
• The room may be booked no more than 90 days in advance once all library programs are confirmed for
  the season.
• The contact person should notify the library of a cancellation as soon as possible but no less than 24 hours in advance. Repeated cancellations or unused reservations (2 or more within a 12-month period) will result in denial of future meeting room use.

Fees

• Library-related groups, Norridge/Harwood Heights governmental organizations, non-profit groups (as
  defined by 805 ILCS 105) and non-business related local clubs and organizations may use the meeting
  rooms free of charge
• Businesses will be charged a fee of $100 for the first hour and $75 for each additional hour or portion
  thereof for meeting room use. Businesses may use the room only for non-commercial meetings.
• Any group requesting use of the kitchen will be charged a fee of $50.
• Any group may use the meeting room projector free of charge if requested in advance. It is
  recommended that equipment compatibility be checked before the date of the event.
• When applicable, all fees must be received within two weeks after a reservation is confirmed. For
  meetings which are scheduled less than two weeks in advance, payment must be made at the time of
  reservation.

Hours:
Meetings may be scheduled during the following times for a period up to four hours.
Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Groups may arrive at the meeting room no more than 30 minutes before the meeting begins.

Clean-Up:
The room must be returned to its original condition at the end of the meeting. A fee commensurate with the work required, but not less than $25, will be charged if the room is not left in its original condition. The organization will be barred from further use of the room and the contact person’s library card will be blocked until any such fees are paid.

Damage:
No alterations may be made to the room, and nothing may be attached to the walls. No flames of any kind are permitted, including lit candles and sterno cooking fuel. Costs for damage resulting from use of the meeting room that requires replacement or professional cleaning will be the responsibility of the contact person. The organization will be barred from further use of the room and the contact person’s library card will be blocked until such damages are paid.

Publicity:
All publicity must state that the Eisenhower Public Library District is not a sponsor of the organization’s program.

Regular Use by Groups:
Groups may not use the Library’s address or phone number as the organization’s contact point. Groups may not store any items at the Library.

Food:
Only non-alcoholic beverages, cold snacks, or delivered food such as box lunches or pizzas may be served in the meeting rooms. All supplies must be provided by the organization hosting the event.

Kitchen:
Only one group at a time may reserve the kitchen. There is a fee of $50 for use of the kitchen. Use of kitchen includes use of the coffee maker and filtered water station. You must bring your own coffee grounds and filters to use the coffee maker, and any serving trays or utensils you may need. Any items left behind in the kitchen after your event will be held for 24 hours and then discarded.

Supervision:
Adequate supervision by at least one adult per 10 children must be provided for groups of young people less than 18 years of age.

Staff Assistance:
The Meeting Room and any equipment will be set up in advance as requested on the Meeting Room Setup form. We recommend testing for compatibility if you plan to use the projector. Room setup and equipment will not be changed on the day of the meeting.

Penalties:
Failure to comply with the above regulations will result in loss of meeting room privileges. In the case of a serious disturbance, the group will be asked to vacate the room immediately, and the police will be called. Please refer to the Library User Behavior Policy for more information.

Conference Room
The Eisenhower Public Library Conference Room is reserved for use by the Board of Trustees and staff of the Eisenhower Public Library District. Use of the conference room by groups or individuals outside the Library is prohibited except in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Library Director.

Distribution and Posting
As a community service, Eisenhower Public Library District provides bulletin board and a pamphlet rack for the display or distribution of information of interest to Norridge and Harwood Heights residents. Persons wishing to display/distribute information must submit this material either in person or via mail to the administrative office. Appropriate material will be placed on the bulletin board or in the display racks, space permitting. Any material appearing in the display racks without prior approval will be removed immediately. All items on display are considered temporary, and library staff will decide how long material remains on display. Library staff will not be responsible for loss or damage of material on display and material will be discarded when removed. Due to limited space, large items (or large quantities) will not be accepted. Preference will be given to organizations within Norridge or Harwood Heights. Any questions concerning placement of material on the bulletin board or display rack should be directed to Library Staff.

Content Guidelines
The Library will display posters and flyers advertising events and activities of local cultural, service non-profit, or government organizations. The library also will distribute or display education or information materials which are of general interest to a substantial number of people in Norridge and Harwood Heights. No personal notices or advertisements by for-profit businesses will be accepted for display or distribution.

Newspaper Display
A small number of non-partisan, non-sectarian newspapers which are of general interest to Norridge and Harwood Heights residents also may be distributed, free of charge, at the Library.

Solicitation
The Board of Library Trustees of the Eisenhower Public Library District finds that solicitation, as well as distribution of non-Library materials, on Library premises can interfere with the normal operations of the Library, can be detrimental to efficiency, can be annoying and disruptive to Library patrons and can pose a threat to security. For these reasons, it is the policy of the Eisenhower Public Library that soliciting funds or signatures, conducting membership drives, posting, distributing non-Library literature or gifts, offering to sell or to purchase merchandise or services, or engaging in any other form of solicitation, distribution other than Library sponsored activities on Library premises is prohibited.

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to set guidelines that balance the privacy rights of library staff and patrons with the reasonable use of cameras for photography and recording on library property. For the purposes of this policy, “recordings” includes video, audio, and live streaming. “Specialized equipment” refers to larger equipment that could impede foot traffic or create a similar disturbance to library operations. “Photography” includes still images.

Photography and Recordings by Library Patrons
While the Library is a public place, it is considered a “limited public forum” under federal law. Public libraries may reasonably restrict the exercise of free speech rights in their buildings, particularly when the conduct would disrupt or interfere with other visitors or staff or be inconsistent with the Library’s mission.

Subject to the preceding paragraph, permission is not required to take photographs or recordings in the public areas of the library for personal, non-commercial use if non-specialized equipment is used. If specialized equipment is to be used, requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance to the Library Director. Photographs and recordings are not allowed in non-public areas (restrooms and staff only areas) unless consent is given by the Library Director. Permission to photograph or record any person under 18 years of age must be obtained from a parent/guardian on behalf of said minor child. Library staff reserve the right to stop anyone from taking photographs or recordings if it compromises a patron or staff member’s right to privacy, results in disruption of normal library operation, is deemed to be harassing, intimidating, or threatening toward a patron or staff member, or if the activity blocks walkways, doors, or stairways. Taking photographs and recordings of the exterior building and grounds does not require permission but the activity may not impede the ingress or egress to or from the library building or property.

Library Board Meetings
Refer to Resolution 2013-6 for information regarding unofficial recording of The Eisenhower Public Library Board Meetings by tape, film or other means.

Photography and Recordings by Library Staff
The staff of the Eisenhower Public Library District routinely takes pictures, audio recordings or video recordings of events at the Library to use for news stories or publicity, in either print or online. These photographs and/or audio or video recordings may appear in future publications without the permission of the person being photographed and/or audio or video recorded. The images may also be posted on the Library’s website, in marketing materials, and on social media networks such as Facebook. All Library patrons consent to the use of their photo or audio or video recording taken at the Library or during Library events, unless they specifically inform a librarian or the staff member in charge of the program attended of an objection to such use. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, no names will be utilized in conjunction with photos or video or audio recordings without prior express written consent (Appendix A). Individuals under the age of 18 will not be identified in photos or video or audio recordings without prior express written consent of a parent or guardian. This policy extends to photographs and recordings by library staff at any of the library’s outreach events in the community.

Library Security Use of Video Recordings
The Eisenhower Public Library strives to maintain a safe and secure environment for its staff and patrons and as such, selected public areas of the library premises are under continuous video surveillance and recording. Signs disclosing video surveillance will be posted at the library entrance. It is the intent of the library to retain all recorded images for a minimum of 30 days. Staff will follow record retention guidelines when disposing of video recordings. Access to the recordings are only available to staff members on the Person-in-Charge list and the Library Board President. Video recordings from the library’s surveillance system are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Library Security Video General Guidelines:

• Video recordings will be used to identify the person or persons responsible for library policy violations, criminal activity, or actions considered disruptive to normal library operations.
• Video recordings may be used to assist law enforcement agencies in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
• Video recordings of incidents can be retained and reviewed as long as considered necessary by the Library Director.
• Images may be shared with other library staff to identify person(s) banned from library property and to maintain a safe and secure environment.

Liability and Enforcement
Members of the public who take photographs or recordings are solely liable for any injuries to persons or property that result from their activities on library property. They are responsible for obtaining necessary releases and permissions required by law and obtaining consent or other permission when taking photographs or recordings of copyrighted material. Library staff reserve the right to ask any individual or group who violates this policy to cease taking photographs or recordings on library property.