Conduct
Policy
March 27,
2006
The Central
Library seeks to create a welcoming, comfortable, and safe environment for our
users. The library is a place for learning and reflection, and our staff supports
these activities by providing helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable service.
Mutual courtesy and respect among users and staff are essential to promoting
the educational mission of the library.
One of our
highest goals is to create a setting where our users feel free to pursue research
and study without compromising their privacy or safety. Equally important is
protecting the physical integrity of our books, journals, and other resources.
These materials form the intellectual core of the library, and we endeavor to
assure that users have access to sources of information that are in serviceable
condition. Computing equipment is another vital resource that we must protect.
We prohibit the following
behaviors because they are destructive of a productive and helpful library environment.
Abuse of property:
- Mutilating library materials.
Marking, highlighting, or underlining text and writing upon or folding pages
may seem harmless, but these actions deface books or journals and interfere
with other users' ability to read and enjoy them. Removing pages, portions
of pages, or bindings are selfish acts of vandalism that deny effective use
of the materials to others. Removing electronic theft devices decreases our
ability to protect university property and may be considered an act of preparation
for theft. Users wishing to mark or keep pages should photocopy them at one
of our public photocopiers located throughout the library.
- Removing materials from
the library without checking them out.
- Concealing library materials
for the exclusive use of an individual or group.
- Failing to pay fees charged
by the library to replace items borrowed and not returned.
- Failing to return recalled
items.
- Stealing library property
or the personal property of users or staff. Our users can help us protect
against thefts by attending to their property at all times.
- Tampering with computer
software. This includes altering, deleting, damaging, or destroying any computer
system, computer program, or data. We also prohibit installing software not
approved by library staff. These actions are comparable to mutilating print
materials in that they limit other users' ability to use the resources effectively.
- Vandalizing or defacing
the library building, furniture, or equipment.
Personal behavior:
- Carrying weapons in
the library.
- Causing a disturbance
or engaging in other behavior that impedes others' safe and comfortable use
of the library. Proscribed behavior includes (but is not limited to) verbal
abuse, threats of violence, sexual harassment, or stalking another person
(following them around the library building). Also prohibited is harassment
on account of race, religion, ethnic background, gender, or sexual orientation.
- Making excessive noise. The Central Library strives to provide a place for its users that is conducive to study and research. Please be considerate of your fellow library users by keeping noise to a minimum. We have designated some locations as appropriate for group study, where you can converse without disturbing others. These locations are marked by "Group Study" signs. Although normal conversational levels are necessary and appropriate for personal interaction with library staff or other library users, courtesy is a primary consideration. Conversations should not be loud enough to disturb those engaged in reading, research, and study. Sound from headphones should not be audible to others.
- Cell phones should be set to no-ring (vibrate) mode upon entering the library. We permit cell phone use in stairwells, the second floor lobby, and the photocopier room on level four. Use of cell phones in other locations can be disruptive. If you need to use a cell phone in the library, please do so in our stairwells or in other areas marked with "Cell Phone Zone" signs.
- Consuming alcoholic beverages
or illegal drugs in the library.
- Eating food in the library.
We permit nonalcoholic drinks in closed containers, but food residue attracts
insects that often eat paper and make everyone's library experience unpleasant.
- Smoking or using smokeless
tobacco in the library. Our breezeway off the second level is a covered outdoor
location where smoking is permitted.
- Entering unauthorized
areas of the library or remaining in the library after closing or when requested
to leave during emergency situations or drills.
- Opening emergency exits
except in emergency situations.
- Misusing university identification
cards. ID cards are not transferable, and it is a violation of university
policy to give them to others for entrance to the library or other uses.
- Bringing animals into
the library (except those required for personal assistance).
- Soliciting for business,
political, religious, or social organizations, either in person or through
the distribution of promotional materials. University-affiliated organizations
may post flyers on library bulletin boards upon consultation with our administration
office.
Misuse of computers:
- Downloading, printing,
transmitting, or disseminating sexually explicit images of children. This
activity is not protected by the First Amendment and is a violation of federal
law.
- Systematically downloading,
printing, or disseminating content from our licensed electronic resources.
Usage of most of the databases and ejournals on the library homepage is governed
by licenses that prohibit these behaviors. These activities also violate copyright
law and could result in revocation of our ability to provide electronic resources.
Both copyright law and our licenses permit users to download, email, or print
small portions of databases or occasional articles in ejournals.
Children:
- Allowing children under
the age of 14 to enter the library unaccompanied by an adult. As an academic
library the Central Library is not organized, like public libraries, to provide
services for children. We do not censor print resources, and our computers
provide unfiltered access to the Internet. We welcome children accompanied
by a responsible adult, but we are not equipped to care for unsupervised children.
The library reserves the
right to sanction those engaging in any of the above behaviors. Among the sanctions
are: asking the offending person(s) to leave the library; suspension and/or
cessation of library access or borrowing privileges; referring them (if they
are Vanderbilt students) to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for disciplinary
action; reporting them to University or Nashville-Davidson County Police; or
pursuing legal prosecution.
We welcome comments on this
policy from our users. Please send your comments to our Tell
Us service.
