Policies & Codes of Conduct

Rules of Conduct 
Effective: November 17, 2016 

Patrons of the Lincoln Public Library District have the right to use the Library without being disturbed or impeded by other persons. These rules are posted for the comfort and protection of everyone using the Library’s facilities.

  1. Any behavior that disrupts or interferes with the operation, safety, or use of the Library is prohibited.
  2. Behavior that can be cause for removal by the Library staff and/or Police includes but is not limited to: physical abuse; assault of a person; abusive, threatening, or obscene language; running; fighting; gathering in loud groups; loud telephone conversations; noise emitting devices; or blocking patron access points. 
  3. Improper acts that are subject to prosecution under any civil or criminal code is prohibited.
  4. Individuals who may be under the influence of a substance and/or disorderly shall be asked to leave the Library and may be banned from the Library for a period determined by the Library Administration.
  5. Use of any object or device that emits smoke or any form of vapor is not permitted inside any Library building. Their use outside of the buildings must conform to the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
  6. Sleeping or loitering is not permitted on Library property.
  7. Solicitation of any type is prohibited.
  8. Eating/drinking in the Library’s buildings is prohibited unless done within an approved Library activity.
  9. Shirts and shoes must be worn on Library property at all times.
  10. Service dogs are allowed for disabled persons; other animals must remain outside of the Library’s buildings.
  11. Children under seven (7) years of age cannot be left unattended on Library property. Children seven (7) years and older cannot be left unattended on Library property for more than one-half (1/2) hour unless that child is attending a Library program or actively engaged in the Library’s resources. For more information please consult the Library Director or Youth Services Librarian.
  12. Anyone who willfully violates any portion of this policy may be excluded from the Library for a period of time determined by the Library Administration.

Unattended Children Policy 
Effective: June 17, 1999 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes 75 ILCS 16/30-55.5 and 75 ILCS 16/30-55.55, 

BE IT RESOLVED by Board of the Library Trustees of the Lincoln Public Library District, as follows: 

  1. The Board finds and determines that the following rules and regulations are reasonable and are adopted in order to render the use of the Library of the greatest benefit of the greatest number of residents and tax payers of the City of Lincoln. For the purposes of this poilcy, child is defined as persons who are found within the State of Illinois who are under the age of 14 years. 
  2. No child seven years of age and under shall be left unattended by a parent or other responsible adult in the Children’s Room or other area of the Library. Permission may be granted by the Youth Services Librarian, or attending clerk for said parent or supervising adult to leave the child unattended for not more than 1/2 hour while the parent seeks reading materials in the adult area of the Library. 
  3. No child between the ages of 8 and 13 shall be left in the Library without parental or similar adult supervision for a period in excess of 1/2 hour unless that child is in attendance at a Library sponsored program or is actively engaged in the use of Library resources. 
  4. If a child is left unattended as described above, an oral warning will be issued to the parent, guardian, or responsible adult by the Library Director and/or Youth Services Librarian. If the incident is repeated, the lack of care will be reported to the Lincoln Police Department’s Juvenile Officer. 
  5. For a second or subsequent infraction of the provision of paragraphs 2 or 3 of these regulations, the Library Director is authorized to refuse admittance to the Library of any parent or guardian who has violated such paragraphs. Admittance may be reinstated after a conference with the parent, guardian or responsible adult to ascertain that future infractions will not occur. 
PUBLIC COMPUTERS/INTERNET ACCESS 

In a continuing effort to meet the recreational, educational, and informational needs of the Lincoln community the Lincoln Public Library District (the Library) provides public access to the Internet. 

THE LIBRARY DOES NOT EMPLOY THE USE OF INTERNET FILTERS OR BLOCKING SOFTWARE ON ANY OF ITS PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS. 

ADULT INTERNET SERVICES

The Library provides Internet access to its adult users in the Carnegie building. This is a free service available to all patrons. The patron must be 16 years of age or older to access the Internet.

To request access to the Internet a patron should show a valid form of identification. The patron’s name, date, and computer number will be entered into the registration book for a one-hour usage period. If no one else is registered after the hour, the patron can renew his or her one-hour usage period until another patron registers to use the computer. Internet access is available on a first come, first serve basis. The staff will inform patrons awaiting the use of a computer when the next available computer is ready. Patrons may not interfere in any way with other patrons using or operating a computer. The Library Director must approve reservations for computer use. Those persons using the computers for employment and/or education purposes will be given priority for access and allotted time. 

The Library staff can provide a very brief instruction on using the computer and/or Internet. Once this instruction is complete it becomes the patron’s responsibility to properly access the Internet. 

A maximum of two people is allowed at the computer terminals. The staff must be able to view the monitor at all times and will periodically check the computers during usage. 

JUVENILE INTERNET SERVICES

The Library provides Internet access to its juvenile users in the Youth Services Department in the Annex building. This is a free service available to all juveniles. AS WITH OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS, A JUVENILE’S ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN. THE LIBRARY STAFF DOES NOT MONITOR A JUVENILE’S USE OF THE COMPUTERS/INTERNET. WHEN USING THE COMPUTERS/INTERNET IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN TO DETERMINE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE JUVENILE’S USE OF THESE LIBRARY RESOURCES. THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT DOES NOT ACT “IN LOCO PARENTIS” (IN THE PLACE OFA PARENT). The juvenile must be 15 years of age or younger to access the Internet in the Youth Services Department. The juvenile’s parent/legal guardian must first complete a one time Internet permission card for each juvenile. The Library may periodically update the information on this card. Once the card is completed and on file in the Youth Services Department juveniles may access the Internet with or without their parent/legal guardian. Juveniles under 7 years of age must have a parent/legal guardian with them at all times during Internet use. Additional restrictions may be added to a juvenile’s permission card provided the parent/legal guardian AND the Youth Services Librarian agree upon the restrictions. 

In agreeing to the Library’s policy regarding Internet use it is understood by the parent/legal guardian that: 

  • Everyone agrees to abide by the Library’s policy on computer and/or Internet use. 
  • The parent/legal guardian is responsible for the juvenile’s use of the computer and/or Internet. 
  • The parent/legal guardian agrees not to hold the Library legally responsible for anything accessed by the juvenile on the Internet.

After an Internet permission card is completed and on file with the Youth Service Department the juvenile may sign up for computer and/or Internet use for a one hour maximum usage period. Internet access is available on a first come, first serve basis. Juveniles may not interfere in any way with other juveniles using or operating a computer. The Library Director or Youth Services Librarian must approve reservations for computer use. Those persons using the computers for employment and/or education purposes will be given priority for access and allotted time. 

The Library staff can provide a very brief instruction on using the computer and/or Internet. Once this instruction is complete it becomes the juvenile’s responsibility to properly access the Internet. 

The staff must be able to view the monitor at all times and may periodically check the computers during usage. 

GENERAL RULES 

All copies from the computer printers are ten cents per page, no exceptions. 

All public computers will be turned off at approximately 15 minutes before the Library closes. Patrons still using a computer will be given sufficient time to complete their work before the computer is turned off. The staff may use its discretion regarding special requests between 15 minutes before closing and the actual closing of the Library. 

The adding, deleting, or altering of files or information relevant to the operation of the public computers is prohibited. Patrons are not allowed to store files, alter commands, or turn the computers off. All access to information on the Internet at the Library is governed under the ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES, Chapter 720, Criminal Offenses, Section 5, Article 11 regarding lewd, obscene, and/or pornographic materials. 

The Library reserves the right to limit/deny use of a computer to those patrons having excessive fines and/or overdues. 

The Library is not responsible for the content, accuracy, validity, and/or timeliness of any information accessed on the computers. By accessing the Library’s computers the patron understands the statements in the policy and agrees to abide by its rules. Patrons who violate these rules may lose their computer and/or Internet privileges for a period to be determined by the Library Director. The Library may report any violations of tampering to the equipment or access to obscene/pornographic materials to the Lincoln Police Department. 

April 28, 1997 
September 23, 2003 (revised) 

This is a sample of the Internet registration card.Lincoln Public Library Internet Permission
Please print clearly Child’s Name _________________________ Child’s DOB _________
Name of Parent/Legal Guardian _______________________________
Address _____________________________ Phone # _____________
I agree to allow my child to access the Internet without my presence:
Yes _____ No ______
By signing I agree that:I was given a copy of, and agree to abide by the Library’s policy on Internet use.I will not hold the library legally responsible for anything accessed by my child on the Internet.Use and/or restriction of the library’s Internet by my child is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian.
Signature of Parent/Legal Guardian ________________________ 
Date___________                                   Employee Initials _______

Addendum to the Current Policy from Lincoln Public Library District regarding Audult usage of public access computers: 

The Library will change its operational hours effective April 5, 2004. The new hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9am-5pm; Tuesday & Thursday, 9am-7pm; and Saturday, 9am-1 pm. In order for everyone in the community to have an equal opportunity to use the public access computers during these reduced hours, the Library is offering patrons a maximum of two visits or two hours per day, whichever comes first. Patrons may register for a one-hour usage period. If no one else is registered after the hour, the patron can renew his or her usage for up to one additional hour.

For questions or comments regarding the public computer access policy, please contact Library Director Richard Sumrall at 725 Pekin St., 732-8878, or directorlpld@gmail.com. 

April 5, 2004 

Addendum to the Internet Policy

September 4, 2007

Public Wi-Fi Access

The Library offers free Wi-Fi access to its patrons. The Wi-Fi is available to any device capable of accessing wireless Internet transmissions. Patrons who access the Library”s Wi-Fi signal must abide by the Library’s general Internet access policy. The following rules apply to the public use of the Library’s Wi-Fi access:

The responsibility of connectivity rests with the patron, not the Library. The Library staff is able to confirm that the Wi-Fi access is available at a given time. The Library staff is unable to provide any technical support, troubleshooting, or configuring of a patron’s device.

The Library staff is prohibited from making any physical contact with any device.

The Library cannot guarantee a Wi-Fi signal or that the entire public area will contact a Wi-Fi signal. There may be “dead spots” within each building. The Library makes no guarantee that the Wi-Fi signal will extend to the outside of the buildings. 

The Library cannot guarantee that an electrical outlet will be available to patrons wishing to access the Wi-Fi. Electrical outlets can be accessed providing they do not impede or block the pedestrian traffic in the Library. Patrons are allowed to access the Wi-Fi only in designated seating areas. Rearranging of the Library’s tables and chairs is prohibited unless the Library gives its approval.

The Library is unable to provide a Wi-Fi printer. Patrons are encouraged to email their information to a site that provides printing services; they may also use the existing public access computers in conjunction with the rules of the Library’s Internet policy.

The Library’s Wi-Fi signal is available to patrons during the Library’s regular business hours. This signal and the Internet access are unfiltered. The Library’s Wi-Fi signal may be unsecure. Information sent to/from any device may be captured by anyone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software.

The Lincoln Public Library District assumes no responsibility for the safety of devices or equipment used in connection to the Library’s Wi-Fi wireless access.

Social Media Policy
Adopted July 20, 2017

The Lincoln Public Library District uses various social media to inform and/or engage its public. The library currently uses Facebook and Instagram. While the library encourages comments from the community, the library will remove comments, posts, links, photos, or other content for any reason, including but not limited to harassment and personal attacks, derogatory or defamatory comments, vulgar or profane language, commercial promotion, improper use of copyrighted material, links to third party websites, or other inappropriate content.