No HOODIES at RPL

It's that time of year when our patrons will be coming in with clothing apparel that has a hood. Hoodies are not allowed to be worn inside RPL. So if you see a patron with their hoodie on please ask them to take it down while they are inside the library. Below are examples of how you can approach the patron.

Excuse me ma'am/sir you probably didn't realize, but you won't be allowed to wear your hoodie while inside the library.

Excuse me ma'am/sir you probably didn't know, but hoodies aren't allowed to be worn inside the library so would you please keep it down while your here.

Sometimes you can just use a hand gesture to the patron to take it down and they will comply.

Always give the patron a few minute when they come in to remove their hoodie themselves. Most patrons will wear their hoodie up as their coming in, but will remove it soon after they have arrived. If it appears that the patron is going to continue to wear it please approach the patron and inform them about our policy.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - display of obscene or pornographic images on library computers;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

23. display of obscene or pornographic images on library computers; 

This is a policy that is commonly broken.

Tips on how to handle a patron who has broken this policy:

If you witness a patron looking at inappropriate images on our computer or on his/her device approach the patron and inform them of this policy. 

Adult (16 or older)
1st offence - Warning
2nd offence - Internet Ban for 6 months

Children (under 16)
1st offence - Warning 
                     Call the child's parents/guardian and notify them of                          the child's infraction. Allow the parent/guardian to                            decide whether the child will be allowed to use the                            internet unattended in the future.
2nd offence - Internet Ban until child turns 16 years of age.
                      Until then, the child may use the internet in the                                 library only with parent/guardian.

If a patron has violated this policy and has been banned from the computer lab they are still allowed to bring their own device in and use the internet wifi. But if this patron violates the policy while using our wifi they will be BANNED from all Rowan Public Library locations for 6 months. 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bloodborne Pathogens Protection Kits are located at all branches and departments.
If you do not know the location of the kits find out the location from your supervisor.
You should know where all Protection Kits are located at your branch - not just in the department where you work.

Everyone is responsible for clean up, so make sure you are prepared. 

Follow the directions below to access the training video.
      
     1.   Click on this link:  https://moodle.rowancountync.gov/login/index.php

2. Use your normal network login and password to log in
3. Click on “Risk Management”
4. Click on “Bloodborne Pathogens”
5. Click on “Enroll Me” (you will only get the “Enroll Me” button the first time you access this material.  IF you exit and return you will not get the “Enroll Me” button)
6. Click on “Video” to watch a video about Bloodborne Pathogens. Once the “moodle” screen appears, click the play button (“>”).
7. After you have finish watching the training video click on “Participation Verification” and take the quiz. 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - dispensing chemicals or noxious substances including, but not limited to, pepper spray, stink bombs, and tear gas;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

22. dispensing chemicals or noxious substances including, but not limited to, pepper spray, stink bombs, and tear gas;


If you see a patron breaking this policy contact the Security Officer, Librarian in Charge or Supervisor and let them handle the situation. 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - assaulting any library user or staff member;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

21. Knowing The Policy Series - assaulting any library user or staff member; 

Assault
1.a sudden, violent attack; 

2.an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to 
do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a 
stone or club in a threatening manner.

If you witness someone being assaulted you need to contact the Security Officer, Librarian in Charge or Supervisor immediately. 
The Police should be called.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - threatening staff or the public;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

20. Knowing The Policy Series - threatening staff or the public;

Threatening

•  having a hostile or deliberately frightening quality or manner.

•  (of behavior) showing an intention to cause bodily harm.

•  (of a person or situation) causing someone to feel vulnerable or at risk.

If you feel threatened or witness someone being threatened you need to contact the Security Officer, Librarian in Charge or Supervisor immediately. 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - refusal to leave library property when instructed to do so;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

19. Knowing The Policy Series - refusal to leave library property when instructed to do so;

Refuse - indicate or show that one is not willing to do something.

The Security Officer, Librarian in Charge or Supervisor should be involved, if any situation comes up that involves a patron being asked to leave the library.

The police should be called if the patron refuses to leave.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - providing false information to staff or police in regards to identity when requested;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on 
the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

18. providing false information to staff or police in regards to identity when requested; 
                           

Patrons need their card, ID, or we need to have their picture in the computer to be able to check out. Juveniles may check out as long as they can verify their birth date and name but we prefer library cards. Parents need to have child's card to check out if the child is not present.

To check out using someone else's library account - patron must have the physical library card in hand!

Violations of this policy 

If a patron refuses to give there name and information.

If a patron gives you someone else's name or information.

If this happens contact the Security Officer, Librarian in Charge, or Supervisor.

A patron could be banned if they violate this policy.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - committing a criminal act on library property:

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

17. Knowing The Policy Series - committing a criminal act on library property;

Criminal Act - An act committed in violation of law where the consequence of conviction by a court is punishment, especially where the punishment is serious one such as imprisonment.

If you witness a patron committing a Criminal Act inform the Security Officer, Librarian In Charge, or Supervisor about the situation, and the police should be called.

Remember if you are a witness you must feel out an incident report!

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - use of library telephone by any person other that library personnel, unless approved;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on 
the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

16. Knowing The Policy Series - use of library telephone by any person other that library personnel, unless approved;

Patrons can use RPL phones to call for a ride!

Only children ages 17 or under are allowed to make phone calls from the Children's Department.

All adults must ask to use the phone at the Reference Desk to make a phone call for a ride.

Make it clear to the patron that the phone is a business line and it must be a brief phone call.

Do not allow the patrons to walk away from the desk with the cordless phone. 

Exceptions are made, but only if permitted!
 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - bringing animals, other than lead dogs, into the building

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on 
the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

15. Knowing The Policy Series - bringing animals, other than lead dogs, into the building;

Service Animals

The only species of service animal recognized under Title
II and Title III of the ADA are dogs and miniature horses. 

You may ask a patron two questions: 
(1) whether a service animal is required because of a disability, and
(2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform.

Federal regulations have narrowed the definition of a “service animal” to mean ”any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”

The type of work or task a service animal performs must be related to the handler’s disability to be a service animal.

Under the revised ADA regulations, emotional support, well-being, comfort, companionship, or deterrence of criminal activity do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of qualifying an
animal as a service animal.

There is no rule under the ADA that service animals must be registered or certified to be an official service animal. You cannot request any documentation (e.g. proof of certification,training, licensure, identification card, or registration) to prove that it is a service animal.

Below is a link that shares more information about service animals: 

http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org/sites/default/files/SelfAdvocacyPacket-Service%20AnimalsADA.pdf

Exceptions are made, but only if permitted by management!

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - Rearranging of any library furniture, or equipment from one location to another, except in meeting rooms;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

14. rearranging of any library furniture, or equipment from one location to another, except in meeting rooms;

Some examples: moving computer screens, moving chairs from the study desk, moving study tables together;

Exceptions are made, but only if permitted!

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - removal of any library property from the building without authorization through established lending procedures;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

13. removal of any library property from the building without authorization through established lending procedures;

If anyone leaves the library with any library property without authorization by checking out, purchasing or going through management would be consider as stealing.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - destruction of, or damage to any library property;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

12. destruction of, or damage to any library property;

If you witness a patron damaging library property immediately contact the Security Officer, Librarian In Charge or Supervisor.

If a patron has damaged a book they have borrowed use circulation procedure to handle the issue.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - distribution of leaflets, or posting of notices without authorization;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on 
the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

11. distribution of leaflets, or posting of notices without authorization;

All postings and leaflets must be approved. 
Learn who at your branch is in charge of approving notices. 

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - Consumption of food, except in designated areas;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

9. Consumption of food, except in designated areas;

Food is allowed in the meeting rooms and outside areas.  If you witness a patron eating elsewhere in the library, approach the patron and say, "Excuse me, but you probably didn't know that food isn't allowed inside the library."

This policy is one of the most broken policies we have,
and applies to staff as well. It is very important we set an example of how we want patrons to act. We can't expect patrons to know we have a no food policy if they see staff eating food!

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - Consumption of alcoholic beverages;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on 
the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

8. Consumption of alcoholic beverages;

Alcohol is not allowed on library property.

You can not be intoxicated and be on library property.

If you smell alcohol on a patron or feel like they are under the influence, observe the patron and inform the Security Officer, Librarian In Charge, or Supervisor about the situation.  
The patron should be informed about the policy and ask to leave the property. Let them know they are welcomed to come back when they are not under the influence.

If they continue to break this policy they will be banned from the Library.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - No smoking , or the use of any tobacco product;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

7.  No smoking , or the use of any tobacco product;

If you witness anyone smoking on library property inform them of our policy. Let the patron know they will have to step off the property if they want to continue to smoke. This includes electronic cigarettes!

If you witness anyone walking around chewing tobacco or dip, spitting in a bottle or cup inform them of our policy. Let the patron know they will have to step off property if they want to continue to use the tobacco product.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - Carrying unauthorized weapons of any sort;

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

6. Carrying unauthorized weapons of any sort;

This policy has changed a little bit due to the allowance of carrying a concealed handgun on Rowan County Properties.

Clink on the link below to see the "Do's and Don'ts of carrying a concealed handgun"
https://www.rowancountync.gov/GOVERNMENT/Departments/SheriffsOffice/HandgunPermits.aspx

Concealed Carry Permit Holders cannot be in an area where School Groups are present while at the Library!

Examples of some Unauthorized Weapons

Dagger

                Ballistic Knife

Sling Shot

Bowie Knife

                                     

Metallic or Brass Knuckles

Shuriken

Stun Gun

                                                                         
 

Pocket Knives are allowed;  Pocket knife is defined as being “a small knife, that is designed to be carried in a pocket or purse, which has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by its handle." 

If you witness a patron with an unauthorized weapon informed them that they will have to remove it from the Library because it’s against policy to have unauthorized weapons on Library property. If they do not comply call the police!

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence

Knowing The Policy Series - following, or other harassing behavior, such as staring, or other intimidating acts

Do you know Rowan Public Library's

 Disruptive Behavior Policy Statement???

For the next coming weeks I will be highlighting them on the Security Tips Blog.

Any comments or questions you may have you can email me at:

tara.greene@rowancountync.gov

4. following a person around the building, or other harassing behavior, such as staring, or other intimidating acts;

No one should feel uncomfortable at the library.

Following - If you notice a patron following staff or other patrons, one way to handle the situation is to go up to the person and ask if they need any help. This will let the patron know that you are aware of there presence. If they still continue to follow the person around let them know that you having been watching them and its against our policy to follow anyone, they will have to stop or leave and if they don't stop the police will be called.

Staring or Glaring - Sometimes all it takes is for you to step in front of the person being stared at and stare back at the offender to let them know that you are watching them. If the patron continues to stare, let them know what they are doing is against our policy.

And if they continued to stare or glare, let them know that you will call the police.

Intimidation - to fill with fear.

Know this policy and be confident in enforcing it!

 Knowledge = Confidence