Suspension of Library Privileges for Reasons of Health and Safety
It is the library’s responsibility to maintain a healthy and clean environment for all library customers, and to protect the library’s collections, equipment, and property in this regard. To this end, the library may restrict a customer’s ability to borrow material and/or to visit library facilities when such use may jeopardize the health and cleanliness of library facilities, collections, and users. Health and Safety Instances in which borrowing materials may be suspended could include, but are not limited to the following:

• Evidence that items checked out on a customer’s card were returned with insects known to be damaging to library materials, e.g. roaches, silverfish, and some types of beetles.
• Evidence that items checked out on a customer’s card were returned with insects that could result in pest infestations in library facilities, e.g. fleas, lice, bed bugs or roaches.
• Evidence that library materials checked out on a customer’s card were returned with stains that are clearly and obviously urine, feces, or blood, whether human or animal.
• Evidence that items on loan to customers may have been returned with fungi that can be damaging to Library materials, e.g. black mold.

Health and Safety Instances where an individual may be asked to leave the library facilities, and/or have future access to library facilities suspended, could include, but are not limited to the following:

• Customer or customer possessions with fleas, lice, roaches, bed bugs, or other insects or pests.
• Customers with clothing stained with blood, urine or feces.
• Customers who are actively bleeding from or have exposed open and infected wounds.
• Borrowed materials returned with evidence of pest infestation may also result in suspension of use of the library facility.

Returning Material That May Have Come in Contact with Pests
If library materials may have come into contact with bed bugs, roaches, lice, fleas, or other insects or pests while in a customer’s possession, the customer SHOULD NOT return the material through the book drop. Instead, place the items in a securely closed plastic bag and notify a staff member immediately upon return of the materials to the circulation desk, so the staff member can take necessary precautions. Materials that are returned with bed bug or other pest infestation will be treated or discarded at the library’s discretion. Materials that must be discarded may be charged to the customer at full replacement value, and all relevant circulation policies regarding fines and fees apply. If further occurrence of infestation of materials occurs, library privileges may be permanently withdrawn.

Should it become necessary to suspend a library privileges in order to protect library collections, facilities, or other individuals, direct notification of the suspension will be made by library staff at the time of the occurrence. Suspension of access to facilities and borrowing privileges will be considered temporary and will be restored when the suspended customer demonstrates that the originating situation has been remediated. This may include:

• Proof of qualified extermination procedures conducted at the customer’s primary residence
• Proof of medical attention received
• Further proof as needed to meet the circumstances

Confirming information may include:

• Copies of receipts for treatment
• A letter from a licensed pest control company
• A written statement from the owner or property manager of a multi-family rental residence
• In some circumstances, proof of a change of residential address may also be accepted

Any customer whose library privileges are suspended has a right to appeal, in writing, to the Board of Library Trustees.