August 14, 2023
Library users are expected to appropriately share the facility and conduct themselves in a manner that is safe and does not disrupt others. Staff will maintain order and safety at all library locations, and will intervene in an appropriate manner whenever necessary. The library director is authorized to enact safety measures in addition to items specifically defined in this policy, based on directives or guidance from federal, state, and local authorities; those measures will be communicated to library users, the Library Board, and city administration.
The public is encouraged to:
Conduct that is prohibited and may result in the loss of library services and/or criminal charges includes, but is not limited to:
The safety of children is of the utmost concern for the Library Board and staff. However, the safety and responsibility of children at the library remains primarily with the parent or caregiver and not with the library or its staff.
The library provides educational and enriching community spaces, but can pose hazards for unattended children who may encounter circumstances they are unprepared to handle effectively. This may lead to potentially unsafe situations or behavior policy infractions. As a result, parents or caregivers of children age 11 and under must supervise those children at all times. Caregivers must be over the age of 14. Children of every age are expected to adhere to the Rules of Conduct.
Should a child be found unattended on library premises, staff will attempt to reach a parent or guardian to pick up the child. If a parent or guardian is unavailable, the appropriate authorities will be contacted, to reach a parent or guardian and/or escort the child home. Likewise, if children aged 11 or younger violate the Rules of Conduct to the extent that a suspension is imposed, their responsible party must remove them from the library for the duration of their suspension.
Persons who are required by law to register as a sex offender may enter the library to use library services, with the following limitations:
Registered sex offenders who violate this restriction are subject to the same suspension of library service as with other policy violations. The library also reserves the right to suspend anyone who falls within this definition whose conduct causes concern among library staff as endangering user safety.
Failure to abide by the following social media terms of use may result in the suspension of library access, including the ability to post or respond to comments.
The purpose of this site is to present matters of public interest in Rapid City, including to its many residents, businesses and visitors. We encourage you to submit questions, comments and concerns, but please note this is a moderated online discussion and not a public forum.
Rapid City Public Library reserves the right to delete any comments deemed unacceptable. The following are some examples of unacceptable comments; this list is for illustrative purposes only and is not an exclusive list:
Please note that the comments expressed on this site do not reflect the opinions and position of Rapid City Public Library, the City of Rapid City government or its administration and employees.
No products, services, or memberships may be advertised, solicited, or sold, by library staff members, library volunteers, or library patrons, in any areas of the library, subject to the exceptions listed below.
With permission from the library director, events coordinator, or designee, invited speakers and event performers may sell books, music, movies and educational materials as related to their event. The Rapid City Library Foundation, the Friends of the Rapid City Public Library, or another not-for-profit civic, charitable, educational, fraternal, or veteran’s organization may also conduct sales that fit with the library’s mission at times, in places, and in the manner approved by the library director.
The library reserves the right to suspend the library services of any person suspected of engaging in any of the above-enumerated activities, or other disruptive or unsafe conduct, for the length of suspension the library deems appropriate, including the permanent loss of access. The Library Director or designee and City Attorney must approve any loss of library services of more than one day. The seriousness of the conduct may warrant immediate loss of library services, as determined by the Library Director or designee.
Once approved, suspensions begin from the date of the infraction. When immediate notification of a suspension is not possible, the library will attempt to notify individuals using email or mail.
Entering library property after being notified in person of a suspension and warned on a subsequent visit will restart the current suspension without requiring further approval from the Library Director or City Attorney.
A two-year reckoning period is in place; if a person has completed a suspension and has no further incidents requiring suspension within two years, any future actions would return to the first suspension.
Any person may appeal their suspension. In order to be addressed in an appropriate timeframe, suspensions of less than six months may be appealed to the Library Director; suspensions of six months or more may be appealed to the Library Board. In the case of a minor, the parent or legal guardian may file the appeal on the minor’s behalf.
The person requesting the appeal must complete the appeal form and return it to the library within 10 calendar days of the date of the suspension letter; for suspensions of six months or more, the appeal must be submitted at least 10 calendar days prior to the Board meeting. The Library Board will then consider the appeal at their next regularly scheduled meeting, and will provide a written response within three business days of the meeting. The Director or Library Board will withdraw or amend the suspension only if the person appealing the suspension shows good cause for doing so. All decisions of the Director or Board are final.
Revised August 14, 2023; June 12, 2023; August 8, 2022; March 8, 2021; July 13, 2020; May 11, 2020; July 8, 2019; April 8, 2019, March 12, 2018, January 11, 2016; October 12, 2015; August 11, 2014; August 12, 2013; April 8, 2013; April 19, 2012; February 12, 2009; April 26, 2004
