About Us

Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Values

Our mission:

The Lebanon Public Library is a cultural cornerstone of our community, providing materials, programs, and services that bring people together, foster creativity, advance literacy, and encourage lifelong learning.  We preserve our storied past, enrich present lives, and prepare for an ever-changing future.

Our vision:

We aspire to be an essential catalyst for personal growth in our community, where all are welcome to learn, discover, create, and connect.

Our core values:

The Lebanon Public Library will fulfill its mission and realize its vision by:

• Maintaining a vibrant collection of library materials that celebrates the breadth and depth of our community and by ensuring ready and equitable access to it;
• Being a warm and welcoming place to all people of all ages, races, sexes, and creeds;
• Being actively involved in the life of the community;
• Employing a collaborative, creative, and positive staff focused on serving library users’ needs and interests;
• Championing every individual’s right to intellectual freedom;
• Committing to excellence in customer service;
• Innovating new programming and services to meet the evolving needs and interests of our community;
• Being good stewards of the Library’s financial and material resources;
• Taking to heart the words of the Library’s benefactor, William E. Harmon: “To serve one’s people transcends duty and becomes privilege.”

 

LEBANON PUBLIC LIBRARY
RULES OF CONDUCT AND PATRON BEHAVIOR

DEALING WITH PROBLEM PATRONS

The Board of Library Trustees is responsible for determining the rules for public behavior in the library necessary:

1. To protect the rights of individuals to use library materials and services;
2. To protect the rights of library employees to conduct library business without interference;
3. To ensure the use of buildings, materials, and services by the greatest number of individuals;
4. To preserve those materials and facilities from harm;
5. To ensure the safety of library patrons and employees.

The Board authorizes the director or his designee to revoke or restrict library privileges of any individual who behaves contrary to these rules. The Board also authorizes the director to file charges against individuals who continually transgress these rules.

The rules for public behavior are listed below. Employees are directed to bring to a supervisor’s attention any act or omission which violates these rules and detracts from the decorum of the library. Such an individual may be asked to change his behavior to conform to the rules. If such change is not evident or forthcoming, that individual may be asked to leave the library building and library property. If the individual does not leave on his own, police may be called for assistance.

Additionally, if an employee feels that his or anyone else’s life and safety is in imminent danger, the employee is directed to immediately call 911 and request police assistance or, as appropriate, use the silent panic buttons to summon police. Pepper spray canisters have been provided for emergency use only at the Information Desk, Tech Center Desk, and Circulation Desk and may only be used in a situation involving imminent threat of physical attack. It is not to be used in situations solely involving verbal abuse.

Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, individuals who have been asked to leave the building and property may be barred from returning to the library. Individuals who have been barred may be asked to talk to the director or his/her designee before being readmitted. Juveniles may be asked to bring a parent or guardian to such a conference.

Any misconduct that hinders use of the library buildings, library grounds, or library materials is prohibited.

The following has been adopted and may be distributed to patrons upon request:

Lebanon Public Library – Code of Conduct:

These rules have been adopted for the comfort and protection of all those using library materials and services. They will be courteously, but firmly, enforced by library staff. We ask your cooperation in maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, conducive to the effective use of library materials and services.

a. Disruptive behavior will not be permitted. This includes disorderly conduct, noise or activity, whether intentional or inadvertent, that interferes with the rights of others, physical abuse, abusive or threatening language and misuse of library furnishings. Expulsion from the library property and/or loss of library privileges may result from continued violations.

b. Soliciting, conducting surveys, and commercial activity of any type are prohibited.

c. Persons committing theft, vandalism, or other illegal acts are subject to prosecution.

d. Guide dogs are the only animals permitted in the building.

e. The Lebanon Public Library maintains a smoke-free campus. Use of any and all tobacco products, including eCigarette type devices, is prohibited in the Library buildings and on Library grounds.

f. Eating is not permitted in any public area; beverages may be used if the container is covered.

g. Cell phone ringers must be set to mute or silent; patrons are permitted to use their cell phones for quiet, brief conversations. In the Technology Center, the soundproof booth should be used for phone calls. All other cell phone use should be conducted in the closed vestibule areas.

h. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and firearms are not allowed on library property.

i. Sleeping and bathing are not permitted.

j. The Technology Center is designated a Quiet Zone and all activity must be conducted quietly. Children under 12 years of age are not permitted in the Technology Center.

Adopted 4-21-08
Revised 12-15-14
Revised 9-17-18

PURPOSE

To build communication and trust with our residents and visitors, and encourage participation through comments and feedback.

GOALS

Lebanon Public Library aims to effectively use Social Media Accounts to:

• Provide information
• Support community engagement and outreach
• Support marketing and promotional campaigns
• Frame the public conversation around Lebanon Public Library
• Assist with recruitment efforts

Please be aware that when engaging with this agency through Social Media, you agree to the following:

MODERATION OF THIRD PARTY CONTENT

The agency does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with Third Party comments, messages, posts, opinions, advertisements, videos, promoted content, external hyperlinks, linked websites (or the information, products or services contained therein), statements, commercial products, processes or services posted on any Social Media Site.

This agency social media site serves as a limited public forum and all content published is subject to preservation and disclosure in accordance with Ohio Public Record Law. User-generated posts may be rejected or removed if the content:

• contains obscenity,
• incites or promotes violence or illegal activities,
• contains spam or links to malware,
• promotes illegal discrimination (e.g., housing discrimination),
• contains actual defamation
• uses the copyrighted work of another.

We do not allow information intended to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems. You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided.

RETENTION

Any communications sent to or received by the Agency and its employees via social media may be subject to our retention and disclosure requirements. We are required to comply with Ohio public records laws to ensure government is open and that the public has access to public records and information of which our agency is the custodian. These retention requirements apply regardless of the form of the record (e.g. digital text, photos, audio, and video). To that end, we automatically collect and store all information posted on this agency social media site. All information posted on this site may be subject to public disclosure under Ohio Public Records Laws even if it has been deleted. The Department maintaining a site shall preserve records pursuant to a relevant records retention schedule.

EMERGENCY POSTINGS

Social media sites are not monitored 24/7. If there is an emergency, contact 911.

Adopted 9/19/2022

In an effort to provide a library environment that allows all patrons to utilize library materials and information sources in a safe, relaxed manner, the Board of Trustees has adopted a policy statement concerning unattended or disruptive children.

Parents may not leave children under the age of ten years unattended in the library and are responsible for their children’s behavior while in the library. Children and young people who are disruptive in the library or on library grounds interfere with Library service to all patrons. The library is not a child care provider but a public institution where all patrons have an equal right to quality library services in a safe and relaxed environment.

If a child is left unattended in the library, the staff will attempt to locate his/her parents. Staff members are not permitted to remain after hours with an unattended child nor to give him/her a ride home. For the safety of the child, the staff will not leave a child under the age of ten outside to wait on a ride. If a parent cannot be reached by the time the library is to close, the police will be called to escort the child home or keep the child until parents can be reached.

Adopted 4-21-08