Policy Development

A sound policy will state the mission of the library and justify enforcement of conduct expectations consistent with that mission. 

• This mission will typically promote three guiding principles: patron right to access information, staff obligation to operate the library, and board obligation to establish a safe library setting.  

• • Example: The Mosaic Public Library serves each member of the community in a welcoming and secure setting as they pursue personal lifelong learning goals. 

• The next component of a policy will be a reference to the staff’s role in delivering services, maintaining a secure setting, and enforcing policy.  

• Ideally, this reference will be to another policy or publicly available document.  

Another component is a list of prohibited conduct that is rationally related to the operations of the library using disorderly conduct statute as a guide.

45-8-101, MCA - Disorderly Conduct

The list can never capture all possible misconduct so a key aspect to this list is a general statement that includes a prohibition on conduct which interferes with staff ability to operate the library.