Bringing Library Policy In Line With State Laws
April 1st, 2014
My library probably updates its policies as frequently as most libraries - that is, when something happens that absolutely necessitates it. Not too long ago, a patron had a question about our privacy policy, and it turns out ours dated to 2003.
But more recently, a post on the Massachusetts Law Updates blog caught my eye - it was titled You can get jail time for making noise in a Massachusetts library.
Turns out, Massachusetts General Law chapter 272, section 41 states:
Whoever wilfully disturbs persons assembled in a public library, or a reading room connected therewith, by making a noise or in any other manner during the time when such library or reading room is open to the public shall be punished as provided in the preceding section.
And the punishment from the preceding section was eye-opening:
...imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both...
We had no idea this law existed. However, at their meeting last night, our Trustees voted to change our Acceptable Library Behavior policy to reflect this law. They felt having a policy not in line with an existing law was legally-indefensible, so we'd be leaving the library open to litigation.
So from now on, any patron who "wilfully disturbs persons" in my library is going to jail.
