On The EEOC Ruling

On This Story
Dan Lester writes: \”I\’d like to see any ALA policy or official statement that is opposed
to having library staff maintain normal order and decorum. And of course that means that you have to have policies relating to whatever normal order and decorum might be in your environment. In fact, I think that a bit of research will show that ALA has taken a position in several cases supporting reasonable policies for patron behavior.For example, the
Access to Electronic Information document says:
\”librarians should not deny or limit access … because of the
librarian\’s personal beliefs or fear of confrontation\” (p.3), but also
says \”In making decisions about how to offer access to electronic
information, each library should consider its mission, goals,
objectives, cooperative agreements, and the needs of the entire
community it serves.\” (p.1) Thus a library could follow these
guidelines and still provide limits on what and how patrons may
access. The library I work in doesn\’t limit access by content, but
does limit access by function, electronically blocking email, chat,
and games. That fits \”the needs of the entire community [this
library] serves.\”

Further, , \”Guidelines …
regarding user behavior and library usage\” states:

\”4. Reasonable and narrowly drawn policies and procedures designed to
prohibit interference with use of the facilities and services by
others, or to prohibit activities inconsistent with achievement of
the library\’s mission statement and objectives, are acceptable.

6. Every effort should be made to respond to potentially difficult
circumstances of user behavior in a timely, direct, and open manner.
Common sense, reason and sensitivity should be used to resolve issues
in a constructive and positive manner without escalation.

\”7. Libraries should develop an ongoing staff training program based
upon their user behavior policy. This program should include training
to develop empathy and understanding of the social and economic
problems of some library users.\”

So, policies could be developed, if they\’re not already in existence.
Of course the policies could be changed. If staff don\’t LIKE the
policies in effect, they can work through appropriate means to get
them changed. However, all employees need to follow existing polices,
like them or not, until they are changed. I know police officers who
don\’t always agree with the laws they enforce, either (or don\’t
enforce, since the law doesn\’t exist). However, they\’re bound by the
laws as are we.

I agree that policing can and should be done, but only IF it conforms to existing policies. We don\’t want rogue policemen running around creating their own laws, and we certainly don\’t want rogue librarians doing that either.