Approved by the Board of Trustees April 5, 2022

The United States Court of Appeals decision (Kreimer vs. Bureau of Police for the Town of Morristown, N.J., 1992) found that a library is a “limited public forum” created for the specific purpose of providing public access to materials. Further, the library may draft rules of behavior that assure that the library is used for the general purposes for which it is intended.

Guidelines

1. The Nashua Public Library will uphold all state laws and local ordinances in regard to public behavior.
2. Customers shall be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library while in the building.
3. The following activities are not associated with public library use and are not permitted:
   • Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, on library property
   • Sleeping
   • Bringing animals into the library (except certified service animals)
   • Abusing or vandalizing library facilities, equipment or materials
   • Using restrooms for washing clothes, bathing, shaving or illegal activities
   • Soliciting funds or offering any goods or services for sale (unless authorized by the Library Director)
   • Public intoxication
4. Customers will not interfere with another person’s use of the library or with the library staff’s performance of their duties and will follow all instructions given by library staff.
5. Customers must wear proper covering clothing, including shirts and shoes, while on library property to protect health and safety.
6. Customers are responsible for their own belongings at all times and should not leave them unattended; at no time will library staff store customer belongings.
7. The library may limit the number and size of bags brought into the building so that they do not interfere with others’ use of the library or impact safe passage throughout the building. The library reserves the right to further limit bags that are in poor condition or contain items with a strong odor.
8. Food is only allowed in designated areas of the Chandler Wing and outside on the Library Plaza.
9. The library’s Teen Room is intended for use by customers aged 11–17; adults or younger children in that room may be asked to relocate to other areas of the building
10. Children under the age of 8 may not be left alone in the library and must be actively supervised by a parent/guardian or assigned chaperone. Responsibility for all children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone and not with library personnel.
11. If a child under the age of 16 is still in the library when the building closes library staff will contact the Nashua Police Department for assistance and 2 staff members will remain with the child until the police or parents/guardian arrive.
12. Adults unaccompanied by a child and who do not require materials from the Children’s Room or help from staff in that department will be asked to relocate to other areas of the library.
13. Any person violating any of these guidelines may lose library privileges, be asked to leave the library building and/or library grounds or be subject to legal action.