Oakton College Library Policies

Oakton College Learning Commons and Library Patron Conduct Policy

The Oakton College Learning Commons and Library Code of Conduct supplements but does not replace the Student Conduct Code as printed in the student handbook. The administration, faculty, and staff of the Oakton College Learning Commons (which includes but is not limited to the library, learning center, testing center, I.T., TRIO, ADRC) are fully authorized to interpret these guidelines and apply them to patron behavior as the situation warrants.

The Oakton Library and Learning Commons, in keeping with the Oakton College Board Policy 8009 are “available to the community when such use does not adversely affect the College educational program.” Any activity that interferes with the rights of other patrons or visitors to use the Learning Commons or related departments, or that is potentially harmful to oneself or other users, employees, the facility, or our resources, is considered disruptive or unacceptable. All users have the right to read, write, meet, work, and reflect in a safe and clean environment. In order to protect these rights the Learning Commons and Library staff enforces the following policies:

For your safety and the safety of others:

• Keep personal items secure at all times. Belongings found unattended will be given to Oakton Police.
• Patrons and visitors must wear shoes and shirts.
• Entrances, exits, and aisles must remain open.
• Do not run, jump, shove, or throw any object under any circumstance in the Learning Commons, library, or related spaces.
• Please be respectful of materials and furniture.
• Children 14 and younger must be directly supervised by an adult. Unaccompanied children will be reported to Oakton Police after reasonable attempts have been made to contact the parent or guardian. Oakton College accepts no liability or responsibility for the safety of children in the Learning Commons, library, or related spaces.
• Library/Learning Commons employees reserve the right to wake sleeping persons.

Please respect materials, facilities, and furnishings:

• Library property may only be removed from the building with authorization through established lending procedures. In the event that our gate alarm is triggered, the Library reserves the right to inspect all parcels, bags, etc. for library materials.
• Do not write on or otherwise damage library property including: books, walls, furniture, computer equipment, and facilities. Students will be charged for any damages, and will be blocked from registering or getting transcripts if they do not pay. Non-public areas of the Library and Learning Commons may only be entered with permission.
• Solicitation on library and/or Learning Commons property is prohibited.
• Library and Learning Commons patrons should follow the posted guidelines for computer and group study room use.

All Oakton students, employees, and visitors are held to Oakton’s Code of Student Conduct and Non-discrimination policy, and Sexual Discrimination policy in our physical and virtual spaces which includes but is not limited to library spaces, communication with library employees via phone, email, phone and other means. In particular, the following behavior/speech will not be tolerated:

• Any verbal, written, electronic, or physical behavior, such as a disparaging comment, epithet, slur, insult, or other expressive behavior, that is directed at a particular person or a group of persons.
• Behavior…which for any reason materially disrupts the class work of others, involves substantial disorder, invades the rights of others, or otherwise disrupts the regular and essential operation of the College.
• Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other college activities.
• Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, sexual assault, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.

Patrons found to be in violation of this policy, Oakton’s Code of Student Code of Conduct, Oakton’s Non-discrimination policy or Oakton’s Sexual Discrimination policy as determined by Oakton Library faculty and staff will be verbally warned to discontinue the behavior if the safety of patrons and employees is not under threat. Oakton Police will be called if patrons fail to modify their behavior after a verbal warning. Additionally, Library faculty or staff may determine that behavior is severe enough to forgo a verbal warning and call Oakton Police directly. Only Oakton Police are authorized to remove persons from the library/learning commons.

Failure to cooperate with the direction of Learning Commons staff regarding disruptions of any kind, or knowingly giving false information, will result in notifying Campus Police. Patrons who fail to comply with the Oakton College Learning Commons and Library Patron Conduct Policy

may be asked to provide some form of proper identification, which will be copied for documentation. Anyone who violates the Code is subject to removal from the building, restriction of Learning Commons privileges, and may be reported in accord with the Code of Student Conduct.