Sleep On It:

Rethinking Rules of Conduct Policies in

Your Library

By Rebecca Zimmerman and Sarah Wagstaff

LIS 655, Dr. Hersberger
October 5, 2020
Baltimore County ● Prohibited behavior Rule #10:
Sleeping
Public Library System
● Last updated December 13,
2016
Rules of Conduct
● Repeated non-compliance can
lead to
○ Denial of services
○ Banishment from the library
○ Police intervention

(BCPL, 2020)
Reasons for this Policy

● Sleeping patrons are not using the library for its intended purpose.
● Unconscious bodies are unsafe; on the floor they are tripping
hazards and everywhere they provide chances for theft.
● Librarians cannot tell the difference between sleeping patrons and
those having serious medical problems.
● It is unseemly.
However, this policy also
disproportionately affects
patrons experiencing
homlessness
Why is This Important?
● Homeless patrons have greater need for
library services Maryland
● Homelessness is exhausting (Dowd, pg.
190, 2018) 6,561
● ALA Code of Ethics Section B.8.10 People Homeless in a Given
○ Libraries should enable the poor and Night
vulnerable to participate in our
democratic society (ALA, 2010) 10.9
● “Poverty Profiling” is illegal and unethical Homeless People Per
(Mars, 2012) 10,000 General Population
○ i.e . Armstrong v. District of Columbia
(National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2020)
Public Library (2001)
We Want to Complete Our Mission!
Our Mission and Vision
● Providing opportunities to explore,
learn, create and connect.
● Empowered and engaged
individuals for a more inclusive
and connected Baltimore County
community.
● We Value:
○ Diversity and inclusion
○ Continuous improvement
(BCLP, 2020)
Main Needs of Homeless
● Access to information
● Engagement in community
● Preparation and assistance in
finding employment
● Educational and skill-building
services
● A place to meet social needs
(IFLA, 2017)
 Why Now? The Impact of Covid-19

● People experiencing ● More people are under

homelessness are at a higher economic stress and facing
risk for Covid-19. unemployment due to Covid-19

● One of the best ways to ● Students and job-seekers are

prevent this is to provide using the library for longer
access to good, up-to-date amounts of time to complete
Internet tasks.
health information.

What does the CDC recommend for everyone to stop the adverse health
effects of stress? Getting enough sleep!
We propose a new policy:

Sleeping or napping is allowed, as long as

the patron is not lying down, snoring, or
preventing others from accessing library
services or materials.
We’ve Seen This Work!

Forbes Library in Northampton, Jefferson-Madison Regional

MA Library in Charlottesville, VA

● Sleeping is allowed, but not ● Napping or sleeping that is

lying down. inconsistent with or
disruptive of the normal use
of library facilities is
prohibited.
Implementation 1. Update policy in the library manual

2. Update policy on the website

3. Ensure all employees are aware of new policy

4. Make new policy signs where patrons can view

them

5. Identify five policies (including new sleeping policy)

to use as a focus for library behavior management

6. Create a free handout or bookmark with the five

focus policies listed for patrons to refer to

7. Observe and assess effectiveness of new policy

FAQs
1. What if someone is in need of medical attention, but they look like they are sleeping?
a. Answer: If you are concerned that a patron is not breathing or needs help, then try waking them safely. If
they do not wake, take action.

2. Why should people be allowed to sleep instead of using library services? The library is not a
homeless shelter!
a. Answer: The library is not a shelter, but it does provide an inclusive place for vulnerable persons to use
our services freely. Those experiencing homelessness are often exhausted mentally and physically. By
using an empathy approach to library policy, you are being more inclusive to all patrons while still
upholding rules of conduct.

3. Can we wake someone up if they’ve been asleep for more than an hour?
a. Yes. If someone has been sleeping a long time and is using up a table or chair, then they are blocking
other patrons from using these materials and would be violating the policy.
Waking Someone Safely
1. Try waking the patron with your
voice from a couple of feet
away.
2. If no response, try again from a
little closer, but not directly in
front of the patron.
3. If still no response, then stand
either directly behind them or
from across a table and gently
shake their arm or shoulder.
Do not crouch in front of them - if the
patron wakes wildly and flails their
limbs, you could be hurt.
Homelessness is dangerous, and
homeless people often have PTSD or
other conditions that may cause
them to react defensively if touched.
(Dowd, pg. 193, 2018)
The Homeless Golden Rule

“...Treat homeless patrons no better and no

worse than any other patron.”
(Dowd, pg. 86, 2018)
Conflict Resolution Strategies
● The Parent Trap - Using your “Parent
Voice” can make patrons feel
disrespected. Use your “Adult voice:”
○ Ex. Instead of “Don’t do that!” try “Please
do not use the computer to look up
pornnography.”
● The Alternative Fact - Do not lie, but use a
little imagination to alert patrons when
they are breaking a rule
○ Ex. “You probably didn’t see our sign about
bulky bags, but it’s right over here.”
(Dowd, pg. 115-130, 2020)
● The Bad Cop - Blame the faceless
authority when enforcing policy
○ Ex. “I wouldn’t mind if you brushed your
teeth in the bathroom, but the Library has a
policy against it.”
● The Sad Librarian - Show patrons you are
sympathetic, but enforcing policies for the
greater good
○ Ex. “I understand that you are tired, but
please do not sleep on the floor. I wouldn’t
want you to get stepped on or asked to
leave.”
Be Aware of Body Language
● The Less Public Library - Asking the
patron to move away from other patrons
when you need to enforce a policy
removes the audience from the scene, and
also decreases the chance that they’ll
become defensive.
● The Goldilocks - Use appropriate eye
contact (7-10 seconds) so that you are
showing respect but not staring.
● The Pool Shot - Angling your body slightly
(15 degrees) while standing in front of
someone to appear less confrontational
● The Mirror - Reflecting back the patron’s
concerns shows you are listening.
○ Ex. “I believe you that it must be very
difficult to sleep in the shelter.”
(Dowd, pg. 98-103, 117, 2018)
Any Questions?
Resources
American Library Association. (2010, Aug. 4) B.8 services and responsibilities of libraries (old
number 61). American Library Association.
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/52libsvcsandrespon.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, July 1). Coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19):
coping with stress. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020).

Cooper, C. L., & Quick, J. C. (2017). The handbook of stress and health : a guide to research and
practice. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=4816171.

Dowd, R. J. (2018) The librarian's guide to homelessness: An empathy-driven approach to

solving problems, preventing conflict, and serving everyone. American Library Association, Chicago.

Gehner, J. (2010, Mar. 15) Libraries, low-income people, and social exclusion. Public Library
Quarterly, 29(1), 39-47. https://www-tandfonline-com.libproxy.uncg.edu/doi/full/10.1080/01616840903562976.
Resources, continued
Hersberger, J. (2005). The Homeless and Information Needs and Services. Reference & User
Services Quarterly, 44(3), 199-202. https://login.libproxy.uncg.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/217907871?
accountid=14604.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2017). IFLA guidelines for
library services to people experiencing homelessness.
https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/lsn/publications/ifla-guidelines-for-library-services-to-people-experiencing-homelessness.pdf .

Mars, A. (2012, Mar/Apr). Library service to the homeless. Public Libraries, 51(2), 32–35.
https://search-proquest-com.libproxy.uncg.edu/docview/1011089899.

National Alliance to End Homelessness. State of homelessness: 2020 edition.

https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-2020/ .

Perri, M., M.P.H., Dosani, N., M.D., & Hwang, S. W.,M.D.M.P.H. (2020). COVID-19 and people
experiencing homelessness: challenges and mitigation strategies: CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 192(26), E716-E719.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.200834.

Policies: Rules of conduct. (2020) Baltimore County Public Library System. https://www.bcpl.info/about-us/policies.html.