I believe these policies should all have an anti-discrimination policy prominently towards the front of their document. When it comes to the actual rules, I believe that it’s important to add that equipment and voice volume has to also be looked at as accessibility accommodations.

Sleeping is an acceptable use of the library, and is protected under the use of a library as an act of meditation or rest, and such rules are only in place to discriminate against the unhoused, as are the rules against ‘offensive’ hygiene, bathroom use, and bringing in bags over a certain size or quantity. Within reasonable limitations, the unhoused should be able to bring their belongings in to find a place to rest and recharge. The time limit for leaving belongings should be lengthened. I have more than once had people leave their items in the library while they went for a job interview, with the understanding that we are not responsible for them. The rule about cell phones is an ancient one; the use of them falls under the rules for voice volume mentioned above, but everyone is going to use their cell phones.

There is one rule that I don’t agree with on here, but I chose not to change it because we have the same policy in our library. I find it unreasonable to make it okay to leave a 7 year old child alone in a public library, yet I have seen it in several libraries. I believe that it should be raised to 13 or even 15. I feel like if they can’t be left at home alone then they shouldn’t be able to be left in a public library without supervision.