Fairfax County Public Library Rules of Behavior (Policy Z)
Welcome to Fairfax County Public Library. We expect all library visitors to be respectful of others, staff and facilities, and to engage in activities associated with the use of the library. Parents, guardians and caregivers are responsible for the safety and behavior of children.
In particular, we prohibit:
- Bullying, harassing, threatening, or intimidating language or behavior
- Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs
- Disruptive behavior
- Camping on library property [1]
- Eating (except in designated areas)
- Smoking and vaping
- Disruptive use of the restrooms, including bathing and washing clothing
- Taking up excessive library space or monopolizing materials
- Rearranging the furniture without the permission of library staff
- Use of library computers or internet access in violation of Virginia Code [2]
- Sexual harassment, exposure, inappropriate touching or display of sexually explicit images
- Damaging library materials/property or removing them without permission
- Animals (except service animals)
- Bringing shopping carts, bicycles and other vehicles inside library branches
- Soliciting or distributing literature without prior approval [3]
Directions given by library staff must be followed. Library staff have the authority to maintain order, to ensure the safety of staff and customers, and to enforce these and other regulations.
A person who fails to observe these rules may be asked to leave and could have future access to Fairfax County Public Library limited or suspended. The library works in partnership with local police departments to keep its customers, staff and facilities safe. Thank you for your cooperation.
[1] Camping is prohibited on all property administered by the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees. "Camping" means sleeping out-of-doors; erecting or setting out a shelter out-of-doors, including, but not limited to a tent, cardboard box, sleeping bag, or newspapers; or cooking over an open flame or fire out-of-doors. FCPL Board of Trustees Policy Manual, Policy W.
[2] Virginia Code §18.2-374.1:1 (child pornography), Virginia Code §18.2-372 through §18.2-374 (obscene materials) or §18.2-377 (obscene materials).
[3] Soliciting or selling in all Library buildings and on adjacent grounds, owned or leased, or in Library meeting rooms shall not be permitted except when (a) sponsored by Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax Library Foundation Inc., Fairfax County Public Library Employees Association or Friends of the Library organizations; or (b) approved by the Library Board. Policy L.