To facilitate Portland State University's mission of teaching and learning consistent with a state institution of higher education, the PSU Library requires its patrons to maintain a quiet, safe, and otherwise appropriate environment for all library users.

Therefore, the following activities and behaviors are strictly prohibited:

1. Committing or attempting to commit any activity that would constitute a violation of any federal, state, or local criminal statute or ordinance.

2. Exhibiting disruptive or disorderly conduct or behavior that unreasonably disturbs library patrons and staff and interferes with use and enjoyment of the library facilities, including but not limited to:

• Smoking or other use of tobacco anywhere inside the library or in areas posted NO SMOKING outside the library


• Fighting, running, or horseplay


• Posing an unreasonable risk to health or safety, including but not limited to offensive personal hygiene that unduly disturbs others


• Using loud, obscene, or abusive language to patrons or staff


• Failure to wear shoes and shirts at all times


• Displaying overt sexual behavior or engaging in sexual harassment


• Misuse or trashing of restrooms or other library areas


• Consuming any alcoholic beverage except at library approved events


• Displaying overt signs of alcohol or substance abuse that are accompanied by disruptive behavior


• Consumption of food on library premises, except at library approved events. Non-alcoholic beverages in closed containers are acceptable


• Entering Staff Only areas without permission

4. Misuse or abuse of library equipment, including, but not limited to: computers, printers, furniture, fixtures, books, or journals.

5. Failure to follow posted library policies for acceptable computer use, including time spent on the Internet, misuse or theft of passwords and codes, and/or failing to yield terminals to others when asked to do so by library staff.

6. Use of personal electronic equipment that unreasonably disturbs others. Such equipment includes, but is not limited to: cell phones, personal audio items, pagers, laptops, etc.

7. Bringing into the library any item that creates a hazard to others, or placing personal belongings so as to impede access to library materials or services. The following items are not allowed in the library:

• Bicycles, shopping carts


• Skateboards, scooters


• Weapons or items which can be easily mistaken for weapons, such as black water pistols, plastic nunchaku, or an empty pepper spray container

8. Failure to restrain noisy or disruptive children, or leaving a child under age 10 unattended by an adult at any time.

9. Bringing pets into the library (assistance animals are always welcome).

A patron who fails to follow these rules will be given a warning and asked to refrain from the inappropriate behavior. If a staff person has requested compliance with the policy, but the patron has refused, the patron may be asked to leave the library and not to return until the problem is corrected.