Safe Use and Conduct Bylaw
Purpose:
To establish a healthy environment, grounded in Regina Public Library’s values, that supports community services, spaces, and technologies to inspire discovery, learning, and connection.
Objective:
The library's purpose and objective in enacting this bylaw is to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all staff and customers of the library, both on-site and off-site, and in the digital services realm, and further to protect and preserve property under its control.
Delegated Authority:
Executive Director, Central Library
Legislated Authority:
This bylaw may be cited as: The Regina Public Library Safe Use and Conduct Bylaw, and is enacted under The Public Libraries Act, 1996, which states: “A public library board may make bylaws respecting: (a) the safety and use of its libraries; (b) the admission of the public to its libraries; and (c) all other matters and things connected with the management of the library and with the management of all property under its control intended to affect persons in their use of the library or its property.” (The Public Libraries Act, 1996, section 68).
Definitions:
In this bylaw and all other bylaws of the Regina Public Library, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Act” means The Public Libraries Act, 1996 of the Province of Saskatchewan;
(b) “Bylaw” means any bylaw of the Regina Public Library in force and effect;
(c) “Library” includes any building or mobile unit from which the Regina Public Library operates a library service as well as the surrounding premises including its grounds, parking, access, and egress;
(d) “Library Director” means the Library Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Regina Public Library or any person so designated by the Library Director & Chief Executive Officer;
(e) “Customer” means anyone who is on the library premises and is not an on-duty staff member, a contracted service provider, a volunteer, or a board member;
(f) “Staff” means all individuals employed by the library; and
All undefined terms in the bylaws which are defined in the Act shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Act.
Customer Conduct:
1.0. Customers shall abide by all Regina Public Library (RPL) policies and the direction of library staff and security personnel.
2.0. No one shall intimidate, harass, or abuse others, or exhibit rude or disorderly behavior, undertake illegal activity, or otherwise interfere with another’s use and enjoyment of the library, while on library premises, at a library event, on-line, or in correspondence with library representatives or other customers.
The following behaviours are prohibited in and on library property and library virtual spaces:
2.1. disrupting the enjoyment of other customers in the library by making excessive noise, including, but not limited to, yelling and the use of loud radios and stereos;
2.2. physical harassment, including, but not limited to, violence (e.g., hitting, pushing, shoving, kicking), unwanted physical contact (e.g., unwanted touching), and aggressive or threatening gestures;
2.3. verbal harassment and the use of vulgar language, including, but not limited to, the use of insults, threats, swearing, yelling, and the use of slurs/derogatory comments intended to demean, discriminate, or devalue an individual or group of persons;
2.4. sexual harassment and misconduct, including, but not limited to, voyeurism; comments; actions; gestures, such as brushing up against someone; and public nudity; and
2.5. online or phone harassment (including online commentary, online library programming) directed at library staff by customers with the intention to threaten, defame, abuse, or harass.
3.0. Weapons are prohibited. Carrying or displaying objects that can reasonably be considered a weapon is prohibited on library property.
4.0. Theft or stealing of other customers’ or the library’s property is not permitted.
5.0. Smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes and use of other items, such as matches and lighters is prohibited. he library is a smoke free environment. Smoking or vaping of any substance is prohibited in all areas within the library and on library property, with the exception of a smudging ceremony which has been previously approved by the Library Director as part of an event and pursuant to the Indigenous Cultural Practices policy.
6.0. Consuming, selling, or being under the influence of substances is not permitted. Customers shall not traffic, consume, or be under the obvious influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances, while on library property.
7.0. Sleeping is not permitted in the library. To ensure library customers are well and are not in need of emergency services, anyone who is found to be sleeping will be wakened.
8.0. Food and drink:
8.1. Eating and consuming non-alcoholic beverages is allowed in the library, unless otherwise indicated by posted signs or through verbal notice.
8.2. Customers must take reasonable steps to prevent any damage to or staining of property of the library or any third party, and must clean up any mess, including disposing of any unconsumed food and beverages, containers, and associated materials in the appropriate garbage and recycling bins.
8.3. Alcoholic beverages may only be consumed in designated areas when a liquor license has been obtained and is in place. The library’s Alcohol for Public Events policy governs this issue. All other sale and consumption of alcohol on library premises is prohibited.
9.0. Clothing and attire: library customers must be clothed, including shirts and shoes, at all times, while in the library.
10.0. Large sports and recreational use items are not permitted in the library. Library customers shall not bring bicycles or other obstructive equipment into the building. Library customers shall not use roller blades, skateboards, or other sporting equipment while on library premises.
11.0. Health Regulations: all library customers shall comply with applicable public health codes and regulations.
12.0. Entrances and exits: library customers shall exit promptly if instructed to do so by library staff, security guards, or emergency services personnel.
13.0. Children in the library:
13.1. Children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult or caregiver, who is at least 12 years old, while in the library. RPL reserves the right to require children to be accompanied by an adult while on library premises.
13.2. Caregivers are responsible for their children’s use of the internet while in the library: RPL is not responsible for children’s use of the Internet while in the library. Caregivers are responsible for the supervision and safety of their children in the use of online content and technology.
14.0. Animals in the library: only service animals (as defined in: The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code 2018, Policy on Service Animals) are allowed to accompany customers. If the animal is not easily identified as a service animal, RPL employees or security may ask if an animal is a service animal and if documentation of the animal’s status can be provided.
15.0. Library property and equipment use: customers shall use all collections, equipment, facilities and furniture on the premises of the library for their intended purposes.
16.0. Safe online and technology use: it is an offence pursuant to The Public Libraries Act, 1996 and the Criminal Code to steal, vandalize, commit on-line vandalism, make an unauthorized intrusion into a library computer or a network, or mutilate, or destroy library property including but not limited to, books, magazines, materials or equipment. Such an offence may be punishable by fines, suspensions, criminal conviction, or all three.
RPL customers must not:
16.1. use library computers or devices for illegal or criminal purposes;
16.2. use library computers or devices to seek unauthorized access to websites or proprietary data of any kind;
16.3. download, transmit, or export illegal material of any kind on library computers or devices;
16.4. install, develop, or use programs or software on library devices that are intended to infiltrate and cause damage to computer systems or networks; and
16.5. purposefully tamper with, inappropriately manipulate, or change RPL’s software, network, computer settings, or data in any way that may cause damage or is intended to modify or remove use limitations or rules set out by RPL. This includes, but is not limited to, time limits and reservations for use of public computers.
17.0. Security systems: where security systems are available, customers shall individually pass through the system upon exiting the library. If the security system alarm is activated, or library staff on reasonable grounds believe that library property has not been properly checked out, customers shall, upon request, allow a library employee or agent to inspect their belongings.
17.1. No individual shall obstruct library entrances or exits.
18.0. Unauthorized access and refusal to leave:
18.1. RPL customers shall not enter unauthorized areas on library premises or make an unauthorized intrusion into restricted public areas during events or when the library is closed.
18.2. RPL customers must exit immediately once a suspension is issued and shall not enter on the same day that they were asked by RPL staff or security to leave for the day.
18.3. RPL customers who have been suspended shall not enter library premises while suspended.
18.4. RPL customers must leave the library at closing time, in the event of a fire alarm, or as otherwise directed by staff. Failure to do so may result in suspension.
19.0. Soliciting and advertising: while on library premises, or during an off-site library event, no customer shall, without the previous written authorization of the Library Director:
19.1. offer for sale or distribute any newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, leaflet, printed material or matter of any kind;
19.2. beg or solicit for any purposes; or
19.3. post any letter, poster or notice.
20.0. Customers with court ordered restrictions:
20.1. All of RPL’s locations, through services, programs, spaces, and collections, actively welcome children, caregivers and families not limited to specific spaces or zones for all open hours.
21.0. It is not the library’s intent to deny access to services to those with court-ordered restrictions. Within the limits of the court-ordered restriction and the library’s ability to “provide opportunities for discovering and learning” to the customer, RPL will endeavour to serve the customer in whatever way possible.
22.0. Customers with court-ordered restrictions or restraining orders prohibiting the individual from entering any premises or space where children under the age of 16 gather are not permitted in any of Regina Public Library’s physical spaces or property.
23.0. Consequences for customers with court-ordered restrictions or restraining orders who do not comply: RPL may issue a library-specific suspension to an individual after verifying the court-ordered restriction with Regina Police Services or with provincial or federal courts. People with court-ordered restrictions may be refused entry to the library or asked to leave by library staff. If the individual does not comply, or becomes disruptive, the police will be called.
24.0. Consequences of Non-Compliance:
Contraventions of Bylaw A customer contravening any provision of this bylaw may:
24.1. have borrowing privileges suspended or revoked;
24.2. be prohibited from entering the library;
24.3. be prosecuted under The Public Libraries Act, 1996;
24.4. be charged by police under The Criminal Code or other legislation.
25.0. Appeals to reinstate borrowing privileges or system-wide suspensions:
25.1. Any customer whose borrowing privileges have been suspended or who has been suspended from entering a library can appeal the decision in writing to the Executive Director, Branch Libraries for reinstatement. Appeals must be made in writing and state the grounds of the appeal and the facts relied on in its support. The bylaw comes into force upon the day it is passed.
25.2. Any person who willfully contravenes any section of RPL’s Safe Use and Conduct Bylaw or who willfully retains any library materials from the library is guilty of an offense pursuant to the Bylaw, and may be liable to such penalties as are specified in The Trespass to Property Act, Chapter T-20.2 of The Statutes of Saskatchewan, 2009 (effective July 1, 2009) as amended by the Statutes of Saskatchewan, 2019, c.26; 2022, c.45; and 2023, c.43., in addition to any liability that may attach civilly or under the Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c. C-46.
Enacted by the Board the 25th day of November, 2025.