A second updated note:

Here's what the attorney suggests:

Updated Note to all:  I have color coded changes in the proposed policy, red is to be deleted, green is to be added. There are two shades of green for two sources of recommendations.  I don't know if you'll automatically see color or not.  Ask SNS or me about that.  I will recommend no capitalization of "library" or "discipline policy." 

This has been postponed until July.  Seeing how people use their cell phones and thinking about what we actually do with personal calls, I have amended the draft more.  I want to ask the lawyer about "excessive."  This change is pink in honor of motherhood--i.e. parents need to be able to make brief calls to or take calls from children,schools, doctors, car repairment, etc.   If parents can have such calls, so can all other staff.  It is not my intention to inquire into the subject of people's personal phone calls.  Brevity and location are the main issues--personal communications should be away from public areas--the break room is the best place. I talked about this with Bernie, Rekha, and Tara yesterday morning and Chris yesterday afternoon.  Obviously, if there is an emergency, people can ask their supervisor for vacation/sick time immiedately for an extended conversation.  One example was a sister calling because her husband had just threatened to leave her.  That was a thirty minute conversation.  That is excessive and taking vacation time would be the best solution. We will try to be flexible.

Also, my understanding of this is that ear buds, etc. are ok when we're closed.

sms, 6-28-07

XI. --ACPL - - Acceptable Use of Employee Time

(adopted 6/24/97, revised xx/xx/200x)

-Purpose: To establish a policy governing employees’ use of time during scheduled working hours.

General:- During scheduled working hours, employees are expected to use their time for undertaking work-related tasks. Employees should refrain from using Library resources for personal use not attend to/ focus on? personal business during work hours. Brief  interactions away from public areas are acceptable, if not excessive.  Violations of this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action under the Library’s Discipline Policy.

Specific: For example: Activities such as reading books, magazines, doing homework, text messaging, or searching the Internet for personal use are an improper use of Library resources and time. Using Library resources, including the Internet, to assist a patron is considered to be an acceptable, work-related activity. Exploring websites or databases of use to patrons or relevant to work is encouraged.  Discovering the many fucntions of Google is work-related.  Using Google to find websites of purely person interest is not.   During breaks, employees’ time is their own, and they may use Library resources with the same rights and responsibilities as any other patron.

While interaction with patrons is encouraged, extended personal conversation with patrons or with co-workers during work time is discouraged. When staff are in public areas during open hours, they should be available to patrons; use of earphones or audible devices makes staff inaccessible and thus is inappropriate.

This is fair and reasonable.

-Adopted by Staff Vote 14-2 on 4/2/97

Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees and Director 6/23/97-

PROPOSED BY THE PERSONNEL POLICY COMMITTEE 2007

XI. ACPL Acceptable Use of Employee Time

(adopted 6/24/97)

During scheduled working hours, employees are expected to use their time for work-related tasks. Activities including, but not limited to reading books, magazines, doing homework, or searching the Internet for personal use are an improper use of Library resources and time. Using Library resources, including the Internet, to assist a patron is considered to be an acceptable, work-related activity. During breaks, employees’ time is their own, and they may use Library resources with the same rights and responsibilities as any other patron. Violations of this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action under the Library’s Discipline Policy.

This is fair and reasonable. I do use headphones while shelving books, but have kept the volume very low, and have been able to hear phones and other people. Usually I am shelving in non-fiction and there is rarely anyone over there, though patrons have approached me from time to time. I understand concerns, however, that a patron may not feel comfortable approaching me if I have the headphones on, which Chris pointed out as a possibility. I hadn't thought of that. I hope it will still be okay to use them before opening (again with low volume) when I'm doing tasks such as newspapers or folding overdue notices, etc., and I thank you for considering this.

In visiting libraries in Illinois and other places, I was pleased to hear music in some of them, and I always thought music playing in our library along with a "now playing" cd cover holder at the desk would be surprising to and appreciated by many people. (Okay, I admit, I love music but I truly feel this would be a cool addition to our library, especially with the very large selection of music we offer.)

Thanks for considering my opinion(s) being worthwhile! :-) Sandy

I personally find it much easier to shleve when i am listening to music. i do my shelving in a much faster time and am just as efficient. if the music is kept at a low volume to where you can hear everything going on around you, i don't see the problem. also what if we made a sign to put on the carts that say "ask me if you need help?" i think that would work nicely. :o) thanks -Brooke