Once the decision has been made to exclude a patron, these guidelines will help you remember the steps you should complete. Remember, the most important consideration is to keep staff and patrons safe.
- Fill out the exclusion form ahead of time if possible, and have it ready for the patron to sign
- Enter today's date, time and location.
- Enter the excluded patron's full name, address, physical description (including approximate height, weight, hair color and eye color), sex, race, birth year and phone number.
- Enter the date and approximate time that the violation of the rule(s) occurred.
- Select the specific rule number(s) violated from the posted rules or reference.
- Select the period of time of exclusion.
- Approach the patron and explain that they are being excluded. Communicate the following key points:
- When patrons enter MCL premises, they are agreeing to follow the library’s rules.
- The reason for the exclusion (i.e. behavior rule(s) violated).
- The length of the exclusion and the date the patron may return.
- The exclusion applies to all Multnomah County Library locations.
- The appeals process (and support resources, as applicable):
- In writing via letter sent to library director at the Operations Center (221 NE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97230)
- Via an email to libcomments@multco.us
- Trespassing while excluded is a violation of criminal trespass in the second degree (ORS 164.245) and might result in arrest, prosecution, and a longer exclusion.
- Ask the excluded patron to sign and date where indicated. Print the employee initials of the person who is hand delivering the Notice of Exclusion to the excluded patron on the line indicated.
- Offer to provide the excluded patron with a copy of the behavior rules.
- If the excluded patron refuses to sign or receive his or her copies of the Notice of Exclusion and rules, indicate this by checking the box below the signature line.
- If they won’t sign the form, just let them leave the building. If the patron refuses to accept the notice, consider mailing and/or emailing copies of the exclusion notice to the last known address or somewhere the patron can be reached, or to make it available if the patron returns.
- If possible and if it seems safe to do so, take a clear photograph of the excluded patron with an MCL camera or the PIC phone.
- After the patron has left, use the incident report form to write an incident report. Be detailed, and give specific information about the patron’s actions and words.
- Send the Safety & Security Manager a copy of the exclusion form to Multnomah Building.
- If the patron has a Symphony account, make note of the profile type and switch to excluded. Then change permission type to excluded and add an exclusion message to their account. For example: “Excluded. Return date 11/10/2024. Restore to 0_MULT. CEN/bfj 10/25/22.
- If a police officer responded and arrested the excluded patron, the Incident Review Team may recommend contacting the Multnomah County District Attorney's office to file a criminal complaint.