THE NORTHERN IRELAND LIBRARY AUTHORITY MAKES THESE BYELAWS UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE LIBRARIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008.
1. In these Byelaws,
(a) ‘the Act’ means the Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;
(b) ‘the Authority’ means the Northern Ireland Library Authority established by Section 1 of the Act;
(c) ‘library premises’ means:
i) any premises occupied by the Authority where library facilities are made available to members of the public;
ii) any vehicle used by the Authority in which library facilities are so made available;
(d) ‘the Librarian’ means the Chief Executive of the Authority or any other person authorised by the Chief Executive to act on her behalf in the implementation of these byelaws;
(e) ‘library material’ includes words, images, sounds, data and information of any kind recorded in or on any medium;
(f) ‘child’ means a person under the age of 12.
2. An act necessary for the proper execution of their duty by the Librarian shall not be deemed to be a contravention of these Byelaws.
3. A person shall not give a false age, name or address for the purpose of entering any part of the library premises or for the purpose of using any library facilities.
4. A person shall not without the consent of the Librarian
(a) cause or allow any dog (other than a guide-dog accompanying a visually or aurally impaired person) or other animal belonging to them or under their control to enter or remain on the library premises.
(b) enter or remain in any part of the library which a reasonable person would or should know is prohibited to the public
(c) remain on the library premises after the time fixed for its closing
5. A person shall not park a vehicle on library premises in a place or at a time other than that approved by the Authority or the Librarian. A person other than a disabled person who parks their vehicle in a space identified for use by disabled persons without such approval contravenes this byelaw.
6. A person who in the reasonable opinion of the Librarian is offensively unclean in person or in dress shall not be permitted to enter or use the library premises.
7. A person shall not wilfully, carelessly or negligently soil, tear, cut, deface, damage, injure, or destroy any library material, library apparatus or furniture, fittings or other contents of the library premises.
8. A person within the library premises using library material or library apparatus shall give that material or apparatus up to the Librarian on demand.
9. A person shall not without the consent of the Librarian:
(a) take or attempt to take any library material, apparatus or property from the library or past a check out or security point;
(b) display, distribute, affix or post any bill, placard or notice in, to or upon any part of the library premises;
(c) offer anything for sale on the library premises, canvass or seek signatures for petitions or solicit monetary collections for any purpose;
(d) partake of refreshment in the library premises, except in any part thereof which is used as a café or restaurant;
(e) cause or allow any mobile phone, portable computer or any other apparatus for the reception of sound broadcasting or the reproduction of sound to be operated on any part of the library premises to which the public has access;
(f) play at cards or any game.
10. (a) A person having the charge or possession of any library material which the Authority is entitled to have returned to it shall deliver it up to the Librarian within fourteen days of the service upon them by the Authority of a notice requiring them so to do.
(b) For the purposes of this byelaw, a notice may be served upon any person by electronic means, by leaving it at their usual or last known place of abode or by sending it by ordinary post addressed to them at that place or by delivering it to them in person.
11. A person who:
(a) after the end of the period for which it was lent, has the charge or possession of library material borrowed from the library or from any person acting on behalf of the Authority, and
(b) after having been requested in writing by the Authority to deliver it up, has failed to do so within a period of fourteen days after the date of the request, and
(c) has not paid to the Authority in respect thereof such sum as is authorised under the Scheme of Charges for Library Services, shall not, except with the consent of the Librarian borrow any further library material or use any library facilities or services.
12. Whilst on Library Premises a person shall not:
(a) behave in a disorderly or offensive manner, or use violent, abusive or obscene language on the library premises, prevent the proper use or regulation of the library premises or intentionally or recklessly cause or do anything likely to cause injury to any other person or damage to property;
(b) after having been requested not to do so by the Librarian engage in persistent audible conversation in any part of the library premises set apart as a reference department, study area or for reading;
(c) engage in any form of gambling;
(d) smoke or light a match or cigarette lighter;
(e) inhale any toxic substance; or take any controlled drug as defined by Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 other than prescription drugs lawfully dispensed in accordance with that Act;
(f) wilfully obstruct the Librarian in the execution of their duty or wilfully disturb, obstruct, interrupt or annoy any other person in the proper use of the library premises;
(g) use any computer, mobile phone or other means to access any material which in the opinion of the librarian is offensive.
13. A person shall not remain on the library premises after an emergency situation or authorised drill has been made known to them.
14. In accordance with the Authority’s Child Protection Policy a person, having charge of a child, shall not without the consent of the Librarian, leave that child unsupervised in the Library.
15. A person who contravenes Byelaws 3 to 14 is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale and in the case of a continuing offence, to a fine not exceeding one tenth of level 2 on the standard scale for each day on which the offence continues after conviction.
16. A person who contravenes any of these Byelaws may be excluded or removed from the library premises by the Librarian or a police officer if there is reasonable grounds for belief that their continuance on the library premises may result in another contravention of the Byelaws or that their exclusion or removal from the library premises is otherwise necessary for the proper use and regulation thereof.
17. These are the first series of byelaws made by the Authority. The following library byelaws made by the 5 Education and Library Boards under Article 78 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 are hereby revoked:
(a) the byelaws made by the Belfast Education and Library Board on 16 December 1999
(b) the byelaws made by the North Eastern Education and Library Board on 19 December 2000
(c) the byelaws made by the South Eastern Education and Library Board on 30 November 2000
(d) the byelaws made by the Southern Education and Library Board on 20 April 2000
(e) the byelaws made by the Western Education and Library Board on 16 June 1999.
The foregoing Byelaws were made by the Northern Ireland Library Authority on day of 2009.
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Chairman
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Chief Executive
The foregoing Byelaws are hereby confirmed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on day of 2009.
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