Long Beach Public Library

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Library Policies

The City Manager has promulgated these rules for the use of all City of Long Beach Libraries in accordance with the Long Beach Municipal Code. Such rules are formulated to ensure that the libraries and meeting facilities serve their primary purposes, including, the provision of an orderly environment in which people may read, study, use library materials and equipment, and participate in library or community programs.

The Rules of Conduct ensure that the rights of patrons, volunteers, and staff are preserved, and library property is protected. These Rules shall apply in all buildings, interior and exterior, and all grounds controlled and operated by the Long Beach Public Library. Individuals who do not comply with the Library Rules of Conduct or with the requests of Library staff or security personnel to modify their behavior to comply with these Rules may be required to leave the Library property, be subject to arrest, or be subject to other lawful action.


Level One

Patron is expected to comply or leave the premises. Library privileges may be suspended for 3 months for non-compliance or repeat offenses.

  1. No adults in areas designated for youth unless accompanied by a youth or if the adult needs to access youth collections.
  2. No unauthorized use of others’ library cards or account numbers.
  3. No behaviors, including unreasonable noise, which disrupts other library users.
  4. No monopolizing library space or resources to the exclusion of others.
  5. No blocking aisles, doorways, stairways, elevators and ramps.
  6. No bringing in items that are larger than 26” x 24” x 14” in aggregate.
  7. No leaving any personal items unattended.
  8. No use of roller skates, scooters, skateboards, bicycles, etc. No improper storage of micromobility vehicles (for example, bicycles, e-bicycles, powered scooters) on railings or inside the library.
  9. No eating or drinking except in designated areas. Drinks with spill-proof lids are permitted.
  10. No entering the Library without sufficient clothing. Patrons must wear tops, bottoms and shoes.
  11. No entering the Library with personal hygiene/odor that is a nuisance to others.
  12. No inappropriate use of library technology as defined in the Internet Usage Policy.
  13. No lying on the floor or furniture or otherwise using library furniture, fixtures, or space not as intended.
  14. No personal grooming, including bathing, shaving, shampooing, doing laundry or tending to other hygiene practices in or outside the library’s restrooms.
  15. No posting or distributing unauthorized printed materials, for example, business advertisements and religious or political flyers.
  16. No photographing or filming people without their consent, or for media or commercial purposes without prior permission from Library Administration.
  17. No soliciting.
  18. No leaving children under the age of 10 or dependent adults unattended.
  19. No bringing animals other than service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) into the library.

Level Two

Library privileges may be suspended for up to 1 year.

  1. No smoking or vaping.
  2. No interfering with Library employees in the performance of their duties, and/or not following any reasonable instruction by a staff member or security.
  3. No exhibiting signs of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol so as to constitute a nuisance to other persons.

Level Three

Library privileges will be suspended for up to 1 year.

  1. No intimidating, harassing, or threatening patrons, staff, or volunteers, including but not limited to staring, stalking, lurking, repeating unwanted personal or embarrassing questions, unwanted attention of a sexual nature, actual or implied threats of bodily harm, and discriminatory remarks about a person’s physical appearance, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
  2. No trespassing in non-public areas; no being inside library facilities without the permission of an authorized library employee before or after library operating hours.
  3. No physical fighting.
  4. No weapons or large items that could be used as weapons such as golf clubs, wooden staffs, or baseball bats.
  5. No sexual conduct or lewd acts.
  6. No theft or attempted theft of library property.
  7. No destroying or defacing library property.
  8. No consuming drugs or alcohol on library property.
  9. No engaging in any activity that violates federal, state, and local laws.

Minors in violation of the Rules of Conduct may have their library privileges suspended and every effort will be made by Library staff to contact a parent or caregiver. Duration of suspension will be determined on a case-by-case basis by Library Administration.


Library Suspension Appeals

Library patrons who have received a written notice of suspension of library privileges may appeal the decision within seven (7) days from the start of suspension by submitting a copy of a Request for Appeal of Library Suspension form (PDF). Copies of the form are available at all library locations and must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office within seven (7) days of the start of suspension. Individuals unable to participate in a written process may contact Library Administration by phone at (562) 570-7500 to inform them of the desire to file an appeal.

The appeal will be reviewed by the City Manager or their designee. Notice of the hearing date will be served to the person subject to suspension at least five (5) business days before the hearing. If the Library does not have access to the person’s mailing address, the scheduled time for their appeal hearing will be available at the first-floor security desk at Billie Jean King Main Library. The suspension of library privileges will remain in effect during the appeal process. The decision on whether to uphold the suspension will be made within thirty (30) days. If the patron wishes to appeal the decision of the City Manager or their designee, they may file an appeal to the City Council within ten (10) business days.

It is the responsibility of the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) to maintain a healthy and clean environment for all library users and to protect the City’s investment in library collections, equipment, and property. In order to fulfill this responsibility, LBPL may restrict a user’s ability to borrow materials and/or visit library facilities when such use may jeopardize the health and cleanliness of library facilities, collections, and users.

Examples of situations where borrowing of materials may be suspended include, but are not limited to:

  • Evidence that items on loan to a patron may have been returned with insects that are known to be damaging to library materials, e.g. roaches, silverfish, and some types of beetles.
  • Evidence that items on loan to a patron may have been returned with insects that can result in pest infestations in library facilities, e.g. bed bugs or roaches.

Examples of situations where access to library facilities may be suspended include, but not limited to:

  • Patron or patron possessions with fleas or lice
  • Patrons with clothing that is stained with urine or feces
  • Patrons exhibiting flu-like symptoms such as persistent coughing or vomiting

Should it become necessary to suspend a patron’s library privileges in order to protect library collections, facilities, or other users, notification of the suspension will be made via mail or in person by the supervisor of the library location in which the incident occurred. Access to facilities and borrowing will be restored when the suspended customer demonstrates that the situation that caused the loss of privileges has been remediated.

Any library patron that has privileges suspended under the terms of this policy may request a re-evalution of the suspension by contacting Library Administration.


Source: California Penal Code §370

I. Mission Statement for Internet Use

Internet access at Long Beach Public Library is an extension of the library's commitment to meeting the community's information needs. In addition to using the Internet as an information resource the library also seeks to provide the opportunity for Internet use, with limitations, to members of the public.

II. Acceptable Use

The Long Beach Public Library has installed a technology protection measure (filtering device) pursuant to Federal law (U.S.C. Sec. 254) to protect minors from websites deemed to be harmful. The Library however cannot be held responsible for the content of the information accessed through the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide community with a highly diverse user population and it is your responsibility to use this resource wisely.

Parents or guardians, not the Library or its staff, are still considered to be responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children even though Internet filters are installed.

The Internet workstation must be used in a responsible manner, respecting the rights of others, and taking care with use of the equipment. Computer and Internet settings may not be changed.

The workstations cannot be used for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose, including any activities prohibited under any applicable federal, California, or local laws. The Library does not allow unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking” by any unscrupulous individuals, nor does it allow the disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.

All computers are located in public areas where minors are present. The law prohibits "every person, who, with knowledge that a person is a minor, knowingly...exhibits, or offers to distribute or exhibit by any means, matter which is deemed "harmful to minors." (Penal Code 313 et seq.) The law also prohibits the exhibition of obscene matter to any person. (Penal Code 311 et seq.) It is unacceptable to use the Library’s computer system and Internet resources for sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics, which may reasonably be construed as either obscene or child pornography by community standards.

Please be aware that material on the Internet and the World Wide Web is copyrighted. It is your responsibility to be aware of the display of any notices concerning the copyright of information on the Web and to respect the copyright laws of the United States.

The City of Long Beach is committed to providing an environment free from sexual harassment.  Do not display on screens and/or printers materials which could subject the City to liability under applicable State or Federal laws.

III. Guidelines for Public Internet Use

  • Computer use by a patron may be limited to 60 minutes at a time.
  • Extension of the time limit may be granted at the librarian's discretion and only if the computer does not need to be accessed by other patrons or library staff for the Internet or other resources.
  • Internet use by the public at Long Beach Public Library does not include access to all types of listservs, newsgroups, or File Transfer Protocol.
  • Printing may be done. There is a fee of fifteen cents ($0.15) per page for printing black and white copies, and fifty cents ($0.50) per page for printing color copies.
  • Internet access may not be available due to technical problems.
  • The Library attempts to maintain the most current versions of Internet browsing and security software, however the Library is not required to upgrade as new versions are made available. This may mean certain websites and resources that utilize the latest technologies are inaccessible.
  • Long Beach Public Library cannot be responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information found on the Internet.
  • Internet access will be denied to anyone breaching this use policy.

This policy was developed in consultation with the City of Long Beach Attorney's office.

  • I accept responsibility for all items checked out on my card.
  • I agree to pay for any items lost or damaged, fees and fines.
  • I agree to report a lost or stolen card immediately and understand that I am responsible for all items on the card until it is reported lost to the Library.
  • I agree to inform the Library of any changes to my contact information.
  • I understand that my library card is for my use only and is not to be used by others, even my family.
  • I understand that I must have my library card to borrow materials, access my record or use the Internet.
  • I agree to follow all library policies and the Library's Rules of Conduct.


Important Information for Parents and Guardians

Library cards are for self-use only. This protects individuals from other's misuse of library cards. 

The only exception is when the parent listed on a child's account checks out materials using that child's card. This is allowed because the parent listed is the responsible party for materials checked out on the child's card.

The reading and viewing activities of youth under 18 are the responsibility of parents and guardians. The Library does not assume that responsibility.

The Library welcomes the opportunity to work with groups of young people and their adult leaders. Field trips to the public library by classes, scout troups, church groups, kids’ clubs, service clubs, and others provide a valuable opportunity for librarians to introduce the library to children and teens. The range of library materials and services available, the library card application process, and special programs for youth of all ages may be highlighted by the librarians. Group visits represent “win-win” cooperation between the public library and all community organizations that benefit youth.

Group visits require a commitment of library staff time, library space, and library resources. The number and frequency of group visits scheduled at each library will vary according to staffing levels, available space and seating, and other services provided. We therefore ask that all groups wishing to visit a local library register in advance, at least 2 weeks ahead of time, with the youth services librarian. A group that misses a scheduled visit without notifying the library in advance may not be permitted to re-schedule.

Adult leaders are responsible for:

  • Registering for a group visit at least 2 weeks ahead of time.
  • Securing library card applications for interested children and teens in advance, and returning completed applications to the library at least 1 week ahead of time.
  • Informing parents of the scheduled group visit to the Library.
  • Reminding children and teens to bring previously-issued library cards with them the day of the visit.
  • Keeping group visit appointments or notifying the Library of a necessary cancellation.
  • Participating in the group visit, ensuring that students remain “on task,” and supervising their behavior.

Children and teens are responsible for:

  • Bringing their library cards to the Library.
  • Reminding parents of the library visit.
  • Checking out library materials.
  • Returning library materials in a timely manner.
  • Behaving responsibly during the library visit.

Librarians are responsible for:

  • Booking and scheduling group visits.
  • Informing adult leaders of Library requirements.
  • Providing the group leader with a phone number to call should the visit need to be canceled.
  • Reserving all necessary resources.
  • Conducting the group visits.
  • Recording all statistics for Library reports.

We hope that each group visit will provide an educational and enjoyable experience for children and teens. Literature-based components such as storytelling, reading aloud, book talks, book displays, and book-related films and videos will be incorporated into group visits as determined by the librarian and adult leader at the time of the booking.

We look forward to your visit to the Library!

The Long Beach Public Library accepts gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray.

Bring the items to any LBPL location and ask for a tax receipt if you need one. Newspapers and magazines cannot be accepted.

We sort and distribute donations to benefit all LBPL locations.

The Library provides no appraisals, reserves the right to refuse any donated material, and reserves the right to utilize these gifts in any way that is advantageous to the Library, including adding gifts to the collection, selling, disposing, or transferring gifts into or out of the collection.

The Library accepts Long Beach history-related donations but reserves the right to utilize these gifts in any way that is advantageous to the Library, including adding gifts to the collection, selling, disposing, or transferring gifts into or out of the collection.

Newspapers and magazines cannot be accepted.

The Library provides no appraisals and reserves the right to refuse any donated material.