Guidelines of Mutual Respect

Please join the staff of the MSU Billings Library in creating and sustaining an environment conducive to study and scholarly collaboration. We support our community by creating, providing, and maintaining a safe, pleasant, and welcoming environment for all patrons. We treat our patrons with respect and expect the same in return.

Patron Conduct

Individual user expectations must be balanced by and consistent with the use of the ethical principles set forth by the University and with accepted community standards. All library patrons regardless of identity or background are expected to follow the library’s code of conduct.

  • Interact courteously with other patrons and library staff.
  • Comply with circulation (checkout) and use policies of library materials.
  • Follow all IT policies when using university-owned computers or while connected to the MSUB wired/wireless network.
  • Follow Service and Emotional Support Animal Policy.
  • Exit the Library in a courteous and timely fashion when requested by staff and by the posted library closing hours.
  • Dress appropriately for a public setting, including an upper-body covering, lower-body covering, and footwear.
  • Maintain a clean environment.
  • Use equipment, furnishings, and restrooms for their intended purposes and maintain the original arrangement of furniture and equipment not designed to be moved.
  • Do not consume alcohol, use illegal drugs, smoke, vape, or otherwise use tobacco products in the Library.
  • Do not enter non-public, restricted or closed areas of the Library, including opening emergency exits or activating emergency alarms, except in an emergency.
  • Maintain individual privacy of users by obtaining permission from Library Administration to take photos or film in the Library.
  • Accompany all minors under the age of 16; library staff can make exceptions for minors enrolled in MSUB-affiliated programs.

The MSUB Library reserves the right to refuse service to library patrons who act in ways that disrupt any user’s rights or ability to use or enjoy the Library, Library staff’s performance of their duties, or that degrades any Library resources.

Disruptive Behaviors Definition

Disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to, any actions that violate the Library's Code of Conduct, the Student Code of Conduct, or the University Facility Use Policy. 

Disruptive behaviors are behaviors or actions that unreasonably interfere with any other person’s ability to study, research, work, or engage with their peers in a disruption free academic and learning environment. Disruptive behaviors can be both intentional and unintentional and include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Harassing or Annoying Others: Behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb another person’s enjoyment of the library such as taunting, provoking, touching, staring, following, or any other behaviors or actions that could disrupt another person’s use of the library.
  • Causing Unreasonable Noise: Causing disruptive, distracting, and or noise interruptions or disturbances that can reasonably interfere with another person’s use of the library. This includes boisterous or unreasonably loud talking; unreasonably loud bodily noises; unreasonably loud monologuing; outbursts; yelling; engaging in unreasonably loud or prolonged phone calls or in person conversations; taking phone calls or video calls on speaker phone; singing; whistling; humming; and playing sounds on electronic devices including cell phones and computers at a level audible to others.
  • Profanity and Vulgar Language: Talking loudly while swearing, and frequent use of profane language at levels audible to others in a way that disrupts other people in the library.
  • Monopolizing library space: Hindering, impeding, or preventing the movement of another person into, out of, or about any part of the Library, such as blocking aisles, study areas, furniture, and walkways with your body or personal belongings. This includes claiming spaces or preventing another person from using library facilities or services.
  • Aggressive and Threatening Behavior: Physically threatening the safety or wellbeing of another person; threatening the safety of the library facility and library property; making threatening gestures; throwing objects; slamming doors; pounding on surfaces; destruction of property; bullying; stalking; making verbal or written threats to other persons or property; implying threats (“you’ll be sorry”); making other types of intimidation; self-harm/injury; words and actions that cause others to fear for their personal safety.

Library Procedures

When library patrons do not comply with these guidelines, they may be asked to leave the Library or be escorted from the building by Campus Police. Repeated violations of library policies may lead to individuals being banned from entering the Library.

Related Materials

 

This revision was approved by the Library Director, Eileen Wright, in December 2025.