Made under Section 19 of the Public Libraries and
Museums Act 1964
1 In these Byelaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
a) the Act means the Public Libraries and Museums Act
1964;
b) The Library Authority means the North Somerset District
Council*;
c) Library means any library museum or art gallery for the
time being maintained by the Library Authority for the purposes of
its functions under the Act and includes a vehicle when being used
for those purposes;
d) The Librarian means the person appointed as such by the
Library authority or, in his absence, any other person authorised
by the Library Authority to act on its behalf;
e) Library officer means the librarian or any other person
employed by the Library Authority for the purposes of its functions
under the Act;
f) Book includes any and every book, journal, pamphlet,
music score, manuscript, picture, print, photograph, engraving,
etching, deed, map, chart, plan, gramophone record, film and any
other article of a like nature forming part of the contents of the
Library or lent to any person by or on behalf of the Library
Authority.
2 An act necessary for the proper execution of his duty by a
library officer shall not be deemed to be a contravention of these
Byelaws.
3 A person shall not give a false name or address for the
purpose of entering any part of the library or for the purpose of
using any facilities provided in connection therewith.
4 A person who is offensively unclean in person or in dress, or
who is suffering from an offensive disease, shall not enter or use
the library.
5 Except with the consent of a library officer, a person shall
not
a) cause or allow any dog (other than a guide-dog accompanying a
blind person) or other animal belonging to him or under his control
to enter or remain in the library or
b) bring into any part of the library a wheeled vehicle or
conveyance (other than a hand-propelled invalid chair)
6 A person shall not, after proper warning by a library officer,
remain in the library after the time fixed for its closing.
7 A person shall not, unless duly authorised, take any book from
the library.
8 A person shall not carelessly or negligently soil, tear, cut,
deface, damage, injure, or destroy any book or the furniture,
fittings or other contents of the library.
9 Except with the consent of a library officer, a person shall
not make a tracing of any portion of a book.
10 A person who:-
a) after the end of the period for which it was lent has the charge
or possession of a book borrowed from the library or from any body
or person acting on behalf of the Library Authority, and
b) after having been requested in writing by the Library Authority
to deliver it up to that Authority, has failed to do so within a
period of fourteen days after the date of the request, and
c) has not paid to the Library Authority in respect thereof an
agreed sum by way of compensation
shall not, except with the consent of the Librarian, borrow a
further book from the library.
11 A person from whom any sum is due to the Library Authority by
reason of a charge made under Section 8(2) of the Act in respect of
failure to return a book before the end of the period for which it
was lent shall not, except with the consent of the Librarian,
borrow any book from the library after having been notified in
writing by the Library Authority of the amount due.
12.1 A person having the charge or possession of any book which
the Library Authority is entitled to have returned to it shall
deliver it up to the Librarian within fourteen days of the service
upon him by the Authority of a notice requiring him so to do.
12.2 For the purposes of this Byelaw, a notice may be served upon
any person by delivering it to him, or by leaving it at his usual
or last known place of residence, or by sending it by registered
post or recorded delivery service addressed to him at that
place.
13 A person shall not behave in a disorderly manner in the
library or use violent, abusive or obscene language therein.
14 A person shall not spit in the library.
15 A person shall not, after a warning by a library officer,
persist in sleeping in the library.
16 A person shall not engage in audible conversation in any part
of the library set apart as a reference department or for reading
after having been requested not to do so by a library officer.
17 A person shall not wilfully obstruct any library officer in
the execution of his duty or wilfully disturb, obstruct, interrupt
or annoy any other person in the proper use of the library.
18 A person shall not display, distribute, affix or post any
bill, placard or notice in, to or upon any part of the library.
19 A person shall not, without the consent of the Librarian,
offer anything for sale in the library.
20 A person shall not lie on the furniture or fittings of the
library or on the floor thereof except, with the consent of the
Librarian, on the floor of any part of the library for the time
being set apart for the use of children.
21 A person shall not smoke or strike a light in any part of the
library set apart for the use of the public.
22 A person shall not, except with the consent of a library
officer partake of refreshment in the library, except in any part
thereof which is for the time being used as a restaurant or in
which, when it is being used for an educational, cultural or other
event under section 20 of the Act, the Library Authority allows the
partaking of refreshments.
23 Except with the consent of the Librarian a person shall not
cause or allow any apparatus for the reception of sound
broadcasting or for the reproduction of sound to be operated in any
part of the library set apart for the use of the public.
24 Every person who shall offend against any of the foregoing
Byelaws (other than Byelaws 10 and 11) shall be liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding the sum of twenty pounds.
25 Every person who, within the view of a library officer,
contravenes any of the foregoing Byelaws may be excluded or removed
from the library by such an officer if-
a) his name and address are unknown to and cannot readily be
ascertained by the officer; or
b) from the nature of the contravention or from any other fact of
which the officer may have knowledge or be credibly informed there
is reasonable ground for belief that his continuance in the library
may result in another contravention of the Byelaws or that his
exclusion or removal from the library is otherwise necessary for
the proper use and regulation thereof.
6 of March 1974
Library regulations general
1 In the construction of these regulations, unless the context
otherwise requires:
a) the act means the Public Libraries and Museums Act
of 1964;
b) the Library Authority means North Somerset District
Council*;
c) library means any library for the time being
maintained by the library authority for the purpose of its
functions under the act and includes a vehicle when being used for
those purposes;
d) reference library and reading room means any library
or part of a library designated for the purpose;
e) the librarian means the person appointed as Director
of Libraries by the Library Authority or his duly authorised
representative;
f) book includes any and every book, periodical,
newspaper, pamphlet, music score, manuscript, picture, print,
photograph, engraving, etching, deed, map, chart, plan, record,
film and any other article of a like nature forming part of the
contents of the library or lent to any person by or on behalf of
the Library Authority;
g) reader means a person who enters the library.
h) registered borrower or borrower means a
person to whom a ticket has been issued in accordance with these
Regulations.
2 The librarian shall have the general charge of the library and
shall be responsible for the safe custody of the books and all
other property belonging thereto.
3 The library shall be open on such days and during such hours
as the Library Authority may from time to time determine.
4 Cases, baskets and similar articles must be left with the
librarian if required and no reader shall bring into the library
any article which in the opinion of the librarian is prejudicial to
the service or to the convenience of other readers.
5 The librarian shall have power to refuse books or deny the use
of the library to any reader who neglects or refuses to comply with
these Regulations.
6 Entry into the library shall be deemed to be an assent to the
Regulations in force for the time being.
Lending library services
7 Subject to the General provisions of these Regulations books
may be borrowed by any person of the age of 14 years or over who
completes and signs the appropriate form of application provided by
the Library Authority and who furnishes such proof of identity as
the librarian may require. Books may be borrowed by children aged
13 years and below on completion of the appropriate form of
application signed by the parent or guardian. Tickets will be
issued to each borrower up to such maximum number as the Library
Authority may from time to time determine or family tickets may be
issued on such terms and in such circumstances as the Library
Authority may from time to time determine. Tickets are not
transferable and changes of address must be notified immediately to
the librarian. Except in such circumstances as the Library
Authority may from time to time determine a ticket must be produced
and left at the library whenever a book is borrowed and in the case
of records a borrower must pay such charges when requested to do so
as the Library Authority may from time to time determine.
8 All tickets shall remain in force for such period as the
Library Authority may from time to time determine.
9 Borrowers will be held responsible for any books which may be
borrowed on their tickets. Borrowers ceasing to use the library
shall return all tickets to the librarian for cancellation. The
loss of a ticket must be notified immediately to the librarian.
Lost tickets will be replaced but notwithstanding such replacement
the borrower shall be held responsible for any book borrowed on the
original ticket.
10 Only registered borrowers shall have the right of access to
the library for the purpose of borrowing books but their
representatives or others may be admitted at the discretion of the
Librarian.
11 The time allowed for retaining a book shall be the period
determined by the Library Authority from time to time. Provided
however that if a book is not required by another borrower the time
may be extended by a further period from the date on which notice
of this effect is given to the librarian. A borrower retaining a
book beyond the due date shall pay such charges for retention as
the Library Authority may from time to time determine thereafter
until the book is returned. Postage and other expenses incurred in
endeavouring to secure the return of books shall be paid for by the
borrower. Any liabilities incurred by a borrower in the
over-retention of books must be discharged before any other book is
issued. Habitual over-retention of books may lead to the suspension
or cancellation of tickets by the Library Authority.
12 Returned books must be delivered to the librarian at the
proper desk or counter or by post. If any book is lost or on
examination is found to have sustained any damage, the borrower may
be required to pay the cost of the replacement of the book, or, at
the discretion of the librarian, to compensate the Library
Authority for the damage or loss sustained. Books found to be
damaged when presented for issue must be reported, otherwise the
borrower may be held responsible for such damage. If a borrower
neglects to pay the sum due as the result of any loss, damage, or
non-return of books, such sum shall be a debt due from the borrower
and recoverable at the discretion of the Library Authority.
13 Subject to such exception and on such terms as the Library
Authority may from time to time determine any book in the stock of
the library will be reserved for a borrower on completion of the
appropriate form and payment of such sum when required to do so as
the Library Authority may from time to time determine.
14 Any society, group, association, college or school may at the
discretion of the librarian borrow books for corporate use provided
that the appropriate form be signed by such officer or officers as
the librarian may be required. Such signatories shall be held
personally responsible for the safe custody and return of books
borrowed.
Reference libraries and reading rooms
15 Any person over the age of 14 and such others as the librarian
may permit, may enter the reference library or reading room and
when so required shall sign the book provided for that purpose.
16 Except as provided for below, books must not be removed from
the reference library. Readers shall be held responsible for books
issued to or consulted by them and for any loss or damage such
books may sustain. If required by the librarian application for
books shall be made on a special form. The librarian shall have
discretion to decline to issue any particular book or to lay down
conditions under which books may be consulted.
17 In special circumstances the librarian may at his discretion
permit certain books to be borrowed from the reference library for
a limited period. The decision of the librarian in such cases shall
be final.
18 No newspaper, periodical, year book or directory shall be
retained by any reader for more than ten minutes after the
librarian shall have notified the reader that an application has
been made by another reader. A reader is not entitled to retain any
periodical or book other than those he is actually using or to use
the reference library or reading room for the sole purpose of
reading any periodical or book other than that provided by the
Library Authority.
January 1974
*The Library Authority was Avon County Council but the byelaws
and regulations remain in force from 1 April 1996 when the
responsibility transferred to North Somerset Council.
We also have an computer acceptable use
policy.
