[Libs-Or] Body Odor Policy

[BCLD Library Director]

Our Code of Conduct line on that subject reads:

"While on library properties, you may not ...

.         create a disruptive scent in the library such as from strong body
odor, personal care product, or personal belongings."

 

"Personal care product" helps address cases when patrons come in wafting a
scent or actually spray themselves with a deoderant product or perfume while
in the library. 

 "Personal belongings" covers everything from cat-sprayed backpacks &
clothing, to hot food, incense & stink bombs.

 

It is subjective but our general guidelines are:

.         Scent easily detectable from 5+ feet away.

.         Scent remains present in area several minutes after individual has
left.

When two or more staff confirm a scent meets either/both conditions,
enforcement is warranted.

 

It's still always awkward but it helps to explain

a)      that to create the broadest possible welcoming space, the library
needs to maintain a neutral atmosphere, 

b)      that includes control not only of noise but air quality in and
around our buildings because quite a few library users have allergies,
chemical sensitivities or respiratory ailments, 

c)       the policy applies to strong scents in general, not just one
person's "scent display". 

 

-----------------------------------------

Perry Stokes | Library Director 

Baker County Library District | 2400 Resort St | Baker City, OR 97814

o: 866-297-1239 | m: 541.403.0450 | f: 541-523-9088 | e:
director at bakerlib.org

 

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf
Of Buzzy Nielsen
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 2:22 PM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Body Odor Policy

 

We don't have anything regarding fragrances, but we do have a line in our
Code of Conduct about personal hygiene:

"While on library properties, you may not ... Disturb other library patrons
or staff through extremely poor personal hygiene."

Fortunately, I've never had to enforce the policy in Hood River, but there
was one instance at North Bend where we had to eject somebody because she
smelled so much of cat urine that nobody could be around here, or even use a
chair after she'd been in it. Gary and I felt kind of horrible about having
to do it, as these issues often go hand-in-hand with poverty, but she was
really disrupting others' use of the library.

Our full Code of Conduct is here:
http://www.hoodriverlibrary.org/files/policies/Code%20of%20conduct.pdf

It seems like there may be dragons in the "fragrance free zone" thing,
though. Senses of smell are so subjective. It seems like you'd have to word
it in such a way to as to capture AXE guy and not, say, a guy who wears a
type of cologne that some people happen find distasteful.

Cheers!
Buzzy


************************************
Library Director
Hood River County Library District
502 State Street
Hood River, Oregon 97031
541-387-7062
http://hoodriverlibrary.org

On 01/05/2015 02:05 PM, Ted Smith wrote:

Do any of you have a policy I can use that covers 1) horrible (to say the
least) body odor and 2) the library as a fragrance free zone.  Please don't
tell me we can't ban/bar/exclude patrons from our libraries because of
excessive body odor (see attached link).  I'm just wondering if any
libraries have policies, or any cities have codified an ordinance that
covers this issue.   

 

Are any of your libraries fragrance free?  Policies?    

 

As a side note: I talked to this patron and he "solved" the problem by
dousing himself with AXE cologne.  I have one of the strongest stomachs
known to mankind.  This guy could gag a corpse.  Patrons are complaining,
staff are in a quandary as to how to proceed.  Yes, he has an apartment with
a working shower - I know because I offered to purchase passes to our rec
center so he could shower.  He told me he didn't need them.  I'm open to
ideas. 

 

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/05/local/me-smell5

 






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