ROGERS — No shoes, no shirt, wet bathing suit — no library book.
The Rogers Public Library Board recently approved a dress code for the policy manual, something it hadn’t previously addressed.
“We should of had something in our library policy regarding dress, but it has never really been much of a problem,” said Judy Casey, library director.
Every summer, however, more people come to the library dressed down, Casey said. Wet bathing suits and bare feet were new to the library this year.
“We are concerned about safety. A wet bathing suit can drip on the tile floor. These tile floors are very slick when they are wet. We were afraid someone might slip and fall,” Casey said. “Bare feet don’t have a place in the library either. A patron could step on something or stub a toe causing a cut or injury.”
The dress code leaves some flexibility for the library staff to make a decision as to what’s appropriate or inappropriate dress. The policy states, “Patrons are expected to wear a shirt, shoes and other appropriate attire (no wet clothes or bathing suits). Exceptions may be made for very young children.”
“We aren’t trying to be judgemental about how people dress,” Casey said. “We want people to enjoy the library, but we need some rules concerning what is appropriate attire. I know appropriate attire sounds vague, but it gives us a policy to address such things as gang colors or immodest items of clothing.”
When Kevin Tyson, a library patron, saw a copy of the dress code, he objected to the exception for children.
“A wet bathing suit on a child could be just as dangerous as any other wet bathing suit. I don’t think there should be any exceptions,” Tyson said. “Why would anybody wear a wet bathing suit to a library? That
At A Glance
Library Code of Conduct
Most libraries have a code of conduct the outlines proper dress and behavior in the library. The Roger Public Library recently added a dress code to the code of conduct:
“The purpose of the code is to guarantee that the Rogers Public Library is able to carry out its mission and ensure that no person or group is denied access to library facility, program or service due to the behaviors that create an environment or atmosphere that is unsafe, disruptive, or not conducive to the library mission.”
Source: Rogers Public Library
doesn’t make sense.”
He said he supported the rest of the code.
Mary Rodger, a library patron, had a book in one hand and was scanning the shelves for a video Friday when she read a copy of the dress code.
“I think the dress code is a good idea,” Rodger said. “I’m surprised that anyone would wear a wet bathing suit or come to the library without shoes or a shirt, but I guess you just never know these days what you might see.”
Dress code signs should be ordered this week, Casey said, and will be displayed in several places in the library within the next two weeks.
“Until then we will inform our patrons about the policy change as needed,” she said.
Most area libraries have a code of conduct that outlines proper dress and behavior in the library, according to officials.
“Our code is regularly distributed to patrons as a standard practice, for example during registration of a new library card,” Hadi Dudley, Bentonville library director, wrote in an email.
The policy for prohibited user behavior, which includes the dress code, has been part of the Bentonville library policy since 2009, Dudley wrote. Lack of shoes and “appropriate/socially decent” attire is addressed.
“We haven’t had many problems with lack of shoes or wet swimsuits this summer. Most patrons wearing swimsuits also wear cover-ups and their clothing appears to be dry,” Dudley wrote.
The Springdale Public Library dress code addresses the same issues raised in Rogers, but has some additional wording on clothing.
Anne Gresham, technology coordinator for the library, provided a copy of the policy: “Library users are expected to dress according to norms of indoor public spaces. Adults should wear shirts, shoes and be clothed so as not to be disruptive in a public setting. Children should be clothed appropriately for their ages, with shoes if walking freely. All clothing should be dry.”
The Springdale code also addresses body odor, odors emanating from clothing, soiled clothing that may be offensive to others.
“The code states we can ask the offensive person to move to a different area of the library or return to the library after resolving the offensive situation,” Gresham said.
The Fayetteville Public Library code of conduct is very detailed. It addresses leaving children age 8 and younger unattended; silencing cellphone and pagers; listening devises without headphones; profanity; carrying weapons; and footwear and appropriate clothing.
Denise Wax, circulation manger of the library, said dress-related problems aren’t usually an issue.
“We’re not close to a pool, so we don’t see wet swimsuits or clothing. There are, of course, generational changes in clothing, a style comes in and it goes out, but I haven’t seen any major changes in dress here for a long time,” Wax said.
The Fayetteville library code also states library personnel have the authority to eject anyone improperly dressed or caught violating the code.