Service Animals Policy

Updated: 2022

A service animal is a working animal, not a pet. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric,  intellectual, or other mental disability. Dogs that satisfy this definition are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government, or any other entity. Here are some examples of tasks a service animal might  perform:

 Assisting with navigation, or stability and balance;
 Alerting to sounds or allergens;
 Pulling wheelchairs, carrying and retrieving items;
 Seizure assistance;
 Interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors

Under the ADA and New York law, facilities that serve the public may not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. In addition, they must permit a service animal in all areas of the
facility where patrons are allowed or the public is invited.  Library staff are not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal and are not required to provide food or a special location for the animal. The service animal must be under the control of its handler at all times.  A public accommodation provider cannot ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability and may not demand proof that the animal is certified.

Social Media Policy

Updated: 2022

Definition of Social Media:

Social media is defined as any web application, site, or account created and maintained by the Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library supports the Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library social media purpose statement.

Purpose of Social Media:

The purpose of the social media employed by the Port Chester-Rye Book Public Library is to disseminate information about and promote Library programs, news, projects, and ongoing activities to all members of the Port Chester – Rye Brook community, consistent with the Library’s mission statement, and to provide a forum for Library staff and Library users to share opinions and information about Library-related subjects and issues.

Usage Rules:

The Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library welcomes the comments, posts, and messages of the community and recognizes and respects differences in opinion. However, all comments,
posts and messages are subject to review and the Library reserves the right to, but is not required to, remove any comment, post, or message that it deems inappropriate. The Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library is not responsible for or liable for any content posted by any participant in a Library social media forum who is not a member of the Library’s  staff. Content containing any of the following will be removed immediately from any Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library social media forum:

• Obscene comments or hate speech
• Personal attacks, insults, or threatening language
• Private or personal information, including phone numbers and addresses, or requests for personal  information
• Potentially libelous statements
• Falsification of identity
• Plagiarized material
• Comments, links, or information unrelated to the purpose of the forum
• Spam or other commercial or political messages

Tutoring Policy

Updated: 2023

The Port Chester – Rye Brook Public Library welcomes tutors and students and recognizes the benefit for students and parents of permitting tutoring within the Library. The following policies and  guidelines are intended to provide a balance between the use of the Library by tutors and their students, and the use of the Library by other members of the community engaged in activities associated with the services and programs offered by the Library:

 Tutors are not endorsed by the Library.
 Tutors are responsible for the behavior of their students while in the Library and as such, tutors and their students are expected to fully comply with the
Code of Conduct Policy. Tutoring sessions are expected to be kept quiet in order to not interfere with other patrons’ use of the Library. The Library reserves the right to ask a tutor to stop the tutoring session if it is disruptive to the functioning of the Library.
 When tutoring students under the age of 10, tutors are responsible for waiting with the student after the session ends until the student’s parent or caregiver arrives.

The Library reserves the right to further restrict tutoring or to change this policy without prior notice in the event that this service unduly interferes with regular use of the Library