Purpose

The local public library byelaws had not been formally
updated since 1977 and, following a new national template provided
by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (and following their
due process), the decision ratifies an up-to-date set of byelaws
for the county. The byelaws are made under Section 19 of the Public
Libraries & Museum Act (1964) and
the decision relates to their revision and subsequent operational
implementation.
 

Content

Following public inspection and discussion with senior
leaders and Libraries’ Portfolio Holder, a new set of public
library byelaws have been agreed for Oxfordshire, in line with
national government guidance.
 

Reasons for the decision

Libraries need to have byelaws in place to help manage
unreasonable customer behaviour, and it
is important that these byelaws follow current national guidance.
The byelaws provide the formal legal foundation for any sanctions
that the service/council wish to apply.
 

Alternative options considered

There are two main options:
1. Update the byelaws as per the national guidance and as
part of a wider, aligned ‘Management of Unreasonable Customer
Behaviours’ Framework.
OR
2. Not to update the byelaws or current procedures –
this would leave staff vulnerable and the service without due legal
backing for applying any sanctions (for example, warning or barring
notices). 
 
Therefore, the decision was made to go with option 1 and
approved the updated Byelaws.