Patron Rules of Conduct

Patron Rules of Conduct

Adopted by the Board of Trustees — February 2, 2026

Business & Professions Code §6125 & §6344 • Education Code §§19910–19911 • Penal Code §490.5, §594 & §602.1(b)

The Santa Barbara County Law Library (“Law Library”) provides legal professionals and the public with access to legal information, practice guides, and other resources to assist patrons in the conduct of matters pertaining to the law. To facilitate effective use of these resources the Law Library has established the following policies, guidelines and rules for patron conduct.

Patrons Shall

  • 1. Engage in Legal and Educational Activities. Patrons availing themselves of the Law Library’s facilities and services shall be engaged in activities pertaining to legal research, law practice or education.
  • 2. Maintain Quiet. While in the common areas, patrons shall avoid talking in a manner that is sufficiently audible to cause a disturbance or distraction to any other patron.
  • 3. Observe Public Decorum. Law Library patrons must conduct themselves at all times in a manner conducive to Law Library use that does not hinder other patrons or library staff from carrying out their work. Appropriate clothing, including shirts and footwear, shall be worn by Law Library patrons at all times. Patrons whose bodily hygiene or odors are offensive so as to constitute a nuisance to other patrons, as determined in the sole discretion of Law Library staff, shall be required to leave the Law Library. Backpacks and other belongings brought into the Law Library must similarly not carry odors constituting a nuisance to other patrons.
  • 4. Limit Use of Equipment. Patrons shall limit their use of Law Library workstations, computers, and internet access to legal and educational purposes. Law Library staff may place a time limit on the use of any computer, depending on the availability of other computers for the public. The Law Library staff, in their sole discretion, retain the right to restrict access to Law Library computers that are being used for recreational or personal purposes.
  • 5. Law Library Resource Materials. Following their use, patrons may leave library books and other print resources at their table for staff to shelve.
  • 6. Service Animals. Patrons shall limit bringing animals into the Law Library to Service Animals as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 28 CFR §36.104.
  • 7. Patron Personal Property. Patrons shall assume full responsibility for all personal property brought into the Law Library. Patrons acknowledge that the Law Library has no duty of care and therefore shall have no liability regarding items of personal property that are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed while on Law Library premises. Unattended items left in the Law Library may be discarded or otherwise disposed of in any manner and by any means suitable to the Law Library staff.

Patrons Shall Not

  • 8. Use the Law Library As An Office. The Law Library shall not be used in lieu of an office or office space for the practice of law or in lieu of an office for any type of professional or business activity.
  • 9. Solicit Legal Advice. Patrons shall not solicit legal advice from any Law Library staff member. Federal and California court(s) have given the term “legal advice” a very broad meaning that includes, but is not limited to, selecting documents to effect a patron’s purpose, providing explanations or definitions of legal terminology, evaluating a patron’s legal rights, providing assistance in the preparation of legal documents, and supplying explanations of California law, federal law, the law of another state, or the law of a foreign county.
  • 10. Offer Legal Advice. Patrons who are not active members of the California State Bar Association shall not offer legal advice to any other Law Library patron or in any other manner act in violation of Business and Professions Code §6125 governing unauthorized practice of law.
  • 11. Solicit Business. Patrons shall not solicit business of any kind or offer any service for a fee while on Law Library premises.
  • 12. Use of Cell Phones. Cell phone use is not permitted in the Law Library common areas. When in the Law Library, cellular phones, pagers, and similar electronic devices must be turned to silent or vibrate modes.
  • 13. Food and Beverages. Patrons are not permitted to bring food or beverages into the Law Library at any time. However, water is permitted provided it is brought into the Law Library in a container that permits its identification as water and contains a cap.
  • 14. Intoxication. Patrons shall not use the Law Library while in an intoxicated state. Patrons found to be in an intoxicated state shall be required to leave the Law Library immediately.
  • 15. Storage of Documents. Patrons shall not store personal documents, work in progress, or other materials on Law Library computers, shelves or in any desks or filing cabinets. The Law Library reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delete any such materials stored on Law Library computers and to discard any materials left on shelves or in any desks or filing cabinets.
  • 16. Large Objects. Patrons shall not bring large objects such as bicycles, luggage or multiple items of luggage, shopping carts, or parcels into the Law Library. This rule does not apply to wheelchairs or other equipment required for medical need.

Enforcement

  • 17. Misdemeanor. Disruption of Law Library operations or disturbance of other individuals using the Law Library, followed by a refusal to leave the Law Library when requested to do so by a person in authority, is a misdemeanor punishable by 90 days in jail, or a fine of $400, or both. Penal Code §602.1(b). Any person who maliciously damages library publications or other library property is guilty of a misdemeanor. The parent or guardian of any minor who willfully and maliciously commits such acts is liable for all damages caused by the minor. Education Code Sec. 19910. Any person who keeps library materials for 30 days after notice in writing to return the article or property is guilty of a misdemeanor. Education Code Sec. 19911.
  • 18. Police Authority. The County Sheriff’s Department provides the Law Library with security services. Patrons disrupting Law Library operations or otherwise causing a public disturbance in the Law Library may be subject to intervention by the Sheriff’s Department, including arrest by a Sheriff.
  • 19. Equipment Available to Public. The appropriate use of Law Library equipment is at all times determined at the exclusive discretion of Law Library staff. The Law Library is a 170 (c) (1) municipal corporation empowered by statute to own and control personal property. Business & Professions Code §6344. The municipal corporation is the owner of all computers and other equipment made available to the public. Use of this equipment is subject to the control of Law Library staff and to such rules as the Law Library Board of Trustees may promulgate from time to time.
  • 20. For Safety and Security: Walkways and aisles shall be kept clear and unobstructed by personal items, including but not limited to, briefcases, packages, backpacks, garments, electrical cords and equipment.
  • 21. Loss of Privileges. At the discretion of any Law Library staff member, any patron who violates these or other rules or regulations adopted by the Law Library Board of Trustees, or by the County Board of Supervisors, or by state law, may be subject to the curtailment, suspension or loss of their Law Library privileges, including restrictions from use of equipment made available by the Law Library and expulsion from the Law Library. Any patron(s) whose privileges have been lost may have the decision reviewed by the Law Library Board of Trustees, or a committee thereof.
  • 22. Examination of Briefcases, Backpacks, etc. Pursuant to California Penal Code §490.5, when requested by a Law Library staff member, patrons leaving the Law Library shall agree to the examination of any briefcase, handbag, backpack or other form of package of sufficient size to contain Law Library materials.

Approved and Adopted by the Santa Barbara County Law Library Board of Trustees on February 2, 2026.