[Libs-Or] Body Odor Policy

[Maureen Cole]

I like your (Philadelphia’s) language a lot, Kirsten. It’s definitely an improvement on what we have, which does not cover the extreme perfume scenario.

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 2:28 PM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Body Odor Policy

One might be able to word the fragrance policy along the lines of, "odor that interferes with other patrons' use of the library" or something along those lines. That would cover both personal hygiene and overuse of cologne or perfume. The Free Library of Philadelphia had wording similar to this in the Standards of Acceptable Behavior when I worked there -- I'm trying to run down the actual wording.

I think actually going "fragrance free" in the way that it usually means -- no perfumed products at all -- would likely be prohibitive in a public building. I don't think it could be enforced. But odor such that it causes a nuisance to others might be enforceable.





Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney
Library Director
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101, #201
Lincoln City, OR 97367
541-996-1251 (desk)
541-996-1262 (fax)
www.driftwoodlib.org<http://www.driftwoodlib.org/>
>>> Buzzy Nielsen <buzzy at hoodriverlibrary.org<mailto:buzzy at hoodriverlibrary.org>> 1/5/2015 2:21 PM >>>
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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