December 11, 2000

David C. Swaddling, President
Board of Trustees
Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215-4781

Dear Mr. Swaddling:

I am writing you about a situation requiring corrective action on your part.

For spiritual and other reasons, I customarily go barefoot. I realize that this may appear a bit unusual, but no more so than many other non-disruptive choices in personal appearance, such as earrings on men, tattoos, nose studs, or green hair. However, as I was leaving the Main Library last November 10, I was stopped by library guards and told that the Library required me to wear shoes.

I have written to Director Larry Black and am not satisfied with his dismissive reply (enclosed). I look now to the Board of Trustees to help correct an apparent misunderstanding which has resulted in the enforcement of a non-existent regulation.

The Board of Trustees has enacted no Patron Regulation (see File Case 20.14) requiring patrons to wear shoes. Yet, the Eviction Procedures (see File Case 20.142) as approved by the Executive Director, call for evicting patrons with no shoes. It would appear that this exceeds the authority of the Executive Director, which is simply to implement policy based upon regulations approved by the Board.

The Board of Trustees has been given the power by the state legislature to "[m]ake and publish rules for the proper operation and management of the free public library and facilities under its jurisdiction . . ." And you have done so. The Patron Regulations, as written, do a good job of addressing disruptive behaviors that would injure the Library or disrupt patron usage of the Library. However, nowhere is authority granted to impose a dress-code on non-disruptive styles of appearance. Yet, Mr. Black has chosen, on his own authority, to create such a de facto regulation. The Mission Statement (File Case 17.3011) does say: "We are committed to providing exceptional service to all." Evicting patrons based on their mode of dress does not seem to be consistent with this.

I humbly request that the Board take such action as necessary to remove this restriction on my ability to use the Library.

I realize that you might have some concerns about this issue, and decide that you, after all, feel compelled to create a new regulation regarding bare feet in the Library. Let me try to reassure you:

If you have any questions about any of these areas, I would be more than happy to provide you with detailed information and data (the attachment to my letter to Mr. Black contains some additional information). If necessary, I would be willing to address the full Board in person to discuss this.

Finally, I wish to comment on a newspaper article, "Pleas for some quite fall on deaf ears", that was in the Columbus Dispatch September 25, 2000. The article was about the increase in disruptive talking in many public places, including the Columbus Metro Library.

One paragraph says

"Don't look for the Main Library--or many other places, for that matter--to crack down on the noisy. No one wants to chase patrons away, [Director of the Main Branch Deb] McWilliam said."

Apparently, disruptive talking is allowed because "no one wants to chase patrons away," yet Mr. Black has no problem chasing away patrons when they are not dressed according to his personal prejudices.

Thank you for your efforts in this regard.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Neinast



Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

Acts 7:33



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