Animals in the Library Policy

The King County Library System (KCLS) recognizes that some patrons may have service animals that are trained to assist or accommodate a person with a sensory, mental, or physical disability or to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. KCLS recognizes legal rights under federal and state laws regarding the use of service animals. KCLS also considers the safety and health of all its patrons, the public, and library staff to be of utmost priority.

No animals other than service animals (dogs or miniature horses) are allowed in KCLS libraries unless an emergent need arises (e.g. KCLS sites acting as emergency weather shelters). Persons bringing animals other than service animals into the library will be asked to remove them.

Individuals with service animals may bring those animals into all areas of the library where members of the public are normally allowed to go. Owners/handlers must keep service animals with them and under their full custody and control at all times. If a service animal cannot be leashed or harnessed due to interference with the performance of a task(s), it must be otherwise clearly under the owner/handler’s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means). Owners of the service animals are solely responsible for the supervision and care of the service animal while on library property.

Individuals with service animals are not required to show documentation of the service animal or to prove a disability. Service animals are not required to be licensed or certified by a state or local government or training program or be identified by a special harness or collar.

By law, staff may ask if the animal is required because of a disability; they can also ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform. While still lawful, KCLS staff are advised not to ask about the task of the animal. Owners of service animals or service animals in training will indicate that they are working animals and not pets. Terms used may include assistance, service, guide, hearing, or helping animal. Staff may not ask about the owner’s disability.

Fear of allergies, animals, presumed outcomes, or annoyance on the part of other patrons or employees are not permissible reasons for denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.

Staff Engagement with Animals

Service animals are working animals and must not be handled, petted, or fed by staff unless as part of library programming.

Animal Misbehavior

If staff observes behavior or actions of a service animal that constitutes an unreasonable risk of injury to persons or property, or unreasonably disrupts another person’s use of the library or library grounds, the owner/handler will be asked to find another location off library property for the animal to remain while they continue to use the library.

If the behavior or actions continue, staff should follow the instruct/warn/ban approach and the animal may be banned, following the Patron Progression Scale.

KCLS Emergency Cooling Shelters

The Director of Operations may enact designated emergency cooling shelters to assist with extreme weather phenomena in the area. As these are emergent situations, for the sole purpose of respite from the heat, and only in select libraries after hours, animals not considered legal service animals (e.g. cats, rabbits, etc.) may be temporarily permitted for the duration of the event. Animals allowed in the library during extreme weather events are subject to the same rules as service animals (see
above).

Wild, Feral or Lost Animals

Staff must not handle wild, feral, or lost animals in or on library property. If a wild, feral, or lost animal is on library premises, do not approach the animal.

Service Animal: Any dog or miniature horse trained to do work or to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. (RCW 49.60.040)

Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or any abnormal sensory, mental or physical condition that 1) is medically cognizable or diagnosable; 2) exists as a record or history or 3) is perceived to exist.

Emergency Cooling Shelter: a library that has been selected to remain open past typical library hours by the Director of Operations for the sole purpose of providing cooling respite in extreme heat waves. These shelters operate with staff volunteers and there is no expectation for library services to be rendered. The KCLS Code of Conduct and Policies still apply.

Lost animal: A domestic animal wandering at large, particularly if the owner is unknown.