Well, the Clayton is part of the Houston Public Library System, in fact the central library and the Clayton are considered the two locations that comprise the "Central Library Complex." There are 36 other branch libraries. If the central library itself is incorrectly marked regarding legal carry, and the library's personnel are incorrectly informed and attempting to enforce policy that is invalidated by law, I say--considering our major bills were just foiled in the Legislature--that correcting this wrong looks like a good deed that would make me feel better.
Here are the Web-posted library policies:
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/rules-and-policies. The following are the only excerpts that would seem to apply (ellipses indicate sections of omitted text):
The Houston Public Library System wrote:
...The following behaviors and activities are prohibited on library property (inside or outside library buildings):
...Unlawfully carrying a weapon.
...The following behaviors and activities are prohibited in library buildings:
...Bringing in any items that could potentially be used as weapons, including but not limited to sporting equipment such as baseball bats, skateboards, etc.
...Anyone known to have violated any of the above rules may be asked to leave from the library as a matter of administrative policy or arrested, as permitted by law. Severe offenses may result in exclusion from the library.
If confronted with the violation of any of the above rules, please immediately inform library staff/security.
Violation of criminal trespass laws or of these rules and regulations may result in prosecution. These rules and regulations have been promulgated under the authority of Section 24-5 and Article IX, Chapter 21 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas. See also Texas Penal Code ?[sic; the Webmaster doesn't know the "§" extended HTML character for the section symbol]30.05 (relating to criminal trespass) and ?[sic]31.03 (regarding theft).
These rules were approved by City Council on April 27, 2005
The referenced City of Houston Code of Ordinances are (
http://www.houstontx.gov/codes/index.html):
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24, Article I, Section 24-5 wrote:
Rules and regulations.
(a) The director shall have authority, subject to the approval of the mayor and city council, to prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the department and for the orderly government and use of the library system, provided, that such regulations shall not conflict with valid laws or ordinances. A copy of such rules and regulations shall be maintained for public inspection in each library within the system, in the office of the director and in the office of the city secretary.
(b) The director and all other employees of the department are hereby individually and severally authorized and directed for and on behalf of the city to notify any person who fails or refuses to comply with any applicable provision of law or of departmental rules and regulations to depart from any city property or building under the control of the department. Any such person who upon such notice fails to depart from any such property or building shall be subject to prosecution under Section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code for criminal trespass in addition to prosecution for any other crime that he may have committed thereupon.
(Code 1968, § 25-5; Ord. No. 81-1459, § 1, 8-4-81)
Code of Ordinances, Article IX, Section 21 wrote:
Exclusions from limits on City revenues.
(a) Revenues of enterprise funds are not included in revenues limited by this Charter. The preceding provisions do not affect Charter limitations on the growth of property taxes or water and sewer rates contained in Article III, Section 1, and Article IX, Section 20, of this Charter.
Enterprise funds (e.g., the Airport System) are all those largely self-sufficient activities not funded with property tax revenues. To maintain the self-sufficiency of the Water and Sewer System, the revenues of that System can only be used for the purposes of that System, and limited drainage purposes, as set forth in the existing debt covenants of that System. Those revenues cannot be used for any other purpose.
(b) For the purposes of calculating any revenue limitation in this Charter, amounts resulting from termination of or reduced participation in a tax increment reinvestment zone shall be treated in the same manner as revenues from annexed areas in Article III, Section 1.
(c) City Council may prescribe methods for complying with limits on revenues in this Charter to account for changes in accounting standards or practices. (Added by amendment November 7, 2006)
The latter is meaningless for our discussion, but that's what is referenced on the library's Website.
So a complete copy of the "rules and regulations shall be maintained for public inspection in each library within the system." TexasAggie2006, if you get to the Clayton frequently, I say you simply ask to see the Houston Public Library System's rules and regulations (per City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24, Article I, Section 24-5...if you get a "sorry, can't do that" response.
The Open Records Request may not be necessary unless they refuse to let you view the entire set of rules and regulations. I used to take a digital camera with to the Clayton when I went frequently in the early '90s; I don't know if that is still allowed. If so, I'd consider taking photos of the sections of the rules and regulations that seem pertinent. You could share those here (or contact me and I can upload them to a private server for general viewing here), then we can mutually (maybe with Charles's advice) decide on the best course of action. I'm game to do some legwork, research, or letter writing...I just don't often get to any of the libraries.
