University Library Employee Food and Drink Policy

Purpose

The Library supports employee health and wellness needs, and provides the time, space, and opportunity for staff to eat and drink in accordance with their individual health and dietary needs.  These needs should be considered alongside the needs of Library collections and spaces, as part of an overarching strategy to preserve collections while providing a healthy environment for patrons and staff.  This policy describes appropriate guidelines for achieving this balance and reducing the risks of unwanted pests in our collections, public, and staff spaces. 

Food and Drink in Employee-Only Areas (including workspaces and lounges):

  • Eating in areas where collections are present is strongly discouraged. Library employees are encouraged to eat in designated break rooms whenever possible. 
  • Pending unit head approval, employees are permitted to eat and drink in private workspaces.
    • Employees are responsible for removing library materials from their desks or other work surfaces whenever food is being consumed, and must clean the areas before returning library materials.
  • Employees are responsible for disposing of, or removing from library spaces, their food wrappings, containers, and food waste (including coffee grounds) daily. 
    • Dispose of food waste in designated and labeled trash receptacles throughout the building. 
    • Personal wastebaskets and office wastebaskets should not be used for food waste disposal, as they are not emptied daily.
  • Beverages in covered containers are permitted throughout library spaces unless otherwise specified. 
  • Containers used for storing food and candy must have lids.
    • Rodents can chew through plastic containers, so sturdy glass storage containers are preferable. 
  • Food temporarily stored in lockers and desks should be stored in air-tight containers.
  • Units should regularly clean their microwave ovens, refrigerators, food preparation and storage spaces.
    • Coffee makers and other food preparation equipment (refrigerators, microwaves, etc.) should be kept out of public view.
  • All spills must be cleaned up immediately. See Spill Cleanup below for further instructions. 

 

Food and Drink in Public Spaces (Events)

  • Food and drink may be brought into library spaces for library approved events in shared spaces.
  • Food and drinks may only be placed on tables or serving carts.
  • The event organizer is responsible for ensuring tables are wiped down and carpeted floors are vacuumed after each event. 
    • Cleaning supplies and a vacuum are available in Main Library 230.
  • All food, beverages, and associated containers must be disposed of in designated and labeled trash receptacles.
  • Event organizers are responsible for ensuring the trash receptacles are emptied in the loading dock dumpster following events and programs. 
  • All spills must be cleaned up immediately. See Spill Cleanup below for further instructions.

Spill Cleanup

  • All spills must be cleaned up immediately.
  • If a spill occurs on the floor or furniture, immediately notify the Office of Library Facilities at 217-333-0317.
  • If a spill occurs on the computer equipment, immediately notify Library IT at 217-244-4688.
  • If a spill impacts library collection materials, immediately notify Preservation Services at 217-244-6945 or 217-244-1626. 

Responsibility:

Unit heads are responsible for implementing and enforcing this policy in their units. This policy applies to all library units, including those in other campus buildings. This policy also applies to all Library employees – faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and student assistants. Outside of designated break areas, unit heads, working within the guidelines set forth in this document, are the final judges of whether and where staff may eat and drink in their work areas. The adoption of a more restrictive policy is at the discretion of unit heads.  Patron food and drink policies are presented within the Patron Conduct Policy and are also open to adoption of a more restrictive policy at the discretion of unit heads.

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Approved / Authorized by: Administrative Council

Date of Authorization: March 5, 2002

Authoring person / body: Preservation Committee

Date of most recent update / review: August 28, 2024