Expected Behavior

• Participate in an authentic and active way. In doing so, you contribute to the health and longevity of this community.

• Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.

• Attempt collaboration before conflict.

• Strive to be actively anti-racist, gender-inclusive, anti-sexist, anti-ableist, and to treat others with compassion. 

• Assume competence in others—including by asking before offering help. Work to recognize the difference between being helpful and being patronizing. 

• When in doubt, act in accordance with the Station North Tool Library values

• Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert community leaders if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct, even if they seem inconsequential.

Unwelcome Behavior

Unwelcome behaviors include: intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning speech or actions by any participant in our community: online, in community spaces, at all events, and in one-on-one communications carried out in the context of community business. 

Community event venues may be shared with members of the public; please also be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

Harassment includes: harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or class/economic status; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images (including presentation slides); inappropriate depictions of violence (including presentation slides); deliberate intimidation, stalking or following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; unwelcome physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Harm vs hurt vs discomfort: We recognize that not all situations that are healthy (such as learning environments) are also fully comfortable. Discomfort often results from the process of conflict resolution and we shouldn't shy away from it when it means we can work through issues. As much as possible, we strive to differentiate and address hurt and harm. We define hurt as any negative consequences of someone’s words or actions, whether or not they are intentional. Harm is those negative consequences that also reinforce power dynamics or stereotypes, such as racist slurs. Harm has implications beyond the immediate circumstances and often has a disproportionate impact on the affected person or people. 

Results of Unwelcome Behavior

Unwelcome behavior from any community member, including those in leadership positions, will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unwelcome behavior is expected to do so immediately.

Our goal in addressing conflict is to repair relationships with all parties to a point that they can resume being in the space without additional hurt or harm. To achieve this, staff or volunteers may take the following steps:

• Individual conversations to better understand what happened and clarify community expectations and individual needs

• Co-creation of a plan for repair

• Mediated conversations together with the people involved

• Engaging outside mediators and/or restorative justice practitioners 

If a community member engages in unwelcome behavior, staff or volunteers may take any action they deem appropriate to prevent additional hurt or harm, up to and including a temporary ban or permanent removal from the community without advance notice (and without refund).

If You Witness or Are Subject to Unwelcome Behavior

If you are subject to or witness unwelcome behavior, or have any other concerns, please notify a staff member, SNTL board member, or volunteer as soon as possible. You may do this by email, phone call, or via the “Contact us” form on the website, toollibrary.org. In the context of in-person events, organizers will also provide escorts as desired by the person experiencing distress.

Purpose

A primary goal of the Station North Tool Library is to be inclusive to our community, and to reflect the diversity of identities and experiences that it represents. As such, we are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, with attention to dynamics of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religion (or lack thereof).

This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for all those who participate in our community, as well as the consequences for unwelcome behavior.

We invite all those who participate in the library to help us create a safe and positive experience for everyone.

Fostering Intentional Interactions

A supplemental goal of this Code of Conduct is to encourage participants to recognize and strengthen the relationships between our actions and their effects on our community.

Communities mirror the societies in which they exist and positive action is essential to counteract the many forms of inequality and abuses of power that exist in society.

If you notice someone who is making an extra effort to ensure our community is welcoming, friendly, and encourages all participants to contribute to the fullest extent, we want to know!

Contacts:

Board co-chairs (anonymous to staff): chairs@toollibrary.org

Leanna Frick (Director of Strategic Growth): leanna@toollibrary.org, 410-347-0850 x100

Jenn Kim (Director of Education): jenn@toollibrary.org, 410-347-0850 x300

Chris Lavoie (Shop Programs Manager): chris@toollibrary.org, 410-347-0850 x400

Jessa Wais (Director of Library Services): jessa@toollibrary.org, 410-347-0850 x200