Observation Deck: the Terms of Use

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The rules for using the Observation deck (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) are developed in accordance with the existing legislation of the Republic of Belarus, the charter of the state institution "National Library of Belarus" (hereinafter referred to as the Library) and regulate the procedure for visiting and servicing visitors to the Observation deck.

2. The rules are aimed at ensuring order and safety when visiting the Observation deck, improving customer service.

3. The Rules must be read, studied, applied, and followed by Observation deck visitors and library employees.

4. Location of the Observation deck: Minsk, Nezavisimosti Ave., 116, National Library of Belarus.

5. Internet portal of the National Library of Belarus – www.nlb.by (hereinafter referred to as the Internet portal).

6. Before visiting the Observation deck, each visitor must read the Rules.

7. The rules are publicly available on the internet portal, in the lobby of the Observation deck, in the "Information" and "Excursions" points of the main entrance of the library.

8. The Rules are an offer, and by paying for the service of visiting the Observation deck, visitors are accepting the Rules (offer) and attesting that they are fully aware of the Rules, agree to them, and agree to abide by them.
Presentation of a document, confirming free of charge visit, is the acceptance of the rules (offer) by such visitors.

9. The Library may unilaterally and at any time make changes to the Rules.
Users must track changes to the Rules themselves.

10. The right to use the Library's Observation deck is granted to citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and stateless persons.

11. Visiting the Observation deck is carried out on a paid basis for cash and by bank transfer.

12. Documents for using the services of the Observation deck are on a paid basis are:

• cash receipt;
• an electronic ticket purchased using the “MegaVenue” service;
• electronic confirmation of payment using the "E-POS" service;
• electronic confirmation of payment using the “Oplati–Biznes” service;
• other documents confirming payment by wire transfers.

13. Documents for using the services of the Observation deck with a discount are:

• a document confirming the payment;
• a document granting the right to a discount (student's ticket, student ID card and other documents confirming that a citizen is a student of a full-time educational institution of the Republic of Belarus);
• numbered plastic guest card of a regular guest of the “Graf Café” coffee bar (one card per person);
• numbered plastic guest card of the banquet service of the “Graf Café” coffee bar;
• guest card of the Republic of Belarus.

14. Free access to the Observation deck is provided to:

• children under 6 years of age;
• orphaned children;
• disabled children;
• disabled people of the 1st and 2nd groups;
• veterans of the Great Patriotic War;
• accompanying a person with musculoskeletal disorders in a wheelchair (one accompanying person per person);
• tour guides accompanying groups (one guide for a group of 15 people).

15. Visitors applying to visit the Observation deck on a free basis must present a supporting document:

• a document confirming the child's age;
• a document confirming the status of an orphan child;
• certificate of disability;
• certificate of veteran of a Great Patriotic War;
• documents confirming payment for 15 persons.

16. In the absence of a supporting document, the visitor pays the full ticket price.

17. By purchasing a ticket or presenting a document for a free visit to the Observation deck, the visitor agrees that the library is not responsible for weather events and other weather conditions that directly or indirectly affected or may affect the provision of the Observation deck service and/or the impression of the service provided.

18. The visitor, by purchasing a ticket or presenting a document for a free visit to the Observation deck, agrees that video surveillance is conducted on the Observation deck.

2. ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVITIES

19. The library's Observation deck consists of an open and closed part.

20. The services provided during a visit to the Observation deck include:

• a single ascent and descent by a passenger elevator with a panoramic view or by a passenger elevator without a panoramic view.
• visiting the open part of the Observation deck;
• use of binoculars;
• visit to the closed part of the Observation deck and “Panorama” gallery.

21. The duration of visiting the Observation deck is 60 minutes.

An exception is made if the visitor is in the “Graf Café” coffee bar: in this case, the stay on the Observation deck continues until the visitor leaves the “Graf Café” coffee bar.

22. The duration of using binoculars is 3 minutes.

23. The visitor can use the entire service during the entire time spent on the Observation deck, or only part of the service, or stay on the Observation deck for less than 60 minutes. In this case, the service is considered to have been rendered in full, and the cost of the service is not subject to change downwards.

24. The Observation deck operates in the following mode:

Monday–Sunday: 12.00 am – 11.00 pm;
The ticket office is open from 12.00 am to 10.30 pm.
Service breaks: 2.00 – 2.15 pm; 4.00 – 4.15 pm; 6.00 – 6.15 pm; 8.00 – 8.15 pm.
The ascent stops 30 minutes before the Observation deck closes.
The Observation deck is closed on sanitary days (the last Monday of the month).

25. Information about the operating mode of the Observation deck is available at:

• the internet portal;
• at the information stands of the entrance areas of the Library building.

26. In exceptional cases, the Library has the right to make changes to the operating mode of the Observation deck. Visitors are informed in advance through the Internet portal and information stands of the library.

27. Visiting the Observation deck is organized promptly for cash and by bank transfer.

Payment for visits at the ticket office and entrance to the lobby of the Observation deck is made in the general queue order.

28. When visiting the Observation deck for cash payment, the cash receipt is redeemed by the administrator by breaking and returned to the visitor. After the cash receipt is redeemed, it is not allowed to re-use it.

Visitors are required to keep a cash receipt during their stay at the Observation deck.

29. The cash receipt is valid for visiting the Observation deck on the day of its purchase.

30. Visiting the Observation deck is carried out both in groups of up to 15 persons, accompanied by a guide, and individually.

31. Children under 14 years of age are allowed to enter the Observation deck only when accompanied by capable adults. Adults should inform children about the rules of behavior on the Observation deck, in the elevator and be responsible for their implementation by children.

Employees of the Observation deck are not responsible for the life and health of children left unattended by their parents, legal representatives and other persons responsible for the child, including accompanying persons.

32. Persons with disabilities of the musculoskeletal system in a wheelchair can only visit the closed part of the Observation deck and the “Panorama” gallery.

Employees of the Observation deck are not responsible for the life and health of persons with impaired musculoskeletal functions in a wheelchair, who were left unattended by their accompanying persons.

33. During a visit to the Observation deck, accompanying persons are responsible for children, disabled children, orphans, and persons with impaired musculoskeletal functions in a wheelchair during a time of danger.

34. If it is impossible to operate a lifting deck with vertical movement for persons with disabilities due to its failure, access to the Observation deck for persons with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system and mothers with children in wheelchairs is carried out through the central entrance in accordance with the library's operating mode (persons with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system upon presentation of supporting documents).

35. All visitors to the Observation deck agree that the elevator to the Observation deck is a high-risk area. All its passengers must strictly adhere to the rules for using the elevator. In the cabin, you can not lean against the door, jump, interfere with the entry and exit of passengers, prepare in time to exit the elevator.

When going up and down, it is forbidden to:

• use the elevator for unaccompanied preschool children.
• use the elevator if the cabin is smoky or has a burning smell.
• smoking in the elevator cabin;
• get into the elevator shaft and pits;
• overload the elevator (maximum number of passengers – 15 persons);
• delay the elevator doors when getting in and off;
• transport bulky goods (things), baby strollers.

36. If during the visit to the Observation deck there are circumstances of force majeure affecting the operation of the elevator, in the absence of technical possibility of using the elevator, visitors are required to go down the evacuation stairs.

3. USER RIGHTS

37. Visitors have the right to:

• get the necessary information about the operation of the Observation deck;
• use the services of the Observation deck;
• contact the library management with suggestions, comments, and complaints about issues related to the organization of services for visitors to the Observation deck.

4. USER RESPONSIBILITIES

38. Visitors to the Observation deck must:

• follow these Rules and other local acts of the library;
• leave bags, briefcases, backpacks, opaque bags, musical instrument cases, and other items larger than 30x30x20 cm in the storage room;
• take care of the property of the Observation deck;
• observe order and cleanliness in the premises and on the territory of the Observation deck;
• treat employees and visitors of the Observation deck politely;
• in emergency situations (technical failure, fire, accident, threat of a terrorist act, etc.), comply with the requirements of employees of the library, internal affairs bodies, emergency management bodies and divisions;
• if any unattended items are found, immediately inform the library staff and do not take any independent actions to move them;
• independently assess their physical abilities related to the state of health.

39. Accompanying persons are required to ensure that minor visitors comply with the Rules.

Accompanying persons are fully responsible for minor visitors, including responsibility for their behavior, safety, and damage caused by them. When visiting the Observation deck by a group of visitors that includes minors, the responsibility for compliance with the rules by minors is assigned to the accompanying (head) of the group.

40. Visitors to the Observation deck are prohibited from:

taking out the property from the Observation deck;
• visiting the Observation deck in an untidy appearance;
• visiting the Observation deck while intoxicated, under the influence drugs, psychotropic, or toxic substances;
• entering the Observation deck with animals (except for visually impaired visitors and people who have lost their sight, accompanied by a guide dog), birds;
• carrying ice cream, food, and alcoholic beverages;
• passing through with the means of transportation (bicycle, scooter, push scooter, roller skates, skates and other wheeled vehicles, devices for jumping on feet, etc.);
• bring piercing and cutting objects to the Observation deck; bring with you cold and firearms or objects that can be mistaken for them, explosive, flammable substances, narcotic, psychotropic, toxic and other dangerous substances, oversized luggage;
• perform actions that cause damage to the Observation deck equipment;
• place ads, posters and other materials on the Observation deck premises without permission, engage in business, propaganda and advertising activities;
• violate public order;
• smoking in the Observation deck premises;
• entering or climbing over the fence;
• opening locks and bolts;
• entering technical and service areas independently. Visitors who enter the technical and service areas on their own are fully responsible for any problems or accidents that may occur as a result of their use of engineering equipment;
• running and jumping;
• leaving minors unattended;
• littering (spitting on the floor, blowing your nose, throwing chewing gum, etc.).

41. In addition, it is prohibited to:

• leaning against the fence;
• throwing things, liquids, and trash out of the Observation deck;
• moving body parts and items (mobile phones, selfie sticks, etc.) outside the fence.

5. USER RESPONSIBILITY

42. Visitors to the Observation deck who have caused damage to the property of the Observation deck (computers, office equipment, furniture, equipment, electrical equipment, etc.), cover the loss in accordance with the legislation.

43. Visitors who violate public order, creating a danger to their life and health by their behavior, as well as other visitors and employees of the Observation deck, humiliate employees and visitors, are liable in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

44. For violation of the rules, visitors are required to leave the territory of the Observation deck at the request of employees of the library security and Security Service and/or the Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In this case, the cost of the service cannot be changed downwards.

6. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIBRARY

45. The library has the right to:

• introduce amendments and changes to these Rules in accordance with the established procedure;
• determine the conditions for visiting the Observation deck;
• determine, in accordance with the law, the types and amounts of compensation for damage caused by visitors;
• determine the period of restriction (no more than one year) of access to the Observation deck for visitors who have violated these Rules;
• require visitors to leave the Observation deck in case of public order violations in the Library.

46. The library must:

• ensure a high culture of customer service;
• keep user information confidential;
• inform users about:
• changes in the operating mode of the Observation deck;
• types of services provided by the Observation deck.

47. The Library is not responsible for:

• safety of monetary funds and other material values of visitors to the Observation deck left in the lobby of the Observation deck or in the storage rooms;
• any damage caused to property during a visit to the Observation deck, regardless of whether the damage is related to the provision of services by the Observation deck or not;
• lost or otherwise lost property, valuables, and other items;
• deterioration of the user's health caused by physical and emotional stress, adverse effects of natural phenomena and equipment on the body.