Policy
As a public institution dedicated to the free expression and free access to ideas presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times, all activity rooms in the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center system are available on equal terms for the lawful activities of all groups and persons, regardless of their beliefs or affiliations.
Procedures
1. Meeting rooms are available without cost for public meetings or programs of general public interest when not being used for library programs or activities. The public may reserve meeting rooms no more than 60 days in advance conditional upon the library calendar and at the discretion of the facility manager based on demand. Reservations may be made in person or by fax on a first come, first served basis, based upon the date of the written request. Groups wishing to reserve the meeting room must submit the properly completed and signed request forms before a reservation can be confirmed. The meeting rooms may be scheduled for more than one date at a time, up to the limit set by the facility manager based on location and community needs. Reservations cannot be made over the phone. Rooms will only be held thirty (30) minutes past the reservation time.
2. Meeting rooms are not available for conducting programming or activities that are purely commercial, religious, social, or personal in nature. Examples of programs that are not allowed include, but are not limited to: birthday parties, weddings, bridal showers, family reunions, retirement parties, church services, conducting office or work–related activities of profit, nonprofit, or governmental agencies or department to meet with their staffs or clients. All reservations are subject to approval by the facility or branch manager.
3. Private meetings or members–only meetings of nonprofit groups are permitted. It is the responsibility of the group — not library staff — to monitor the meeting room door in the event non–members seek entry.
4. Meeting room use must not disrupt normal library operations nor the use of the library by others. Persons using the meeting rooms are subject to all library rules and regulations.
5. Individuals or groups whose activities would tend to incite or produce imminent lawless action, or are obscene, or are obviously promoting false and misleading information, or are defamatory, or are purely commercial in nature will not be allowed to use the library’s meeting rooms.
6. No admission fees may be charged for programs and activities held in meeting rooms. Nonprofit groups and organizations may collect membership dues. Merchandise available from a speaker – such as a book or an audiotape – may be sold, however 20% of the sales must be donated to the Friends of the Library.
7. Meeting rooms must be used during the normal operating hours of the library. Early openings may be arranged at the discretion of the facility manager based on available staff.
8. No group, or member of any group, may affix or attach signs, banners, or fliers to any wall, ceiling, or any piece of library property.
9. Groups who wish to use library–owned audiovisual equipment in meeting rooms are responsible for damage to the equipment. Groups must designate a group member to be responsible for learning how to operate the equipment prior to the meeting date.
10. A representative of each group requesting the use of the meeting room must sign an agreement accepting personal responsibility. It is the responsibility of the person reserving the meeting room to ensure the room is clean and orderly before leaving. The library is not responsible for personal belongings left in the meeting room by users.
11. The library reserves the right to limit attendance in all meeting rooms based upon space availability and safety regulations.
12. The library reserves the right of reasonable inspection of meeting rooms by library staff, County Engineer, County Building Inspectors, and the Fire Marshall.
13. Permission to use library meeting rooms is not an endorsement by the library staff or library Board of Trustees of the user or user’s beliefs.
14. The library director reserves the right to deny further use of any meeting room to any individual or group who violates the library policies, rules, or procedures.
15. No smoking is allowed in meeting rooms, the library lobbies, or the restrooms. Persons wishing to smoke must exit the library to do so.
16. No alcoholic beverages may be served in the library.
17. The library does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, age, national origin, or disability.
18. Except on the persons of on-duty law enforcement officers and library security officers, no weapons of any kind are allowed in the library.
19. Library staff cannot take telephone messages for any person using a meeting room. Library staff cannot page persons using a meeting room. Library telephones are intended for library business only. Pay phones are located in most library facilities.
20. The individual requesting the room is responsible for making arrangements regarding the set–up of the room at the time of the booking, and is responsible for any adjustments to the arrangement made on the day of the meeting. |
All programs and meetings held in meetings rooms
must be free. Meeting rooms are available to the public
under limited conditions. Please read the Guidelines below:
CCPL&IC © 2007