The Great Falls Public Library provides meeting
space, which may include indoor and outdoor facilities, for
meetings and programs of an informational, educational, cultural
or civic nature. Meeting spaces are available for both library
and general public use.
Use of meeting space does not imply endorsement
or support by the library for a group's activities or beliefs.
The Great Falls Public Library Board of Trustees or the director
reserves the right to approve or
disapprove the use of meeting space.
Community Programs
Community programs are those programs and meetings that are
organized, administered and advertised by the general public.
The library merely provides the meeting space as a public service.
In circumstances in which a program has a wide
general appeal, the library may help facilitate the program.
This does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the library.
- Meeting rooms are available to individuals and groups
on a first-come first-served basis. Users must make reservations
in advance and sign a contract. The library provides some
equipment for public use. Users can, with advance notice,
request to bring their own equipment.
- Any publicity distributed by the individual or group must
include a statement of sponsorship to clarify who is responsible
for the meeting. For example, "This program is sponsored
by Recovery Anonymous."
- Groups or individuals using the meeting room may request
that the library post a brief notice of the meeting on the
library's web page.
- No one may charge admission, offer items for sale or charge
for any service while using the meeting space, without prior
approval. If approval is granted, the individual or group
must remit 20% of funds collected to the library in return
for use of the meeting room.
Library Sponsored Programs
Library sponsored programs are those programs and meetings that
are organized, administered and advertised by the Great Falls
Public Library, or by the Library in co-sponsorship with another
agency, organization, institution or individual.
- Library sponsored programs have scheduling priority over
community programs.
- Any publicity distributed by the library or the co-sponsoring
agency will include a statement of sponsorship. For example,
"This program is sponsored by the Great Falls Public
Library in partnership with the Montana Wilderness Association."
- "Library sponsorship of a program does not constitute
an endorsement of the content of the program or the views
expressed by the participants, any more than the purchase
of materials for the library collection constitutes an endorsement
of the contents of the material or the views of its creator.
Library staff selects topics, speakers and resource materials
for library-initiated programs based on the interests and
information needs of the community. Topics, speakers and
resource materials are not excluded from library-initiated
programs because of possible controversy. Concerns, questions
or complaints about library-initiated programs are handled
according to the same written policy and procedures which
govern reconsiderations of other library resources."
Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource: An Interpretation
of the Library Bill of Rights (American Library Association).
