Guidelines for Bulletin Board Posting and Handouts
General Guidelines
Handouts and postings on bulletin boards publicize library and government
information, and events of local interest. Library staff will determine
what will be posted or distributed according to available space and
the following, listed in order of priority:
Library and library-related items
Montgomery County Government publications
Other government publications of local interest
Non-profit organization materials of local civic, cultural, educational
or recreational interest.
Community newspapers and magazines distributed free of charge with or
without advertising, containing news and feature articles of local interest
may be distributed as space permits. Most libraries have limited space
for these materials.
Directories distributed free of charge and of local interest will
be distributed only as space permits.
Petitions or political literature will be reviewed for posting and/or distribution
based on MCPL policies related to campaign and political literature. See "Literature
Related to Campaigns for Public Office"; below.
Forms of literature unacceptable or unsuitable for library distribution or
posting include:
Items advertising or promoting business or commercial entities.
advertisements of businesses, products or services.
Direct requests for contributions not associated with an event (including non-profit
or charitable institutions).
Information about any event or activity not open to the public.
Personal notices and handouts and personal advertisements of articles for sale.
Job postings and requests for study participants for medical or other research.
Non-profit organization newsletters and meeting minutes.
Procedures for Submitting Public Information
Materials or Handouts for Posting or Distribution
Distribution through MCPL's Central Delivery System
All items submitted for posting must comply with the Bulletin
Boards and Handouts Policy (effective 4/1/2006). See guidelines above.
Organizations with items to be distributed through our central delivery
system must be
authorized by MCPL’S
Administrative Offices. Organizations must request a Public Handout
Questionnaire,
which must
be filled out
for administrative review, by calling 240-777-0002, Fax: 240-777-0034,
or by emailing the questionnaire posted on the web site. Once approval
or denial is determined, a letter will be sent to the contact person
listed on the questionnaire.
Allow 30 days for approval. Approved organizations will received a letter
and attachments containing instructions about the number of items allowed,
how to label and bundle, and a list of MCPL branches.
MCPL will maintain a central listing of organizations approved for distributing
materials at library branches through our Central Delivery system.
A copy of Montgomery County Public Libraries’ approval letter must
be included with items delivered to our central offices for distribution.
Failure to comply with this requirement will prevent us from delivering
materials.
Organizations approved by the Administrative Offices also have the option
to mail or deliver their items directly to individual libraries. A copy
of the approval letter must be included with their items.
Approval and centralized distribution does not guarantee space in local
library handouts areas or on bulletin boards.
Distribution Directly to Local Branches -- Local Library Procedures
All items submitted for posting must comply with the Bulletin Boards
and Handouts Policy (effective 4/1/2006). See guidelines above.
Organizations
have the option to mail or deliver their items directly to individual
libraries.
All materials for public display or distribution must be posted and removed
by library staff.
Items for posting or distribution must include the organization’s
name, address, web address if applicable, and telephone number.
Materials left for posting or distribution without authorization will
be discarded.
In general, bulletin board notices are accepted for dated material only,
not to exceed thirty days (30 days) as space permits.
Activities having no specific date may be displayed for a reasonable
length of time (as determined by the library manager and as space permits)
or up to 30 days.
Materials larger than 8-1/2 x 11 inches will be displayed as space
permits.
Unused materials will be discarded or recycled.
Literature Related to Campaigns for Public
Office or Ballot Initiatives
As part of its responsibility to help inform the public, all libraries
(except Noyes) will provide an area for the display and distribution
of literature related to campaigns for public office or to ballot initiatives.
The display area for political literature will be available only during
the four (4) weeks immediately prior to a primary or general election.
A sign reading "Political Campaign Information" will be
posted above the display area set up for this purpose, which should be
separate from the areas for general displays and handouts.
Each candidate may supply one hundred (100) handouts, which are to
be no more than 8 1/2 x 11 inches in size.
The contact person in each agency for political literature is the
Library Manager.
Responsibility for replenishing any depleted supplies of political
literature up to the 100 limit lies with each candidate.
Petitioning or Distribution of Literature
in Libraries
In Library Buildings:
It is the policy of the Department that petitioning, solicitation, distribution
of literature or leaflets, canvassing, or similar types of appeals
by members of the public are not allowed in libraries. Rare exceptions
under unusual circumstances only may be made for specific Department
or County projects with the express approval of the Director.
On Library Grounds:
Groups or individuals who wish to petition, solicit, canvas or distribute
literature to the public on library parking lots, sidewalks, or other
grounds surrounding the library building may do so, if they do not
impede access by the public to the building or interfere with use
of the building, such as through excessive noise.
Fundraising for organizations other than the Friends of the Library
and its affiliates is not permitted in library buildings or on library
grounds.
These guidelines will be re-evaluated in six months.
