FACILITY USE POLICY

The North Smithfield Public Library provides diverse and easily accessible materials, services, and programs to encourage the free flow of ideas to educate, entertain, enrich and inform local residents. To facilitate these goals and to maintain an atmosphere conducive to library use, space is not available in the library for social, political, partisan, or religious services, or individual memorial services, the benefit of private individuals, commercial purposes, private tutors or business meetings. Those seeking rental space for such activities may contact the town of North Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department for information on the rental of Scouters' Hall located across the street.

The Helen C. Greenwood Community Room is available primarily to support library programs and functions that further the mission of the library. When not being used by the library, the room is available for use by non-profit community groups and literacy volunteers. In accordance with the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and its interpretation pertaining to meeting rooms, the library does not limit use of the meeting room based on subject matter or content of the meeting or on the beliefs or affiliations of the meeting's sponsors. Except for library and library-related programs, groups may not use the meeting room more than once each month; limited series of weekly or daily meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the library director. The meeting room may be reserved up to ninety days in advance. Fees, rules, and procedures for use of the meeting room are established by the Board of Trustees and are reviewed annually. Capacity of the room is limited to thirty persons. A copy of the fee schedule, rules, and procedures will be provided with the application for meeting room use. A completed and signed application must be returned to the library director within two business days or the reservation may be subject to cancellation.

Use of the meeting room does not imply endorsement, support, or co-sponsorship by the North Smithfield Public Library of the activities that take place in the meeting room or of the beliefs of the group using the meeting room. Groups or individuals using the meeting room may not imply that the event or program is sponsored, co-sponsored, or endorsed by the library in any advertising or publicity.

Groups using the meeting room are required to set up for the meeting, return furniture to its original location after the meeting and to leave the room clean and in good condition. No selling, solicitation or taking of orders may occur. No admission may be charged for programs held in the meeting room. Groups failing to comply with any part of this policy or the established procedures will be denied further use of the meeting room. A library staff member may be present at any time during the meeting.

Approved January 23, 2001 by Board of Trustees
Stephen H. Kirby, President

Reviewed March 22, 2005 and reaffirmed