Policies

ELIGIBLE USE

The library auditorium can be booked for local non-profit organizations located within the service area of the Taunton Public Library or providing services or employment to the Taunton area. All meetings and events must be open to the public. Attendance fees or fees for materials are prohibited. Meeting room space is not available for private meetings and events.

Presentations and programs held by a for-profit group, open to the public, such as workshops and seminars with a business presenter, are prohibited, even if educational in nature. No sales or soliciting is allowed. Individuals may not profit from or use the library’s meeting rooms to run a business. Meetings planned by a company or individual to promote, advertise, or lead to a sale of a product or service is not permitted.

Under no circumstances can the meeting room space be booked for

• Regular business or office hours of private business operations or for private meetings and events such as weddings, bridal and baby showers, birthday parties
• As a campaign headquarters
• For fundraising other than the Friends of the Taunton Public Library Organization
• For purposes prohibited by city ordinance, state or federal law, or by Library Rules and Regulations

The use of the meeting room does not imply the library’s endorsement of any ideas expressed in the meeting nor the goals, objectives, or ideals of the person or organization using library facilities. The use of a meeting room by a non-library group shall not be publicized in such a way as to imply library sponsorship of the group’s activities unless the activity is being co-sponsored by the library.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in a refusal for future use of the meeting rooms.

BOOKINGS

• No more than 2 meetings per month for all rooms are allowed for all users.
• At least 2 weeks advance booking is preferred. 48 hour notice is required for cancellations. A contact person, telephone number, and e-mail address is mandatory.
• Meeting rooms can be booked only between the hours of 9am and 7pm Monday through Thursday and 9am and 3pm Friday and Saturday. Programs will not be booked prior to the library’s opening or after the library is closed. Programs will not be booked on days the library is closed.
• Programs must end by 7:45pm Mondays through Thursdays and by 3:45pm Fridays and Saturdays. Programs scheduled later than closing times are at the discretion of the director.
• The auditorium has a seating capacity of 75 and smaller meeting areas can accommodate approximately 10 individuals.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Refreshments are limited to hot/cold beverages and light refreshments which do not require preparation or reheating on the premises.
• The sponsoring organization is responsible for providing its own equipment, displays and other materials used at the meeting. Groups are responsible for their own set-up and takedown of all equipment and furniture and for leaving the room as they found it.
• NOTHING can be attached to the walls or doors.
• No alcoholic beverages allowed on premises.
• Organizations/businesses are responsible for conducting orderly programs and for ensuring attendees will not interfere with library services or endanger Library employees, patrons or property. Failure to comply will result in termination of the meeting and rejection of future applications for use of meeting rooms in any library in the system.
• When a program is over the Children’s Youth Services room MUST be notified.

CANCELLATIONS

• Contact the library as soon as possible when you have cancelled or postponed your event or any other changes to the program, such as staring hour.
• If the library closes due to inclement weather or another emergency, your program is automatically cancelled. Reasonable attempts will be made to contact the organization should an unexpected closing occur.

The Taunton Public Library reserves the right to discontinue auditorium use privileges for failure to follow the Auditorium Policy rules.

EXHIBIT/POSTING SPACE

Exhibit/posting space is available to individuals and groups for community events and information of a cultural, educational, intellectual, or charitable nature. This space is available on an equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of those requesting space. Exhibits/postings determined to be unacceptable is material of a commercial nature containing:

A. Advertisements of products or services; prices of articles for sale

B. Requests for contributions, including nonprofit or charitable institutions

C. Petitions or political literature supporting one cause or point of view

D. Carelessly designed, untidy posters or brochures; materials torn from newspapers or magazines

The library reserves the right to reject exhibit/posting requests based on the above criteria.

The library does not endorse the beliefs or viewpoints of topics which may be the subject of exhibits/postings.

The library assumes no liability for materials/collections damaged while posted or displayed.

POSTING SPACE

Posting space is available on some library bulletin boards. Individuals or groups wishing to post materials will notify the library of their desire to do so.

Materials must be dated with the posting date.

Materials will be removed and discarded by the library after the event has passed, or in the case of an open-ended announcement, one month from the posting date.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Passes are available to Massachusetts residents 18 years old or older with a valid SAILS library card.

2. Should your local library close to the public or be decertified by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, you may no longer borrow passes.

PASS GUIDELINES

1. Passes should be reserved through our online reservation system. However, if you need assistance, the Front Desk can make the reservation for you either in person or on the phone. The patron is responsible for reviewing their confirmation email to ensure accuracy.

2. Due to the high demand for a limited number of museum passes, and in an effort to give all patrons an equitable chance at these free and reduced admissions prices, we ask that all patrons limit their reservations to twice a month at any one museum.

3. Only one museum pass per day per family can be reserved.

4. All passes must be returned by 9:00 a.m. the next day unless you are directed otherwise. Passes returned after 9:30 a.m. will result in a fine of $10.00. For each day the pass is not returned you will be fined $15.00 per day. If you return the passes late three times, you will lose the right to borrow museum passes. Refusal to pay any fines will result in the automatic loss of museum pass privileges.

5. If you lose a museum pass, you will be charged $50.00 payable to the Friends of the Taunton Public Library. Refusal to pay this fine will result in the automatic loss of museum pass privileges.

6. Please return the pass to the Front Desk. If the library is closed, put the pass inside the case and place it into the media slot of our Book Drop in the back of the building. The Book Drop is emptied once per day, at 8:00am.

7. If your plans have changed and you will not need your pass, please call the Front Desk to cancel or click the “NEED TO CANCEL?” link in your “Reservation Confirmed…” email.

These passes are provided for you through the generous fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Taunton Public Library, not through a state budget. Please be a Friend; respect these guidelines.