Auditorium and Meeting Place Policy

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(Adopted by Library Board on February 17, 1982. Revised November 15, 1989; September 18, 1993; October 19, 1998; September 23, 2002; November 18, 2002; June 18, 2007; May 18, 2009.)

The auditoriums and meeting rooms at St. Louis County Library facilities are intended primarily for use by the Library for Library meetings and Library-sponsored programs. When not needed for these purposes, they are available for a fee, as set by the Library Board, to groups and organizations that meet the following guidelines:

1. No meetings shall cause undue interference with the operation of the Library. Meetings shall not conflict with Library-sponsored programs; in the event of such a conflict, the Library program shall receive priority. THE LIBRARY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RESCHEDULE CONFIRMED MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS, WITH A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS’ NOTICE, TO ACCOMMODATE LIBRARY-SPONSORED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

2. Groups shall be composed primarily of residents of the St. Louis County Library District. All juvenile groups must have adequate adult supervision

3. Organizations shall be legal and not-for-profit.

4. Meetings shall be open to the public and anyone attending such meetings shall be permitted to participate in the meetings. EXCEPTION: Agencies of any political subdivision of the state of Missouri may hold closed sessions required for the achievement of their defined goals.

5. There shall be no admission fees. A group may ask for voluntary contributions toward the meeting room fee charged by the Library. All other collections or solicitations are prohibited.

6. No food, drink or refreshments shall be served. Smoking is prohibited.

7. Equipment or furniture belonging to any group shall not be stored in Library buildings [without the written permission of the Library. Space, staff and activities of the Library will determine whether storage is permitted]. The Library will not assume responsibility when materials, etc., are left on the premises.

8. Organizations using Library owned equipment shall assume financial responsibility for any damage to equipment while in their possession. It is agreed that the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act will control for Federal agencies. Certain pieces of equipment are not available for public use.

9. Meetings shall be held during hours when the Library is normally open to the public and shall be finished in sufficient time to vacate the buildings by the time the Library is scheduled to close for the day. An additional fee will be charged if anyone remains in the room past normal closing time. In the event that a meeting is canceled, the Library shall be notified so that this space may be made available to others. Meeting rooms are not available on Sundays.

10. Permission to use Library meeting rooms is revocable and does not constitute a lease, nor does it imply that the Library endorses the aims, policies, views or activities of the group, organization or person using the room.

11. The Board of Trustees of the St. Louis County Library shall be the final authority in granting or refusing permission for the use of the meeting facilities.

Failure to observe these rules may result in the denial of use of the meeting place by the organization concerned. Library staff will refer questions about the organization, other than day and time of meeting, to one of the contact persons named on the application.