Marathon County Public Library

ITEM NUMBER: 7.60 a-b

CHAPTER: Administrative

Management

CODE: Policy

COMPUTER ID: AMPRO-60



Title: Programming Planning and Development Policy

Effective Date: 9/2012

Authorized By: Library Board of Trustees

Date of Last Revision: 9/2012



Purpose:



The Marathon County Public Library offers programs intended to further the

library's mission and provide an intellectual and cultural resource for the

community.



Programming Planning and Development:



The MCPL develops, implements and sponsors programs designed to meet the

educational, cultural and recreational needs and interests of the community.

Emphasis shall be placed on promoting the Marathon County goals of being the

healthiest, safest, and most prosperous county in Wisconsin.



In addition, the library draws upon other community resources in developing

programs and actively part

ners with other community agencies, organizations,

educational and cultural institutions, and individuals to develop and present co-

sponsored public programs. Professional performers and presenters that reflect

specialized or unique expertise may be hi

red for library programs; performers

and presenters will not be excluded from consideration because of their origin,

background or views, or because of possible controversy. Although library

programs must be non-commercial and gene

ric in nature, presenters may be

professionals or business people. Library-sponsored programs must have a

special educational, informational, or cultural value to the community. Examples

of programs that would be considered of a commercial nature include but are not

limited to presentations offered for free but with the intention of soliciting future

business. Library staff who present programs do so as part of their regular job

and are not hired as outside contractors for programming. Library staff will

always attempt to find a non-commercial source for programs first. First option for

presentations will always be public agencies such as city or county departments

and agencies.



The provision of food or drink shall be generally avoided, and must be pre-

approved by a manager. Any gifts or prizes should be avoided, and must be

approved by a manager. Summer Reading Program will be coordinated system-

wide, and incentives must be approved by management.



ITEM NUMBER:7.60 b



All library programs are open to the public. A fee may be charged for certain

types of library programs. Library staff will reserve the right to limit attendance

due to space and safety considerations or the requirements of the program

presenter. The library's philosophy of open access to information and ideas

extends to library programming, and the library will not knowingly discriminate

through its programming. Library sponsorship of a program does not constitute

an endorsement of the content of the program or the views expressed by

participants, and program topics, speakers and resources are not excluded from

programs because of po

ssible controversy.