Bulletin Board Policy and Procedures

Issued: 10/2011
Updated: 09/2023

Mission:

The mission of Monterey County Free Libraries is to bring ideas, inspiration, information and enjoyment to our community.

Branches of the Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL) which have wall space available in appropriate areas may, with the permission of Library Administration, install public notice bulletin boards.

These bulletin boards are intended to facilitate the promotion of library related events, and local and current community events. Bulletin boards may also be used for the posting of minutes, agendas and announcements of civic and government organizations. The bulletin boards are not intended to establish a public forum and, as such, are not to be used to post statements of personal or group philosophy, advocacy of beliefs, or partisan political issues.

Some examples of items which do not meet the criteria of this policy are:

1. Jobs wanted
2. Jobs available from non-government sources
3. Private/personal parties or events and offers of personal services
4. On-going regular periodic events (e.g. club meetings, regularly scheduled religious services, etc.)
5. Lost and found notices except those regarding local missing people or local area pets, which will be posted at the discretion of the branch manager.

Bulletin board space is assigned for eligible events on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the sponsoring group.

All items submitted for posting must be appropriate for viewing by all ages. Notices must be legible and of an appropriate size. Items larger than legal size (8.5” X 14”) will be accepted at the discretion of the branch manager.

Decisions regarding the use of these bulletin boards remain with the library branch manager, subject to the provisions of this policy and the procedure statement.

Posting of an item on an MCFL bulletin board does not constitute the Library’s endorsement of the event or sponsoring group.

All items must be submitted for approval by the branch manager at least 3 days prior to the requested posting or event date.

Approved items will be stamped and/or initialed by library staff, dated to indicate approval, and posted on a space available basis.

Unapproved items found on the bulletin board will be removed and discarded regardless of whether they meet posting criteria or not.

Items submitted for consideration for posting must clearly identify the sponsoring organization or agency. Each item must contain the address of that organization or agency, and a contact telephone number or e-mail address at which a person knowledgeable about the event may be reached.

Items will, as far as feasible, be displayed on a first-come-first-served basis. Length of display is at the discretion of the branch manager, however, no item may be posted for a period which exceeds three (3) months. There must be a break of at least one month before resubmitting a flier for the same event.

In case of insufficient space to post all submitted items, priority will be given in the following order:

1. MCFL sponsored or MCFL related events
2. Government events
3. Community, school and other events
4. Other informational notices
5. Repeat post for events

Library staff is not responsible for lost notices and items cannot be returned. After posting period, notices will be discarded.