Free Speech Policy
Approved: 5 March 2012
Purpose:
The Ohio County Public Library recognizes and supports the public's rights to free speech including presenting speeches, distributing petitions or other information, and advocating views or positions. However, OCPL also has an obligation to provide library services to the public in an environment where access and privacy are maintained, and where safe and unobstructed ingress and egress to OCPL property is provided. Therefore, OCPL's Board of Trustees has established this policy to allow free speech while ensuring that the rights of others to use OCPL facilities are not impeded.
Note:
This policy pertains to the use of the Ohio County Public Library grounds and not the inside of the Library buildings. Persons wishing to reserve a designated meeting space should refer to the Meeting Room policy, or speak with the Library Director.
Regulations
Persons wishing to distribute material, canvass, perform, or speak on Library property must obtain permission in advance from the Library Director.
The Library designates its parking lot across from the main Library entrance on Second Street to speak, canvass, perform, or distribute materials, ensuring that library users will have an unobstructed facility ingress and egress.
The conduct of persons speaking, canvassing, performing, or distributing information on Library grounds must be in compliance with OCPL policies and federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and statutes.
Distributing materials, canvassing, performing, or speaking may be done only during the regular operating hours of the Library.
In the Library's aesthetic interest to maintain the premises free of debris and clutter, materials including, but not limited to, posters, flyers, placards, brochures, banners, or signs of any type may not be left unattended on OCPL grounds. The Library staff will remove and dispose of any unattended materials, including political campaign signs.
OCPL reserves the right to have removed from Library property any person or persons not complying with this policy.
