Community Publicity Policy

POLICY PURPOSE

This policy outlines the rules governing the acceptable distribution, display, and promotion of community related publicity material at the Library’s physical locations or online on the library website, digital screens, or social media platforms.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

• This policy conforms to the Hamilton Public Library's Statement on Intellectual Freedom.
• The display of any community publicity material does not imply the library’s endorsement.
• Material must align with the Library’s mission and vision. It will be accommodated after Library business needs are met and based on staff capacity and availability of branch space.
• HPL may elect the appropriate medium to display the material: in-branch, digital screens, or online.
• Material may only be accepted from legally constituted non-profit or charitable organizations or government-supported agencies such as the Board of Education.
• Material may only be considered if it promotes free events or services that are offered in the Hamilton area to the public without discrimination or prejudice against any group. It must not contravene any legislation or laws or advocate a particular political, religious, or philosophic position.

DEFINITIONS

Community Publicity Material: Promotional material that informs the public of a free event or service in the Hamilton area.

POLICY DETAILS

This policy conforms to the Hamilton Public Library's Statement on Intellectual Freedom. Libraries are a place where ideas and thoughts are freely available, and the appropriate place for these discussions is within the Library's collections and services and not in the display of publicity material.

Public Library (HPL) will only promote material that aligns with its mission and vision.

Community publicity material may only be accepted from legally constituted non-profit or charitable organizations or government-supported agencies such as the Board of Education. 

The display and promotion of any community publicity material does not imply that the Library approves or endorses the organization or the content of the material that is posted.

HPL may approve community publicity material to bring attention to events and services that fulfill the needs of the local community,

HPL reserves the right to decide on the appropriate medium, location, and space on which it will promote the material, whether in-branch, on digital screens, and/or social media platforms.

Approval to promote community publicity material will only be accommodated after the Library and its partners (including City of Hamilton business needs) are first met.

Community publicity material is approved for posting only as space and staff time permits.

HPL may reject any community publicity material as it sees fit and does not notify the community group if their material is not accepted for any reason, including lack of space.

Variation from this Policy would require Senior Leadership Team review and approval.

All material submitted for posting becomes the property of the Library. HPL does not return the material or information received and reserves the right to dispose of it as it sees fit.

Community groups must allow enough time before the event for HPL’s review.

Materials must promote free, public, educational, recreational, cultural, or community events and services that are offered without discrimination of prejudice against any group. It should also occur in the Hamilton area and be of local relevance to the community.

Materials must not contravene the Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights, the Criminal Code of Canada, City of Hamilton bylaws, etc., and should not advocate a particular political, religious, or philosophic position.

Publish Date

February 2022