Display Rules for the Juneau Public Library Display Cases
DATE:2/28/91
REVISED: 3/06/07
EFFECTIVE: Currently in effect.
PUBLIC SERVICE
(3.10) Exhibits, Displays, and Bulletin Boards
GENERAL STATEMENT ON DISPLAY SPACE
Display space provided by the Juneau Public Libraries is governed by the following rules and guidelines
established by the Library Director, as authorized by city ordinance CBJ 03.20.020. These rules apply to
all display space associated with the library, including its lobbies, elevators, hallways, and entryways.
Following a trial period beginning January 30, 2003, the rules and guidelines which apply to displays by nonprofit groups were adopted on May 1, 2004.
RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL LIBRARY DISPLAY SPACES
1. Display space provided by the Juneau Public Libraries consists not only of closed locking glass
cases for exhibits and notices, but also of open areas which include bulletin boards, brochure
holders, counters, tables, windows and walls.
2. No materials may be displayed on library property outside of the areas available for nonprofit
group use and community bulletin board use under these rules. Unauthorized display materials
could interfere with library operations and public safety and present a cluttered appearance. All
display space not specifically made available under these rules for nonprofit group use and
community bulletin board use is reserved for the Juneau Public Libraries for library-initiated
displays and postings.
3. When any of the Juneau Public Libraries is used as an official local, state or federal polling place,
any material on display in that library which does not comply with election laws may be removed
by the Exhibits Librarian at the request of election officials.
4. The display of materials on library property does not constitute an endorsement by the library or
the City and Borough of Juneau of the beliefs or viewpoints expressed in those materials. A
disclaimer to this effect may be used by the library in any form and at any time and place it deems
necessary.
5. Questions and concerns about display space, exhibited materials, and any other application of
these rules will be the responsibility of the Library Exhibits and Program Coordinator. The
Library Director will hear appeals regarding display space. Further written appeal may be
directed to the City Manager. The City Manager's determination will be made in consultation
with the City Attorney acting as legal counsel for the City and Borough of Juneau. The City
Manager provides the final administrative remedy in this appeal process. Further appeal could be
made to a court of competent jurisdiction.
MATERIALS FOR DISTRIBUTION
1. Brochures, pamphlets, and other giveaway materials may be placed by any person on open
community bulletin boards if the materials comply with bulletin board rules.
2. For placement in other display areas, the library limits its consideration for approval to library related
materials, official government publications and notices, and basic community information
such as bus schedules and maps.
3. Petitions and surveys may not be displayed, distributed, posted or otherwise circulated in the
Juneau Public Libraries. For those designed for library or city government purposes, an exception
may be granted with approval of the Library Director.
BULLETIN BOARDS
1. Bulletin boards are available at the Juneau Public Libraries for the posting of events and
announcements of general public interest.
2. All closed glassed bulletin boards are reserved for the use of the library.
3. All open bulletin boards in public areas on library property are available for local community use, under the following rules:
- Nonprofit groups may post materials. Commercial advertisement is not permitted.
- 3x5 notices advertising items for sale by individuals are permitted if dated. These
personal notices may be removed after two weeks.
- Care shall be taken not to cover over material posted by others, and not to remove any
item before time of the final event on that posting. Duplicates may be removed at any
time.
- Posted materials shall be kept within the edges of the bulletin board.
LIBRARY-INITIATED DISPLAYS
1. The Juneau Public Libraries reserve prominent display space in all three facilities for the purpose
of promoting libraries, lifelong learning, and reading enjoyment for all ages.
2. Staff members initiate and develop the displays in entryway exhibit cases as a library-sponsored
series featuring a broad spectrum of ideas, objects, and resources of interest to all ages.
3. Every library-initiated display, whether in an open space or in a closed glass exhibit case, is
selected and scheduled by library staff. Design, preparation and mounting is supervised or
performed by library staff or other employees of the City and Borough of Juneau at the request of
the library, which shall include but not be limited to City Museum personnel with training in
handling historical objects of special value.
4. Some library-initiated displays will contain materials on loan from outside sources. Owners will
be given credit and the library will handle their materials with care and respect. Owners of
materials used in library-initiated displays are not entitled to determine the subject, message,
design, or scheduling of the display.
DISPLAYS BY NONPROFIT GROUPS
1. As an enhancement to the "community information and referral" function offered as part of
Reference Service, the library makes a glassed locking exhibit space available in the downtown
facility for Juneau nonprofit groups to use for displays of their ideas, objects, and resources.
Personal use and commercial use are not allowed.
2. All nonprofit group displays are designed, prepared, and mounted without library sponsorship or
staff assistance. The library regulates time, place, and manner of nonprofit group displays and
assures access according to these rules.
3. The display case that is available for nonprofit group use is located next to the small conference
room. It has two sections, which the Exhibits Librarian normally schedules separately, to
maximize opportunities for different displays.
4. An exhibitor may display one time only each year, using a rolling twelve-month calendar. The
Exhibits Librarian normally schedules each display for one month, from the first to the last day of
the month, but may schedule for a partial month with the exhibitor's agreement. A future booking
may be requested after the last day of the month for that exhibitor's current display.
5. One section of the display case will be open for nonprofit group booking up to thirteen months in
advance. The second section will be held for "closer to the time" scheduling. The Exhibits
Librarian may use the second section to accommodate either library-initiated or nonprofit group
displays, with the understanding that opportunities will occur to exhibit such things as awards and
special collections that cannot reasonably be foreseen a year in advance. The second section may
also be used by the Exhibits Librarian to schedule an opposing viewpoint, a balancing response,
or a different perspective on an exhibit topic in any of the library display spaces.
6. A signed "Nonprofit Group Display Reservation Request" is required to apply for a booking. The
form is available from the Library Exhibits and Program Coordinator (586-0434), the Library
Administrative Office (586-5324), or the Juneau Public Libraries website:
www.juneau.org/library. The application contains additional specific rules governing installation
of nonprofit group displays, to which the exhibiting group agrees by signing the form. Two
signatures are required, one by the person who will do the installation, the second by an officer or
other group spokesperson who is 18 or over; both must be registered library users.
7. While the library retains the right to preview all display materials before they are installed, for
practical reasons the usual process will be review during and/or after installation. The Library
Exhibits and Program Coordinator performs this subject- and viewpoint-neutral check for legality
of materials and compliance with rules.
8. The Library Exhibits and Program Coordinator will notify one or both of the individuals who
signed the Nonprofit Group Display Reservation Request if a display is found not to be in
compliance with library rules. Seven days will be allowed to remedy compliance issues, during
which time the Exhibits Librarian may choose to cover any already installed display materials
from view and provide a sign indicating that installation is "in progress."
9. The Library Exhibits and Program Coordinator may revoke a booking approval and remove all
materials already installed by any exhibitor who remains in violation of display space rules on the
eighth day after notice of noncompliance. Repeated violations are grounds for denial of future
bookings by that exhibitor.
10. Juneau Public Libraries and the City and Borough of Juneau do not insure nonprofit group
displays. All reasonable precautions will be taken to protect display materials in the display case.
Exhibitors are encouraged to provide their own insurance for valuable materials. Each exhibitor
agrees that Juneau Public Libraries and the City and Borough of Juneau and employees assume
no responsibility for loss or damage to materials brought to the library for display by nonprofit
groups, and further agrees to forever release and discharge the Juneau Public Libraries and the
City and Borough of Juneau and employees from all such loss or damage.
11. Damages to the premises, equipment, or furnishings as a result of exhibitor use will be charged to
the group responsible for the display. The exhibitor and its members, jointly and severally,
assume full responsibility for loss of, or injury or damage to, any property of the Juneau Public
Libraries caused by the exhibitor. Each exhibitor agrees to hold the Juneau Public Libraries and
employees harmless from any and all claims, demands, and liabilities which may arise out of a
reservation for a nonprofit group display, and shall indemnify the Juneau Public Libraries and
employees for any and all costs, expenditures, and damages relating thereto, including attorneys'
fees.
12. Juneau Public Libraries will not censor or remove a nonprofit group display because some
members of the community disagree with its content. Any local group with an opposing
viewpoint may book its own display. Placement of nonprofit group displays beyond the entryway,
the service desks, and the collections offers library patrons reasonable individual freedom to
choose whether to view each month's display(s). The library will post monthly exhibitors and
themes in the downtown upstairs lobby, to advise the public and encourage viewing.
13. In addition to the library's notice in the lobby, the exhibitor may choose to provide additional
publicity. The exhibitor will not publicize a nonprofit display in any manner that suggests library
sponsorship or affiliation.
