Portland District Library

The Portland District Library Community Room is available for use by non-profit organizations at no charge and is available for use by profit-making organizations at a small charge of $50 per meeting. Meetings held in the Community Room should end 15 minutes prior to the closing of the library. Library hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays during the school year. At the discretion of the Library Director, meetings may extend past the regular closing times, not to extend beyond 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, nor past the regular closing time on Friday and Saturday. The Community Room is not available for meetings on Sunday. Meetings may not include religious services, partisan political rallies, or purely social functions. The meetings must be open to the public. Library sponsored events and Library Board meetings have first priority for use of the Community Room. Regularly scheduled meetings may be approved six months in advance. Scheduling is by application at the Circulation Desk; the person responsible for the meeting is asked to read this policy and to fill out the application form. Approval is given by the Library Director. If the approval needs to be rescinded, the organization in question will be notified as soon as possible. If the group approved for the use of the room fails to honor its commitment, without notifying the Director, a fee will be imposed. The Community Room is entered and exited through the main library entrance. Use of the room includes access to chairs, tables, and a multi-purpose screen. A sound equipped lectern is also available. The user group will be responsible for the setup prior to the meeting and must return the room to pre-meeting condition before leaving the building. No display materials may be taped or tacked to the walls or molding. Damages occurring to the room, the equipment, or the library as a result of the meeting will be charged to the sponsoring group through the person signing the application. The maximum number of people using the room is 50 people seated in chairs and 35 people seated at tables. Groups wishing to serve light refreshments must provide their own consumables for serving and preparation. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on library property. There is a coffee maker available for group use. Children must be adequately supervised by an adult when in the Community Room. Children are not to be left at large in the library whether the library is open or closed. The library does not provide accommodation for child care.

“The use of the Community Room by a particular group or organization does not in any way constitute an endorsement by the Portland District Library of the group’s policies or beliefs.” The previous statement should be printed on any advertisement, flyer, brochure, or other publicity relating to a meeting or event being held in the meeting room.

Updated 2 June, 2006