Intellectual Freedom Handbook, 1999
Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards:
An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Libraries often provide exhibit spaces and bulletin boards. The uses
made of these spaces should conform to the Library Bill of Rights:
Article I states, "Materials should not be excluded because of the
origin, background, or views of those contributing to their
creation." Article II states, "Materials should not be
proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal
disapproval." Article VI maintains that exhibit space should be
made available "on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or
affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use."
In developing library exhibits, staff members should endeavor to
present a broad spectrum of opinion and a variety of viewpoints.
Libraries should not shrink from developing exhibits because of
controversial content or because of the beliefs or affiliations of those
whose work is represented. Just as libraries do not endorse the
viewpoints of those whose works are represented in their collections,
libraries also do not endorse the beliefs or viewpoints of topics which
may be the subject of library exhibits.
Exhibit areas often are made available for use by community groups.
Libraries should formulate a written policy for the use of these exhibit
areas to assure that space is provided on an equitable basis to all
groups which request it.
Written policies for exhibit space use should be stated in inclusive
rather than exclusive terms. For example, a policy that the library's
exhibit space is open "to organizations engaged in educational,
cultural, intellectual, or charitable activities" is an inclusive
statement of the limited uses of the exhibit space. This defined
limitation would permit religious groups to use the exhibit space
because they engage in intellectual activities, but would exclude most
commercial uses of the exhibit space.
A publicly supported library may limit use of its exhibit space to
strictly "library-related" activities, provided that the
limitation is clearly circumscribed and is viewpoint neutral.
Libraries may include in this policy rules regarding the time, place,
and manner of use of the exhibit space, so long as the rules are
content-neutral and are applied in the same manner to all groups wishing
to use the space.
A library may wish to limit access to exhibit space to groups within
the community served by the library. This practice is acceptable
provided that the same rules and regulations apply to everyone, and that
exclusion is not made on the basis of the doctrinal, religious, or
political beliefs of the potential users.
The library should not censor or remove an exhibit because some
members of the community may disagree with its content. Those who object
to the content of any exhibit held at the library should be able to
submit their complaint and/or their own exhibit proposal to be judged
according to the policies established by the library.
Libraries may wish to post a permanent notice near the exhibit area
stating that the library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of
exhibits or exhibitors.
Libraries which make bulletin boards available to public groups for
posting notices of public interest should develop criteria for the use
of these spaces based on the same considerations as those outlined
above.
Libraries may wish to develop criteria regarding the size of material
to be displayed, the length of time materials may remain on the bulletin
board, the frequency with which material may be posted for the same
group, and the geographic area from which notices will be accepted.
Adopted July 2, 1991, by the ALA Council. [ISBN 8389-7551-8]
Copyright (c) 1999, American Library Association.
