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C3
Exhibits, Displays, Bulletin Boards Policy
Approved:  09/22/2005
Revised:  09/24/2025

The Ypsilanti District Library is open for specific and designated uses, including providing access to intellectual and cultural resources to the community it serves.  When its designated exhibit and display spaces are not in use by the library, they may be available for limited and temporary use by artists or outside groups, organizations, and governmental units engaged in not-for-profit, educational, cultural, intellectual, civic, or charitable activities.  Priority will be given to applicants whose location or proposed activity is within the YDL service area.

Distribution of printed materials in the library to patrons and staff is disruptive to the operations of the library and its use by the public.  Therefore, the distribution of pamphlets and flyers or other printed materials is not allowed in any YDL facility or on any library property.  The Director or designee may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for activities such as academic surveying intended to benefit the community at large.  (See also “Literature” section below.)

Campaigning, petitioning, interviewing, pamphleteering, and canvassing are prohibited inside YDL buildings.  Legally-protected First Amendment activities are not permitted within 25 feet of any library entrance and are subject to the time, place, and manner restrictions as outlined in section H of B6 Patron Behavior Policy.

 

Bulletin Boards

The public bulletin boards are available to community groups and organizations for items of an educational, cultural, civic, or charitable cause.  Commercial displays, postings, or exhibits, including the display or posting of any items for sale, is prohibited.  Postings that would violate Michigan law, including the Michigan Campaign Finance Act are prohibited.

Materials on the bulletin boards may be seen by anyone who walks into the building – both children and adults.  Therefore, postings must meet a standard acceptable to the community.  The Director or designee may remove any posting they determine violates this standard.

Items for posting must be submitted to the YDL Community Relations Department or designee for approval.  Items posted without YDL approval will be removed and discarded.

Items submitted for approval will only be posted on the public bulletin board and not in any other location within the library.

Items approved for posting will be date-stamped and removed after 30 days or when no longer timely.  Postings should be specific in nature and event- or date-related.  YDL will not post the same announcement perpetually.

Items approved for posting will be displayed as space permits on a first-come, first-served basis.  Space is limited and is not guaranteed.

YDL is unable to save and return postings, whether approved or unapproved.  Any item submitted for consideration becomes the property of YDL.  Real-time decisions regarding acceptance are not always possible and should not be expected.  YDL accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to any item accepted for posting.

In order to maximize the use of limited space, only one item per event or function will be approved for posting.  Postings must be no larger than 11×17”.  Only YDL staff will determine an item’s placement on the bulletin boards.

YDL does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of organizations whose postings are permitted.

 

Displays/Exhibits

Displays or exhibits may be permitted in spaces YDL designates when they are not in use. YDL use of the space takes precedence; public use must not conflict with any library event.

All displays or exhibits must receive approval by the Director or designee prior to scheduling of installation.  Displays or exhibits must be proposed via the Application for Exhibit/Display Space form.  The Application must clearly state the theme of the exhibit, its content, the design of the display (including physical dimensions of all pieces), and include a proposed layout and photos when relevant.

Displays or exhibits must conform to the space restrictions and may not violate any entrance or egress law, including but not limited to ADA accommodations.

No display or exhibit that limits or prevents YDL use of the space will be permitted without prior written permission of the Director or designee.  Approval of a display or exhibit does not guarantee exclusive use of the space.  Library programs and patron reservations of approved spaces will continue to be provided as a service.

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria.  YDL reserves the right to reject any display or exhibit proposal.

  • Suitability of subject, technique, style, and format for the intended audience.
  • Artistic expression or maturity.
  • Historical or local relevance or interest.
  • Appropriate representation of an influential movement, genre, trend, or national culture.
  • Quality of the materials used.
  • Anticipated interest by community members.
  • Subject matter and presentation are of a standard acceptable to the community.
  • Existing or potential “market saturation” of the theme within the community.

Approved displays or exhibits can be installed for no longer than 30 days.  Individual exhibitors or groups are limited to one exhibit every 12 months.  The Director or designee may make exceptions for schools.  Exhibitors must remove their exhibit within 2 days of the agreed closing date.  YDL will not provide storage or transportation of items.

The Library reserves the right to remove any item from a Display or Exhibit if the exhibition is a possible safety hazard, is too large for the display space, creates a maintenance problem, exceeds acceptable noise and light levels, interferes with the public service or other activities in adjacent Library areas or has been displayed without authorization.  The Library reserves the right to remove any exhibit or display upon reasonable notice if the Library needs the display space for Library purposes.

Approved exhibitors are responsible for transporting, hanging, and dismantling their work.  Library staff assistance or resources such as furniture or tools are not provided.  Nothing may be attached to walls, including tape, labels, thumbtacks, or adhesives.  A walker-rail system for hanging framed art exists at the Superior and Whittaker locations and may be requested.  Art must have pre-hung hardware to utilize this system.

Exhibitors must schedule the installation and de-installation of their work in advance so as not to interfere with library programs or patron reservations.

YDL does not permit the sale or solicitation of items on library property.  No price tags may be affixed to works on display.  The Director may make exceptions for the Friends of YDL and library-sponsored programs such as author visits.

Any publicity related to an exhibitor’s work must not imply endorsement or partnership with YDL.  A notice shall be posted with each exhibit or display stating:  “The material within this exhibit is the presentation of [the Exhibitor].  The Ypsilanti District Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of exhibits and Exhibitors.”  No library photos or branding assets may be used in advertising the display or exhibit.  YDL does not conduct marketing, advertising, or promotion on behalf of exhibitors.

Exhibitors must sign the Application for Exhibit/Display Space form that releases YDL from any responsibility for loss or damage to items on display.  YDL does not provide security for exhibits.  Exhibitors must make their own arrangements for insurance, as items will not be covered under any YDL policy.

YDL does not charge a fee for an exhibiting artist or organization, but damages to the room or any library property will be assessed for the cost of repair and/or related staff time.

An artist may not transfer a display or exhibit reservation to another artist.

 

Literature

In addition to its bulletin boards, YDL provides space for the display of free published literature of an educational, cultural, recreational, civic, or charitable nature.  These publications are subject to all of the bulletin board guidelines above, in addition to the following:

  • YDL does not provide literature holders for approved publications.
  • YDL reserves the right to reject literature of a size that exceeds its designated location.
  • The majority of content in the literature must not be advertising.
  • Literature will be removed and discarded when its timeliness has passed.
  • YDL may request smaller or larger quantities of the literature depending on patron demand.
  • The acceptance of literature on one occasion does not guarantee or imply future acceptance.

YDL does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of organizations whose literature is approved for display.

 

Appeal

Any person or organization aggrieved by the Director or designee’s decision regarding the use of the Bulletin Board or Display Spaces may appeal that decision to the Ypsilanti District Library Board of Trustees.  Such appeal shall be made within ten (10) business days of the decision.  The appeal letter must indicate it is an appeal and be sent to the Library Director.   The person or organization must include the reasons for the appeal.   The decision of the Library Board is final.

YPSILANTI DISTRICT LIBRARY APPLICATION FOR EXHIBIT/DISPLAY SPACE

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    1. The Applicant owns the intellectual property rights, including all copyrights, of the items to be exhibited (“Exhibit Items”) and grants the Library the right to display such Exhibit Items. 2. The Applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Ypsilanti District Library (“Library”), its agents, employees, officers and representatives, from any and all suits, actions, claims, or demands of any character or nature arising out of or brought on account of any injuries or damages sustained by any person as a consequence or result of the use of the Library, exhibits and display areas, its furnishings or equipment by the Applicant. 3. The Applicant also agrees to pay for any damage caused by its use of the display space. The Applicant understands that the Library will not provide insurance for the Exhibit Items. If the Applicant desires insurance coverage, they must provide it themselves. 4. By signing, I agree that I have the authority to sign on behalf of the Applicant. The Applicant acknowledges that the Library is not responsible for any damage, loss or destruction to its property that is exhibited or located in the Library and hereby releases the Library from any liability for such loss, damage or destruction. The Applicant acknowledges receipt of the Library’s exhibit policy and agrees to abide by the policy. 5. The Applicant agrees to deinstall this exhibit and remove all Exhibit Items from library property by the end date listed. YDL cannot store Exhibit Items beyond this date. 6. The Exhibit must include an 8x5” disclaimer stating “The material within this exhibit is the presentation of [the Applicant]. The Ypsilanti District Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of exhibits or Exhibitors.”
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