Potsdam Public Library Online | Political Activity Policy

2 Park Street, Potsdam, NY 13676, 315-265-7230

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Serving Potsdam and surrounding communities for over a century.

Policies

Potsdam Public Library
Category: External
Policy Subject: Political Activity
Effective Date: March 10, 2004

Purpose
The library serves as an information resource for the entire community and seeks to make information available to all area residents on a wide variety of political issues and candidates. However, in order to avoid the appearance of an endorsement by the library of any candidate for office or issue appearing on the ballot, a policy with respect to political activity on library premises has been adopted.

Political Literature
The library will provide space for campaign literature or position papers and make these available at the library for inspection and distribution. The library will make campaign literature available from any and all candidates or issues, but the library makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information. It is the responsibility of the candidate, not the library, to ensure that an adequate supply of literature is available for distribution. All political information will be removed in the library within 60 feet of the polling area on Election Day.

Petitions
No candidacy or issue petitions will be circulated or posted at the library.

Use of Library Facilities for Political Activity

Public presentations by candidates for office or supporters of ballot issues are permitted and encouraged in the library's meeting room if they are sponsored by a nonpartisan organization and all candidates or sides of an issue are invited to participate.
Public presentations by individual candidates or supporters or opponents of a ballot issue will not be held on library premises.
The library's facilities may not be used as a campaign headquarters or meeting site for campaign committees.

Employee Conduct
As paid representatives of the library, it is understood that PPL staff members have an obligation to maintain the political neutrality of the library, and as a consequence will refrain from any active or passive campaign activities while on library premises.