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<p class="MsoNormal">Here are responses to my request for examples of policies regarding solicitation, advocacy, signature gathering, etc. –
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">We allow it, but as a limited public forum we regulate manner and place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">The applicable MCL behavior rule prohibits:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">Soliciting, petitioning, or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable or religious purposes inside a library building, including
the doorway or vestibule of any such library building or in a manner on the library premises that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library.</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">We've have an internal policy, which staff can show/give to patrons, that has more details, including the "place(s)" at our buildings and those leased locations
where the property owner allows it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">Internal policy:</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">Providing opportunity for political petitioning is part of the library's function as a limited public forum, and supports our mission to uphold the principles
of intellectual freedom and the public’s right to know by providing people of all ages with access and guidance to information and collections that reflect all points of view</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">The library will allow signature gathering on petitions so long as it does not interfere with library operations.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">Each library location will have designated areas where petitioners may stand without interfering
with library operations. Petitioners who are attempting to gather signatures in other locations on library property will be asked to move to the designated location. Failure to comply with such a request violates rule No. 8 of the
<a href="https://multcolib.org/policies-manuals/behavior-rules-governing-use-multnomah-county-library">
<span style="color:#0070C0">Behavior Rules</span></a>: "Disobeying the reasonable direction of a library staff member or library security officer."</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">Petitioners interfere with library operations when they:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Attempt to gather signatures inside library buildings, including vestibules.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Restrict the ability of patrons to enter or leave a library building.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Restrict access to or block an exterior bookdrop.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Restrict access to or block library driveways or parking spaces.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Refuse to limit their activities to locations designated for petitioning.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#0070C0;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Violate any of the Library's behavior rules while on library premises.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">Any violations will be handled based upon conditions specified in the library's
<a href="https://multcolib.org/policies-manuals/behavior-rules-governing-use-multnomah-county-library">
<span style="color:#0070C0">Behavior Rules</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">The library does not attempt to restrict signature gathering on public sidewalks or rights of way.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">An example of a "designated location" description:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">To the left of the parking lot (north) side entrance doors (as you face them). Can accommodate 3 petitioners. They cannot block the bench or bike rack. To the
left or right of the Miller Ave. (east) side entrance doors (as you face them).</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#0070C0">We generally don't allow soliciting for things like money, and the City of Portland has ordinances that actually prohibit things like girl scout cookie sales
on library premises. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#C00000">Carol, our City Attorney says that they can collect signatures anywhere on public property – not inside buildings – as long as they don’t interfere with people entering or leaving our buildings. We used to
tell petition gatherers that they had to stay on the sidewalk by the street, but our CA changed that. That’s the policy all city departments follow.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Carol--Multnomah County Library addresses petitioning, canvassing, etc inside our buildings in
<a href="https://multcolib.org/policies-manuals/behavior-rules-governing-use-multnomah-county-library" target="_blank">
our behavior rules</a>, prohibiting:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Soliciting, petitioning, or distributing written materials or canvassing for political, charitable or religious purposes inside a library building, including the doorway
or vestibule of any such library building or in a manner on the library premises that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As you can see, the rule also addresses petitioners blocking access to the building.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Each of our buildings has a designated space where petitioners may stand out of the way of the door where they will not impede access.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Keep in mind that if you have a public meeting room generally available to community groups you cannot disallow political activity in that meeting room. The courts have
been clear that public libraries must allow political and religious use of their meeting rooms, since we establish a limited public forum when we make public meeting rooms available. But at MCL we do have a rule that prevents outside groups using our meeting rooms from
collecting contact information or money from attendees during a public meeting or requiring them to provide personal info in order to register for a meeting in our meeting rooms. Here's a link to our
<a href="https://multcolib.org/public-meeting-rooms" target="_blank">meeting room use policy</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#7030A0">In our Code of Conduct, we say that, while on library property, "Do not solicit or advocate for any purposes except in designated areas." Our designated areas
are the meeting room, public bulletin boards, public sidewalks, and gardens/park space.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#7030A0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks so much to everyone who responded –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carol<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carol Dinges<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lebanon Public Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">55 Academy St.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lebanon, OR 97355<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(541) 258-4232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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