DOBBS FERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY

POLICY ON

DELIVERING FREE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

The mission of the Dobbs Ferry Public Library is to provide fee and equal access to information for all. To advance these goals, the Library has had a long-standing informal tradition of distributing free community-based newspapers and magazines to its patrons. This Policy clarifies the guidelines that have been used, and will henceforth be used by the Library to accept and distribute these materials at the Library.

• Any person or company wishing to have the Library distribute its newspaper/magazines must provide the Library Director with seven (7) days notice in advance of the first day the person/company wishes to begin free distribution, together with a recent sample of the publication.
• The publications must be based in Westchester County and/or have content that is relevant to city or county residents, as determined by the Library Director. Publications with little or no editorial content (e.g. real estate or used car listings) will not be accepted.
• Only free publications will be permitted.
• The Library will choose the location(s) for the distribution of publications within each branch, and they will be placed only on Library-owned furniture or display furnishings. Under no circumstance will the Library permit outdoor furniture, including, but not limited to, newspaper boxes, inside the Library.
• The Library will accept reasonable quantities of newspapers and/or magazines and is not obligated to, nor will it, store excess quantities of publications that will not fit on the display shelves.
• Any publication may be refused if the Library Director determines that the Library no longer has space for additional titles.
• Any publication that displays blatantly offensive language or images, in the judgment of the Library Director ,or advocates discrimination based on religion, race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation will be denied distribution
• Any person, company, or group wishing to have their publication displayed must receive approval from the Library Director and acknowledge that they have read and agree to comply with the terms of this Policy. The attached Acknowledgment must be completed, signed, dated and returned to the Library Director before any publication will be displayed and distributed.
• Failure to comply with the terms of this policy shall result in the loss of the privilege of free distribution of a newspaper/magazines, on a temporary or permanent basis, at the discretion of the Library Director. Any appeal of the permanent loss of distribution privileges must be made to the Board of Trustees, in writing, within fifteen (15) business days of the Library Director's decision to revoke distribution privileges. The Board shall issue a final determination within twenty (20) business days.

DOBBS FERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

POLICY ON DISTRIBUTING FREE NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINES

Name ___________________________________

Title ____________________________________

Name of Publication ________________________________

Name of Publishing Company ________________________

I, __________________________________ (print name), have received and read the Dobbs Ferry Public Library's Policy on Distributing Free Newspapers and Magazines. I have been given a copy of this Policy, and I will be given a copy of this acknowledgement. I understand the terms and conditions of this Policy, and I agree to abide by same in requesting the Dobbs Ferry Public Library to distribute my newspaper/periodical, _______________________________ (title of publication).

I agree that if I wish to have the Dobbs Ferry Public Library distribute any other of my or my company's publications, I will request the same in writing and abide by the terms of the above-referenced Policy.

I understand that if any representatives of my publication or I fail to comply with the terms of this Policy, there may be temporary or permanent loss of the privilege of having the publication freely distributed in the Dobbs Ferry Public Library.

Signature:________________________________________

Date:____________________

approved by Library Board 12/10/07

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