Speakers at Library Programs Policy

Individuals may be invited to speak at library-sponsored or library co-sponsored educational or recreational programs for the purpose of providing expert knowledge on a specific topic of interest to patrons. Speakers shall be selected based on the quality of presentation, depth of knowledge in topic area, as well as the potential patron interest in the topic. Library staff members may serve as speakers when appropriate. Whenever possible, speakers shall be independently affiliated or from non-profit organizations; if this is not possible, speakers from commercial enterprises may be used within the following guidelines:

• Speakers representing two or more different commercial organizations shall be used, whenever possible, for a given program or series to avoid promoting any one commercial enterprise or its products or services.
• No solicitations or sales shall be allowed within the confines of the program or on library premises, except for those listed below under Book / Media Sales.
• Commercial speaker(s) shall be from the library service district (Centerville/Washington Township) whenever possible.

Book / Media sales may be authorized in conjunction with library-sponsored or co-sponsored programs as a courtesy to the audience and the presenter, within the following policy guidelines, and at the complete discretion of the library:

• Items for sale must be exclusively the work product of authors, editors, musicians or related professionals whose work has been purchased for the library's collection.
• Items for sale shall be pre-authorized by the library.
• The library or its personnel shall not process any monies related to such purchases.
• Care shall be taken by the library to offer equal opportunity for such sales to applicable commercial firms within the Library district of Centerville and Washington Township, at the library's discretion.
• All such sales shall be handled in complete accord with this policy and the library policy on Solicitations in the library.

(See also: Policy on Solicitations in the Library and on the Library Website)