Program Policy

Clearview Library District programs are planned with the District’s Mission and Vision in mind:

Mission: Cultivate Curiosity. Enlighten the Mind. Strengthen the Community.

Vision: We aspire to be a launching point for discovery — creating innovative and adaptive spaces where everyone can explore, imagine, create, and learn on the path of lifelong learning to improve ourselves and our communities.
While we work to meet the needs of the entire community, we focus our resources, opportunities, and experiences in three key areas:

Foster Early Literacy — We believe that literacy is a key component to learning and future success. We work to cultivate a love for lifelong learning in the children of our community through essential aspects of early literacy, such as reading, writing, singing, playing, and talking.
Build Connections — We believe that social connection is critical to growing, learning, and contributing to stronger communities by building bridges across generations, cultures, ideas, and beliefs to support learners of all ages.
Inspire Lifelong Learning — We believe that learning and exploration are essential parts of our shared human experience. These happen in many ways, at different paces, and last a lifetime. We strive to engage individuals of all ages and interests in wondering and discovering what was, what is, and what’s to come.

Scope of Programs

A program is defined as an activity or event in a group setting intended to meet needs or interests of a target audience and build relationships between participants and the library. Each program has a targeted audience that is generally age-related – children, teens and adults. Programs may also be multigenerational. Programs include lectures, discussion groups, book clubs, community forums, visual and performance art, storytimes, interactive demonstrations, continuing education or major community-wide events.

Private Programs Utilizing Library Space

The public can also provide their own programs, provided the program complies with the District Meeting Rooms policy. The District does not endorse or promote these private programs. Programs may also be held in conjunction with library district partners. Views expressed by a program presenter or participant do not constitute District endorsement.

Essential Principles

Programs are intended to reinforce the District’s mission and vision.
All library-sponsored activities are free and open to the public. Library programs may be targeted toward age-specific audiences.
Parents/legal guardians are welcome to attend programs with their children. Parents/legal guardians are required to attend programs with children ages 5 and under.
For the safety and protection of minors, adults who do not have a child/children attending a program are not permitted to attend a program targeted for children ages 18 and under.
Responsibility for the exposure of minors to library programs rests with their parents or legal guardians.
Programs should consist of the same breadth and depth of topics, stories and perspectives that are offered in the collection.
Program topics should reflect community interests.
Programs may be canceled due to weather, low registration, or absence of the presenter.
Programs may require advance registration to ensure that adequate supplies and resources are available.
Library programs may be developed and presented by staff, or by hired program professionals.
The District may partner with other community agencies, organizations, educational and cultural institutions, or individuals to develop and present public programs.
Views expressed by a program presenter or participant do not constitute District endorsement.
No right of privacy exists relating to attendees passive or active participation in a public event.
The District, in its collections, meeting rooms and programs, supports the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (Library Bill of Rights | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues ), Freedom to Read Statement (The Freedom to Read Statement | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues), and Freedom to View Statement (Freedom to View Statement | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues).

Criteria

Among the criteria considered when making decisions about a specific program will be the following:

Degree of alignment with District mission, vision and strategic plan
Community needs and interests
Cost and budget
Service area demographics
Provides a forum for sharing of different perspectives
Offers training and assistance with new technologies
Fosters a love for reading and learning
Fosters community awareness
Safety and security of customers and staff
Accuracy and timeliness of topic
Supplementing or extending information found in library collections
Promoting the library and encouraging use of its resources
Presenter background and qualifications in content area
Historical, cultural or educational significance
Availability of program space
Availability elsewhere in the community

The District Does Not Provide

Programs of a purely commercial nature or those designed for the solicitation of business for third parties
Programs that specifically support or oppose any political party, candidate or ballot measure
Programs that support or oppose a specific religion. Programs may address religious themes to educate or inform, but will not promote or proselytize a particular religious conviction.

Discord Over Subjective Topics

In pursuit of the District mission (“Cultivate Curiosity. Enlighten the Mind. Strengthen the Community.) and vision (“We aspire to be a launching point for discovery — creating innovative and adaptive spaces where everyone can explore, imagine, create, and learn on the path of lifelong learning to improve ourselves and our communities.”), it is inevitable that some presented topics may contain aspects that may offend some patrons.

The District follows these principles, as expressed in our vision:

Foster Early Literacy — We believe that literacy is a key component to learning and future success. We work to cultivate a love for lifelong learning in the children of our community through essential aspects of early literacy, such as reading, writing, singing, playing, and talking.
Build Connections — We believe that social connection is critical to growing, learning, and contributing to stronger communities by building bridges across generations, cultures, ideas, and beliefs to support learners of all ages.
Inspire Lifelong Learning — We believe that learning and exploration are essential parts of our shared human experience. These happen in many ways, at different paces, and last a lifetime. We strive to engage individuals of all ages and interests in wondering and discovering what was, what is, and what’s to come.

Programs are selected in accordance with the criteria and objectives listed above. On contentious topics, the District aims to present programs that encourage or assist community dialogue, including a variety of perspectives and acknowledging multiple points of view. Responsibility for the exposure of minors to library programs rests with their parents or legal guardian.

Reconsideration

The District welcomes feedback about its programs. Individuals who have questions, concerns, or suggestions about programs should use our Contact Us form.

Accessibility

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, policies, guidelines, directives and procedures.