LIBRARY DISPLAY POLICY
Purpose
The purpose of Southbury Public Library’s Display Policy is to provide a basis for the display of library materials by library staff and inform the public about the principles and criteria used to select materials for display. Library displays promote the library’s mission of “Transforming lives by educating, inspiring and connecting.”
Definitions
A Library display is any selection or arrangement of any item in the library material’s collection purposefully arranged or placed by library staff. Librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop displays and programs. Library staff is defined as any person employed by the Southbury Public Library. Library displays should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all residents.
Scope
This policy applies to all displays curated by library staff. This does not apply to displays curated by outside groups, including but not limited to The Southbury Garden Club, the Friends of the Library, The Library Board of Directors, the monthly artist featured in the Gloria Cachion Gallery, or in the Brinker Fireplace room. This policy does not apply to displays covered by the Bulletin Board and Handout Display Area Policy. Please refer to that policy for details.
Policy
The Southbury Public Library recognizes the importance of displays as resources for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas and to promote free expression and free access to ideas by residents. With the mission in mind, the library strives to educate, inspire, and connect through displays. Displays serve as a tool to highlight the library’s collection, promote programming, and introduce patrons to new information. Library displays provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent interests and educational needs of residents. Thoughtfully curated displays play an essential role in informing and inspiring the public to the wider world beyond our community. Displays represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints, and provide information and enlightenment to individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds.
Principles and Criteria
The ultimate responsibility of display of library materials rests with the Head Librarian, but the day-to-day responsibility is shared by all library employees. Librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop displays and programs. Library staff uses the following criteria when curating display topics, materials, and accompanying resources.
- Community need and interest
- Availability of display space
- Historical, cultural, or educational significance
- Connection to other community or national programs, exhibits, or evets
- Relation to library connections, resources, exhibits, and programs
- The Library may partner with other community agencies, organizations, educational institutions, or individuals to develop and present co-sponsored displays and exhibits.
The Library will strive to include a wide spectrum of opinions and viewpoints in library-initiated displays, as well as offer displays that appeal to a range of ages, interests, and information needs. Library displays should not exclude topics, books, media, and other resources solely because they may be considered controversial.
The library may show displays created or curated by librarians and library staff as well as allow displays created by members of the public or community groups to be exhibited in the public library. Acceptance of a display or exhibit topic by the library does not constitute an endorsement of the content of the display or views expressed in the materials on display by the Southbury Public Library.
All library materials are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 of the general statutes.
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
Materials borrowed by patrons is a personal and individual matter. The Southbury Public Library recognizes that some materials may be considered controversial or offensive to an individual but maintains that individuals can apply their values only to themselves. The selection of library materials is predicated on the patron’s right of access to information and freedom from censorship. Selections will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval from the public, but on the merits of the material itself. Selection of display material will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may inadvertently come into possession or be seen by minors. No one can exercise censorship to restrict access to library materials for anyone but themselves. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to determine which library materials are deemed appropriate for their children. The Southbury Public Library supports intellectual freedom and endorses the American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read Statement, Freedom to View Statement, and Library Bill of Rights and all relevant interpretations.
Procedures for the Questioning of Library Displays by Patrons
The Southbury Public Library refers patrons with a vested interest that may question display of library materials to the Library Material Review and Reconsideration Policy. The Southbury Public Library limits consideration of requests to reconsider displays to individual residents of Southbury.
APPROVED BY SOUTHBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS – October 8, 2025