Lyme Library Display Policy

Voted on and Approved by the Lyme Library Board 12/3/2025

The purpose of this policy is to define the criteria used by staff to create displays of the library’s materials. All library materials and displays are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 or the Connecticut General Statures (Appendix F)

In accordance with the Lyme Library’s mission statement, the purpose of a library display is to promote lifelong learning, discovery and literacy. Our displays are constructed to promote the library’s materials and services and highlight current events and/or new additions to the collection as well as provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent interests and the educational needs of residents. Library displays are provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all residents and are constructed to represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints. We strive to ensure that our displays are accessible to all our patrons including those with disabilities and library staff are committed to assisting patrons to get access to materials on display if a patron needs assistance. Library displays typically prohibit purely commercial materials or those that promote specific candidate’s ballot propositions or are skewed strongly toward a particular political party or religion. We strive, as with our Collection Development policy, to provide access to materials from multiple points of view, to create a balanced viewpoint and a lifetime of self-education. The importance of a library display or program is to provide a resource for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and to promote free expression and free access to ideas to all residents.

Purpose

The core elements of a library display strive to comply with:

• Community needs and interest.
• Availability of display space.
• Historical, cultural, or educational significance.
• Connection to other communities or national programs, exhibitions, or events
• Are grouped to promote the library’s collection of materials on a particular theme to help patrons get easy access to materials of current interest.
• To promote the library collections, resources, exhibits, and programs.

Principles and Criteria

Our display policy is in alignment with CGA Section 46a-64 (Appendix F) of Connecticut’s anti-discrimination laws, which prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, intellectual disability, mental disability, physical disability, status as a veteran, or status as a victim of domestic violence.

At the Lyme library displays are curated and created by library staff only as librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop displays and programs. In the case of artwork displayed at the library, input from the artist is welcomed but the final decision about what is displayed on the premises is made by the Library Director.

We attempt to develop our displays to provide a wide range of materials to represent all members of our community with the goal that patrons can see themselves and the lives of others represented in our materials to encourage entertainment, education, empathy and self-awareness. As professionals we encourage caregivers to talk to their own children and based on their own family’s values take responsibility for what their children read and watch. Only parents and legal guardians have the right and responsibility to restrict the access of their children to library resources and cannot deny the library’s responsibility to display materials that might be of benefit or interest to other members of the community. The display of materials is not inhibited by the possibility that works may inadvertently be seen by or come into the possession of children and young adults. If a patron wishes to make a formal complaint about materials on display, they can speak to the library director and fill out a Material Reconsideration Form and comply with the Lyme Library’s Procedures for Formal Complaints for Reconsideration of Materials and Anti-Bullying Policies.

The Lyme Library supports the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read Statement” (Appendix A,) which states that the freedom to read is essential to our American democracy and follows CT State Legislature bill SB1271 (Appendix H) which states that within Connecticut public and school libraries materials, displays and programs may only be removed “for legitimate pedagogical purposes or for professionally accepted standards”. The Lyme library also supports and abides by the American Library Association’s “Freedom to View” statement (Appendix B ) and “Library Bill of Rights” (Appendix C)

This policy is in accordance with Public Act 25-168 Sec. 322, 323. (Appendix I)