LIBRARY PROGRAMS POLICY

Section 11 
PROGRAMS 
 
WATERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMMING POLICY PURPOSE 
The Waterford Public Library (“the Library”), in keeping with its mission of promoting knowledge, ideas and 
cultural enrichment, develops and presents a variety of programs that provide information, learning and 
entertainment. Programming is an integral component of Library services that promotes and complements the 
Library’s other services and collections. It supports the Library's role as the center of the community. Programs 
are provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all residents and aim to represent a wide range 
of varied diverging viewpoints and will provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent 
interests, cultural and educational needs of residents. The Library recognizes the importance of displays and 
programs as resources for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas and to promote free 
expression and free access to ideas by residents. This policy provides guidelines for the development, 
management, and oversight of programs presented by the Library. 
KEY DEFINITIONS 
A Library program is a free event, virtual or in-person, planned by the Library staff for the benefit of those 
members of the public who opt to attend. It may involve outside presenters, facilitators or performers and may 
be presented in cooperation with other entities. Note: Use of a public meeting room by an organization or 
individual to hold a public event is not a Library program. 
SCOPE 
This policy applies to all Library programs. 
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
The Waterford Public Library’s Board of Trustees delegates development, presentation and oversight of programs 
to the library director and staff. 
The library director, head of adult services and head of youth services are accountable for planning, scheduling and 
implementation of programs. 
Designated Library staff are responsible for the development, coordination and supervision of Library programs. 
The final responsibility for the library program is held by the library director, but day-to-day responsibility is 
shared by library employees throughout the library that are professionally trained to curate and develop 
programs. 
Attendees are responsible for complying with the Library's Patron Responsibilities Policy. 
 
PROCEDURES 
1. Program Selection:  The Library strives to present programs that are educational, informational, cultural or 
recreational and avoids programs that do not meet these standards. Topics, content and timing of Library 
programs are developed with consideration of available resources and keeping community needs and interests 
in mind. Program selection is based upon the suitability of topic, format and intended audience. A program will 
not be excluded because its topic may be regarded by some as controversial. Library sponsorship of a program 
does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the content or of the presenter of the program. The library 
provides programs created or curated by librarians or other staff members, as well as allows displays and 
programs created by members of the public or community groups and exhibited in the public library. 
a. 
Library programs must have an educational, informational, cultural or recreational value to the 
community. Programs of a purely commercial nature or those designed for the solicitation of business will 
not be offered by the Library. 
b. 
Programs that support or oppose any political candidate or ballot measure will not be approved or 
offered by the Library. However, educational programs, such as candidate forums that include invitations to 

all recognized candidates, may be offered. 
c. 
Programs that support or oppose a specific religion will not be approved or offered. Programs are 
planned to be inclusive of all cultures and of all religions and no religion. Library programs may address 
religious themes to educate or inform, but not to promote, observe or proselytize a particular religious 
conviction. Holiday programs and cultural celebrations may be offered for the entertainment of Library 
patrons. 
 
2. Program Development, Coordination and Supervision: Library programs may originate from Library 
staff, collaborating institutions or members of the public. 
In the event of a co-sponsored program, supervision of the program may be delegated to the co-sponsoring 
organization depending upon the timing and venue of the program. All programs sponsored or co-sponsored by 
the Library, however, must abide by this policy regardless of where they are hosted. 
3. Program Access: Most library programs are free and open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis. 
Some library programs may require advance registration, a materials fee and/or may be limited to Waterford 
residents. For programs targeted to a specific audience, e.g. children or teens, and promoted as such, 
preferential admission may be offered to those groups on a first-come first-serve basis, limited to those 
individuals, as the Library deems appropriate. Any individual requiring accommodation to participate in a 
Library program should contact the Library two weeks prior to the program. 
4. Virtual Program Delivery: Some Library programs may be offered using a Library-approved virtual meeting 
platform that registered patrons may use to access the virtual program from their own internet-enabled 
devices. This may include programs that are simultaneously run at the physical Library as well as programs 
that are offered only virtually. While hosting the virtual program, Library staff, partnering organizations, and 
program facilitators will follow industry standard best practices for virtual events. 
Some virtual programs may be pre-recorded and broadcast via the internet or recorded as presented for later 
viewing. In the event an interactive program is being recorded, attendees will be informed of that fact at the 
start of the program. 
Live virtual programs require advance registration. Registered participants will receive via email a link to log on 
to the program and must not share that link with others. Information collected during the registration process 
will be used only to communicate information about that program or to confirm eligibility to participate in that 
program. 
 
Patrons attending virtual programs are expected to adhere to the Library's Patron Responsibilities Policy and 
failure to do so may result in their immediate removal from said program. The Library will make all reasonable 
efforts to ensure the digital security of virtual events, however attendees must understand that all online activity 
carries some degree of risk. 
Patrons are required to provide their own equipment and internet connection to attend virtual programs. The 
Library will make a good faith effort to utilize platforms that will be compatible with the widest array of 
hardware and software, but makes no guarantee that every patron will be capable of accessing every Library 
program successfully. Nor can the Library guarantee the quality of the audio, video, or internet connection of 
program presenters or attendees. 
5. Program Materials: Books, CDs, DVDs or other ancillary materials related to the content of a program may 
be offered for sale at a Library program as a convenience to attendees. 
6. Program Evaluation: To provide the highest quality and most useful programming, Library staff will gather 
information about program results to guide future programming decisions. Outputs, such as the number of 

attendees at a program, will be gathered for all or almost all programs. Outcomes, such as how well the content 
of a program helped attendees learn about the program’s topic, will be gathered at times when such data is 
required for grant reporting or would be helpful in evaluating a new program topic or format. 
7. Procedures for the Questioning of Library Programs by Patrons:  The Library limits consideration of requests 
to reconsider material, displays or programs to Waterford residents. Please see our Review and 
Reconsideration Policy for further information on this process. 
All library programs are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against 
discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 of Connecticut’s general statutes. 
 
Board of Trustees – November 18, 2025