Public Assembly and Petitioning and Distribution of Literature on Library District Property Policy

Public Services – 326

Approved by the Board of Trustees June 26, 2025

Pursuant to the authority granted to the St. Joseph Public Library District (SJPL) under RSMo § 182.230, this policy establishes reasonable rules and regulations controlling public assembly and the petitioning and distribution of literature to employees or patrons on SJPL property by individuals or groups.

Persons are prohibited from engaging in organized public speech or holding public assemblies, protests, rallies, and/or gatherings (collectively, “Assembly”), and from engaging in the personal petitioning or distribution of literature to library employees and patrons (collectively, “Petitioning”) in SJPL buildings and grounds except in the following circumstances:

1. Assembly and/or Petitioning are permitted inside the library only when included as part of the agenda of a meeting officially scheduled in a library meeting room and approved in accordance with SJPL’s Meeting Room Policy, see 318 -Meeting Room Policy.

2. Assembly and/or Petitioning are permitted outside the library buildings on SJPL property in areas designated by this policy, away from entrances, and must not impede traffic or pursue patrons or staff.

Petitioners and those Assembling are allowed as long as they are in designated areas and follow library policies. If an individual engaged in Assembly and/or Petitioning is not in a designated area, is impeding traffic, or pursues patrons or staff, they will be asked to follow the guidelines contained in this policy. If the guidelines are not followed, the individual will be asked to leave the premises and may be subject to library restrictions as defined in library policy 302 – Behavior Policy.

Government agencies that disseminate information in SJPL buildings must obtain prior approval from the Library Director or their designee and are not considered engaged in petition or distribution of literature as defined in this policy and are not subject to the restrictions herein.

The allowance of any Assembly or Petitioning on SJPL property shall not be deemed to constitute an endorsement by SJPL or SJPL staff of the content of such Assembly or Petitioning.

Any person wishing to appeal or otherwise question the enforcement of a restriction under this policy should contact the Library Director or their designee.

This policy does not prohibit access of any person to SJPL property with the purpose of conducting library business and shall be enforced without prejudice or arbitrary distinctions between individuals, classes of individuals, or the opinions being expressed.

Designated Areas: the following locations may be used by individuals or groups who desire to engage in Assembly and/or Petitioning on SJPL property:

Carnegie Library: In the library park at the bench on the east side of the library.

Downtown Library: On the sidewalk in a location that does not impede patrons from accessing the front steps.

Washington Park Library: In the library park at the front of the building by the two benches.

East Hills Library: In the Girl With Dove statue garden.

*Previous approval date: July 23, 2019