Meeting Rooms & Study Rooms
Tutoring Policy
The Patchogue-Medford Library recognizes the benefit to the students and parents of the community of permitting tutoring within the Library. Tutors are individuals who provide instruction to others.
The following procedures are intended to provide a balance between the use of the Library by tutors and their students, and the use of the Library by other members of the community. In order to assure that tutoring within the Library is in line with the Library’s service to the community.
The following guidelines must be observed:
- The Library is not to be used as office space or a place whereby a tutor may operate a private business.
- Tutors and their students are required to follow all Library policies and regulations.
- Children under 10 years of age who are tutored in the library are the responsibility of the tutor while on library property.
- Tutors may not solicit Library patrons in the Library and may not publish or distribute advertisements or letters indicating the Library as their place of doing business or otherwise imply Library sponsorship of their activities.
- Study rooms, tables and chairs located in the library are available for use by tutors on a first-come, first-served basis during Library operating hours.
Noncompliance with the above guidelines will result in tutors and students being asked to leave the Library.
Library staff reserves the right to ask tutoring to cease if it unduly interferes with the use of the Library by other community members.
The library is not obligated to accommodate any tutor on a regularly scheduled basis.
Approved by the Board of Trustees May 2018
Study Room Regulations
We want to make usage of our Study Rooms as easy for you as possible, but like any scarce resource, sometimes demand will exceed supply. These regulations help ensure fair use to our community.
- Study rooms are not available for reservation and are available on a first come, first serve basis for a maximum of two hours a day with additional time granted if no one else is waiting.
- Study Rooms may not be used for any commercial purposes.
- Personal belongings should not be left unattended.
- Please observe occupancy limits for each Study Room.
- Study Rooms must be vacated at least 15 minutes before Library closing.
- Individuals using Library Study Rooms must adhere to all other Library policies.
Meeting Room Policy
Please fill out this form to book a meeting room for your group or call Barbara at 631-654-4700 x227.
GENERAL POLICY:
- The primary function of the Library’s meeting rooms is to serve as a venue for Library sponsored services, programs and activities. Library sponsored programs and activities take precedence in assignment of meeting rooms and may supersede any non-Library programs scheduled.
- Members of the public may apply to use a meeting room for meetings, public gatherings or exhibits of a civic, cultural, or educational character. Study rooms are not available for reservation and are available on a first come, first serve basis for a maximum of two hours a day with additional time granted if no one else is waiting.
- Meeting rooms are available free of charge by in-district groups. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to charge a custodial/security fee to out-of-district groups.
- The library strives for equitable access to its resources and does not discriminate in making its premises available for use based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, culture or ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, individual lifestyle, political affiliation or physical limitation; however, meeting rooms may not be used to conduct religious worship.
- The views or opinions expressed by individuals or groups utilizing the Library’s meeting rooms shall not be construed as the views or opinions of the Library or any of its officers or employees.
- The Library retains the right to monitor all meetings, programs and events conducted on the premises.
- No group will be permitted use of the rooms if that usage would be disruptive of the programs and activities of the Library.
- Final interpretation of these policies rests with the Board of Trustees and is to be implemented by the Library Director. The Library reserves the right to revoke meeting room privileges at any time.
APPLYING:
- All bookings for a meeting room should be made at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting. Applicants, age 18 and over, must first complete an application. Bookings can then be made in person, online, by telephone or by mail. Applications are not considered approved until the application form has been signed by a library representative and returned to the applicant. Please call Barbara at 631-654-4700 x227 to book a meeting room for your group.
- Each request is considered on an individual basis according to the overall number of requests pending; availability of rooms, and library priorities. The Library reserves the right to assign rooms according to space requirements of the organization. The Library further reserves the right to cancel any meetings because of adverse weather conditions or for reasons of an emergency nature.
- Organizations meeting regularly in the Library building (monthly, weekly, etc.) must renew their reservations every six months. Because the Library encourages use of the rooms by many groups, meeting rooms may be booked no more than 6 months in advance and may be used no more than once a week on a continuing basis.
- Non-profit groups and the public may apply to rent space for a private event at the Carnegie Library for a fee when the Carnegie Library is not needed for library purposes. Fees for private events will vary depending on type and duration of the event but will ensure at a minimum, coverage of all Library staff and operating costs. Additional insurance may be required.
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
- All meetings must be open to the public. No admittance fee may be charged or contributions solicited nor may collections be made. The meeting rooms may not be used for the advancement of commercial or profit-making enterprises, including the selling of products or services or taking of orders of any kind.
- Smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
- Any food or drink to be served during meeting room use must be listed on the application. Applicants are responsible for cleanup.
- Organizations composed of minors must have at least one adult supervisor for each ten minors, and one adult must be designated as the person in charge.
- Attendance must be limited to the stated capacity of the room.
- All state and local regulations affecting the use of public buildings must be observed at all times and all Library policies followed.
- Meeting participants must leave the building by the closing time stated at each building, unless other arrangements have been made.
- All publicity for non-Library sponsored meetings must clearly indicate the name of the sponsoring agency. No printed or electronic advertisement or announcement implying such endorsement is permitted, nor is the use of the Library’s logo. The Library shall not be identified or implied as a sponsor without the specific written consent of the Board of Trustees or the Library Director as their delegate.
- The Library’s address may not be used by any non-Library related group to send or retrieve mail, etc. The Library’s telephone numbers may not be used by any non-Library related group for any purpose. No incoming telephone calls for members of any non-Library related organization will be handled by the Library staff.
- The Library should be notified of cancellations in advance (at least 48 hours for large groups).
LIABILITY:
- The applicant or organization using the Library’s facilities assumes full responsibility for the preservation of order and safety in the building and the liability for damage to or loss of Library property because of the meeting. The room must be left in a neat and orderly condition. Failure to fulfill these conditions will result in denial of requests for further use of the meeting rooms and/or cancellation of regularly scheduled meetings.
- The Library Board assumes no responsibility for personal property left on the premises or for personal injury.
- Each organization should protect itself from legal action because of injury by having a temporary insurance policy. The applicant agrees to hold the Patchogue-Medford Library, its representatives, agents, servants and employees harmless and indemnify the Library for all claims, lawsuits, fees or costs that may arise from the applicant’s use of Library facilities.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees 1981; Revised April 19, 2017; August 20, 2024.