The Morse Institute Library’s mission is to inspire minds, enrich lives, enable learning, and foster
connections throughout our community by providing open and equal access to cultural,
intellectual, and community resources. The Library supports its mission by developing programs
where everyone can thrive and find joy in learning, discovery, and personal growth.
The Library’s philosophy of open access to information and ideas extends to library
programming. The choice to attend library programs is an individual matter. While a person may
reject a program for themselves, they may not restrict access by others.
Ultimate responsibility for programming at the Library rests with the Library Director, who
administers it under the authority of the Morse Institute Library Board of Trustees. The Library
Director, in turn delegates the authority for program management to the appropriate
departmental staff.
In developing and delivering programs, the library staff utilizes staff expertise, collections, equipment, and facilities. The following criteria are used in making decisions about program topics, speakers, and resources (listed in alphabetical order):
In addition, the Library draws upon other community resources in developing programs, and
actively partners with other community agencies, organizations, educational and cultural
institutions, or individuals to develop and present co-sponsored public programs. The Library
also welcomes opinions about and suggestions for Library programs. These suggestions and/or
opinions should be directed to the appropriate Library staff managing departmental programs, or
to Library Administration.
All programs are free and open to the public. Programs may be limited in size due to supplies,
room size, or other considerations. In these cases, registration will be required. The library will
follow internal programming procedures to manage sign ups, and the waitlist. Library programs
may be held on or off site, or online, and may be delivered by library staff or library partners.
Programs may be live-streamed or recorded for later playback, either in person or via
web-enabled technologies.
Anyone interested in presenting a program may submit a proposal that will be reviewed by
Library staff using this policy as a guideline. The library reserves the right to decline a program
for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, staffing, budgetary constraints, space, or
scheduling.
Library sponsorship of a program does not constitute an endorsement of the content of the
program, or the views expressed by presenters or participants. Program topics, presenters, and
resources are not excluded because of possible controversy.
Sources for funding for library programs come from the library's operating budget, the Friends of
the Morse Institute Library, the Morse Institute in Natick, and various grants. Library staff who
present programs do so as part of their job. In addition, the library draws upon community
resources in developing programs and attempts to partner with other libraries, community
organizations, educational and cultural institutions or individuals to present and/or cosponsor
programs.
Library programs are non-commercial in nature. Programs may not be used for the solicitation of
business. Presenters and performers, whether individuals or organizations, shall not use a
Library program to petition, advertise, or recruit members or customers. While the Library
welcomes professional experts to present at events, Library programs cannot be used to directly
further commercial, religious, political, or partisan purposes. Presenters are permitted to have
business-related brochures, and other information available for attendees to pick up if
interested. Presenters may not distribute such materials as part of an event.
Programs sponsored by charitable organizations whose purpose and mission is to support the
Morse Institute Library may include the sale of merchandise as a means to fundraise for the
benefit of the Library. Performers or authors may sell books as part of a library program. Sale of
any other products or business promotional materials at library programs is not permitted.
Some library programs require pre-registering for an event or series of events. Registration for
programs may be done on the library’s website, or by calling or visiting the library. In keeping
with Massachusetts General Laws (Ch 78, Sec 7), names of program registrants are
confidential. Some programs make use of the library’s registration wait-list feature. In these
cases, attendees will be notified when their registration is approved.
All library-initiated programs are open to the public, but some programs may be designed with
specific audiences in mind, such as programs intended for children and teens that are geared
toward their interests and needs. Adults who wish to attend a program specifically designed for
children must be accompanied by a child, or seek permission in advance from Library
Administration. Tween and teen programs are limited to the age group identified on the
program, except when they specifically call out adult participation. Programs targeted toward
specific audiences will be publicized as such.
Library-initiated programs may be cancelled for several reasons, including but not limited to
severe weather, absence of the presenter, or low registration. Cancelled programs are not
automatically rescheduled, although Library staff will make every effort to reschedule programs
with community interest. When possible, advanced notification of the program cancellations will
be made on the Library’s online calendar of events, and by other appropriate communication
channels.
The choice to attend library programs is an individual matter. While a person may reject a
program for themselves, they cannot exercise censorship to restrict access by others.
Recognizing that a diversity of events may result in some requests for reconsideration, the
following procedures have been developed to assure that objections or complaints are handled
in a timely, consistent, and professional manner.
Any Natick resident who has a concern regarding the selection of a program is welcome to
discuss the interpretation of these principles with Library Administration.
A formal review of any event is initiated only upon the submission of the Request for
Reconsideration form in writing, at least two weeks prior to the program. Upon submission of
this form, professional program coordinators on the Library’s staff will read, review, and
comparatively assess the event being reconsidered.
A formal written response and assessment will be provided from the Library Director.
Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. During the reconsideration process, the program
will remain on the library’s website.
In addition to the Request for Reconsideration form, the following documents will be provided
should there be a challenge.