Exhibits, Displays, and Bulletin Boards: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Libraries may offer physical or digital spaces for exhibits, displays, and bulletin boards to benefit the community.
Libraries are not required to make space available to community groups or individuals for:
- exhibits;
- public displays;
- notices;
- pamphlets; or flyers.
If they do offer space, they should post a permanent notice stating that the spaces are a public service and do not reflect the library’s viewpoint.
Libraries should have written policies that:
- are content neutral (restrictions are not based on the display’s content or the identity, beliefs, or affiliations of the sponsors);
- are clearly defined;
- are applied equally; and
- address any time, place, and manner restrictions.
Policies should be inclusive rather than exclusive. For example, a policy that the library’s space is “open to organizations engaged in educational, cultural, intellectual, or charitable activities” is an inclusive statement about the limited uses of the space.
If someone objects to the content, they should be able to request reconsideration, just like challenging any library resource. Library workers should not censor or remove materials from exhibits, displays, or information areas because someone may disagree with the content or the identity, beliefs, or affiliations of the sponsors.
Library initiated displays help users discover library resources and raise awareness of programs and services. They use library worker expertise to highlight:
- community interests;
- collections;
- services;
- facilities; and
- information resources.
Library workers should actively include a diverse range of genres, formats, ideas, and expressions in their displays. These displays should represent many viewpoints and cultural perspectives to reflect the diversity of their communities. Library-initiated displays can help users discover resources and access information by crossing language and cultural barriers. Libraries serving multilingual communities should include information in languages other than English to meet the needs of all users
Displays should not be taken down because of the ideas, topics, or views of participants or speakers.
Adopted July 2, 1991, by the ALA Council; amended June 30, 2004; and July 1, 2014, under the previous name “Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards”; amended June 25, 2019 under the previous name “User-Initiated Exhibits, Displays, and Bulletin Boards”; and May 29, 2025.
