General Rules of Use
1. Meeting rooms may not be used for religious services, sales promotion, or for the financial
benefit of private individuals or commercial concerns or entities engaged in marketing or
distribution of goods or services.
2. No admission charge may be made for any function held in the Community Meeting Rooms,
unless it is a fund-raising activity on behalf of the Burnham Library, Friends of the Burnham
Library, or another local charity approved by the Library Director. Tickets may not be sold nor
donations or free will offerings taken. However, the collection of membership dues and/or
registration fees covering the cost of materials or speakers may be acceptable, with advance
approval of the Library Director.
3. Political meetings are acceptable for the discussion of issues to include candidate forums and party
caucuses, as long as the meetings are open to the public.
4. Except as a designation of location, the name of the Library may not be used in any publicity
relating to use of meeting rooms. Any advertisement for a meeting or program held at the
Burnham Library by an outside group or organization must include the following disclaimer:
“The Burnham Memorial Library is not sponsoring or endorsing this program or any goods or
services offered.”
5. Individuals or groups using the meeting room shall secure any necessary performance licenses
and indemnify the Library for any failure on their part to do so.
6. Attendance at authorized meetings may not exceed the maximum room capacity of 20 people in
the Multipurpose Room, 25 in the Burnham Room, 94 people in the upstairs level of the Meeting
House, and 75 people in the lower level of the Meeting House. Special parking accommodations
may be required for larger groups.
7. Groups of children or teenagers must be supervised by one adult for every ten children/teens.
The Library staff is not responsible for the supervision of children while adults are attending
meetings. A copy of the Library’s Policy on Unattended Children may be obtained from library
staff.
8. No cooking may be done or food served without approval. No alcohol may be served at any
time. No smoking is permitted. Burning of any materials, including incense and candles, is
prohibited.
9. There is no charge for meeting room use during the library’s regular hours of operation.
Programs should be planned so that meeting space will be vacated 15 minutes before closing
time. If scheduling a meeting after regular library hours a $25 key deposit is required. These
funds will be refunded once all keys are returned. Groups needing to use the elevator/lift will be
required to pay a $350 service charge deposit which will be returned once the elevator/lift is
found in good working order.
10. Meeting rooms must be left in acceptable, un-littered condition. Tables and chairs should be
returned to the positions in which they were found. No tacks or nails are to be used on walls,
doors, or furniture. Use of adhesive tape must not damage walls, doors, or furniture. In the
event that the Library has to clean up the area following use, the applicant may be charged for
that expense.
11. No gambling or games of chance may be played.
