St. Louis Public Library allows the circulation of petitions and conducting of surveys outside its facilities as long as these activities do not interfere with the conduct of business or impede the free access of the public to Library buildings and resources.
Specifically, individuals or organizations gathering petition signatures or conducting surveys may stand on Library property, as long as they maintain a distance of 25 feet from entrances and/or exits and do not block pedestrian traffic or interfere with customers seeking to use the Library, or otherwise disrupt Library patrons or activities.
Neither petitioners nor survey takers are guaranteed the use of an area protected from sun, heat, or inclement weather and may not set up tables, chairs, or other furniture. Signs promoting petitions or surveys may not be placed on doors or buildings and petitioners and survey takers must in no way affiliate themselves with the Library, either through written publicity, signage, or verbal statements.
The Library reserves the right to determine the location for signs posted on its properties. Petitioners and survey takers are required to register with the manager on duty at each location prior to gathering signatures or conducting surveys. There may not be more than 3 petitioners or survey-takers at any one entrance and/or exit at any time.
Petitioners and survey takers may not obstruct a customer, intimidate a customer into signing a petition or participating in a survey, or harass a customer after he or she informs the person gathering signatures or conducting the survey that he or she is not interested.
Petitioning and conducting surveys inside Library buildings is prohibited.
Electioneering, including the distribution of election literature and the posting of signs, is permitted only on election days; however, any such activity is prohibited within 25 feet of polling places per state law.
Petitioners and survey takers refusing to comply with this policy will be asked to leave Library property.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, June 2019
