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North Adams Library Trustees to Look at New Policies
By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
02:39AM / Wednesday, October 16, 2019
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The trustees discuss the use of cameras and political campaigns in the library.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The library trustees will update some policies to address filming patrons in the library and political events in the meeting room.
 
The trustees addressed an American Library Association memo in response to filming in the library and agreed to hold off on penning a policy until next month.
 
"Let's think about it and look at this next month," trustee Don Pecor said at last Wednesday's meeting. "It sounds like we are a little split on this." 
 
The memo was in response to a group of First Amendment advocates across the country who enter public buildings with cameras. When given a building policy mandating that they not film in the building, they hand over a copy of the Constitution and continue.
 
"There is apparently a loose group of people not just in Massachusetts ... they say it is their First Amendment right to film everything and everyone in a public space and there is no exception," Library Director Sarah Sanfilippo said. "So they walk in with body cameras and video cameras and then post their videos."
 
This footage is later posted online. 
 
The ALA response was not to engage but Trustee Robin Martin said had done research and found that libraries, like courthouses, are considered limited public forums. She said people may have the right to film inside the actual building but do not have the right to film people without their permission. 
 
When people have asked to record in the library in the past, she said it was allowed but if they were to film patrons, permission must be granted.
 
Trustee Sara Farnsworth thought this was a reasonable policy.
 
"Patrons have an expectation of privacy especially where they are browsing, what they are looking at, and what they are checking out," she said.
 
Farnsworth said she watched some of the videos and noted they are not kind to libraries that "fail." She said the filmers in one instance were told they could film wherever they wanted just not in the children's room, which they abided. She said she would have major issues if they filmed children without permission.
 
Trustee Tara Jocobs felt if this group ever made it to Berkshire County it may not be worth confronting them with a policy.
 
"This is intended to create a kerfuffle," she said. "The policy might be feeding right into what they want to do."
 
Sanfilippo said she felt a need to protect patrons and her staff  but realized it may not be worth the trouble. She said if they knew this group was coming they could let patrons know beforehand. 
 
"They may have the right to do this but do they really have a need?" she asked. "I don't know." 
 
The trustees decided to look deeper into the law and think about a policy.
 
They were also unsure how to address political events in the library. 
 
An unnamed political candidate running for Congress has asked to hold a forum in the library meeting room and Sanfilippo said that after discussing the request with Martin and the mayor, she decided to not allow the forum.
 
Trustee Don Pecor thought this was the right response.
 
"I think that is the safest least controversial position to take," he said. "If a person is involved in a political campaign anything they do is furthering their campaign. If you did that you would have to invite other candidates to be part of it."
 
Martin said according to the current policy the meeting rooms can be used by anyone but library programs take priority. She added that they can't be used for fundraising.  
 
She said she also contacted the ALA, which was concerned about access.
 
"As a public library, you have to give equal access to all of your patrons so someone running for office has every right to use the meeting room but they have to go by strict rules," she said. "It is a tough call."
 
Pecor agreed but noted that even if a politician gave a very objective presentation it still provides them with a platform adding to their campaign, which does not line up with the library's purpose.   
 
Farnsworth said she would prefer to err on the side of caution and provide access even to political candidates.
 
"I lean toward being more open," she said. "I think you can get into as much trouble for saying no as you can for saying yes."
 
This lead to other questions like when should the library charge someone for using the rooms. 
 
Sanfilippo said she would survey other libraries to see how they handle use of meeting rooms.
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