Our Mission
Provide free and equal access to information, ideas, books and technology to educate, engage, and enrich the Stamford community.
Our Vision
The Ferguson Library helps individuals and organizations achieve success in an effort to build a strong, vibrant, and inclusive community.
Our Foundational Principles
Underlying the Ferguson Library’s mission and vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the belief that intellectual freedom is the cornerstone of our democracy. Our values are reflected in how we serve the community and how we work together.
The Ferguson Library, December 2022, became a book sanctuary library in response to the rising number of book challenges and bans. A book sanctuary provides opportunities to expand access to banned and challenged books as well as provides support and protection for the freedom to read.
In January 2023, the city of Stamford designated Stamford a book sanctuary city.
Purpose
The Ferguson Library Display Policy provides a basis for public display of library materials and collections curated by library staff as well as special exhibits. This policy informs the residents of Stamford about the principles and criteria upon which these decisions are made.
Principles and Criteria
The Ferguson Library curates and assembles displays for the Stamford community that enhance and complement our digital and physical collections. Library displays will be provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all residents and will represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints. Our displays provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent interests and educational needs of residents.
The following criteria is used for the selection, curation, and development of displays:
Relevance to community needs and interests
Accuracy, authority, effectiveness, and timeliness of presentation
Inclusion of diverse points of view
Meets one of the goals in the library’s strategic framework
Educational or historical significance
Relation to library collections, resources, other exhibits and programs
Ability to partner with other community organizations
Cost
Availability of display space
In addition, the library draws upon other community resources in developing displays and exhibits, and may partner with other community agencies, organizations, educational institutions, or individuals to develop and present co-sponsored displays and exhibits.
Library displays shall represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints and cannot limit or restrict displays due to the content or viewpoints they express, or because of the origin, background, or viewpoints of their creators.
Library displays are provided for the general interest, information, and enlightenment of all residents.
Library displays shall provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent interests, and educational needs of users.
Librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop displays.
Library displays shall not be removed or relocated solely due to the content or viewpoints they express, or because of the origin, background, or viewpoints of their creators. Displays are a resource for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas and to promote free expression and free access to ideas by residents.
Library displays shall be removed or excluded based on professionally accepted standards as outlined in the library’s Collection Development Policy, promoted by professional organizations like the Connecticut Library Association and the American Library Association. These standards prioritize intellectual freedom, equity, inclusivity, and access.
All library displays are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 of the general statutes.
The Ferguson Library distinguishes between library displays that are created or curated by librarians and those created by members of the public or community. Librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop displays. Those created by members of the public or community are considered community-led and do not necessarily represent the views of the library. Community-led displays must still comply with the library’s policies and procedures.
Requests for reconsideration of a display are limited to individual residents of Stamford. Stamford residents may request the library to reconsider a display by completing the linked form. (https://www.fergusonlibrary.org/form/request-for-reconsideration-of-l) Staff will review the request in relation to the library’s Reconsideration Policy and will present their recommendation to the Library CEO, who will review the request and reply to the user within sixty days of receipt of the request.
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
Library-initiated displays and exhibits should not exclude topics, books, media, and other resources solely because they may be considered controversial. The library’s commitment to intellectual freedom extends to displays, which we see as a resource for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas to promote free expression. The Board of Trustees has adopted the American Library Association Freedom to Read Statement, Freedom to Read Statement, Freedom to View Statement, the Library Bill of Rights and all relevant interpretations. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the library CEO. Ultimate responsibility for any display rests with the CEO or their designee. Except for the three areas listed below, spaces in the library are not available for displays except for those curated or assembled by library staff.
Dudley N. Williams Auditorium
This area is made available to the Stamford Art Association, which selects and maintains exhibits.
Friends of the Ferguson Library Book Shop
The Friends are responsible for displays, decorations and signage within its two book shop locations.
Coffee Shop
The tenant of the coffee shop has authority over displays, decorations and signage within the shop.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards at the branches can be used to announce upcoming programs and events organized by nonprofit organizations serving the Stamford community with the prior approval of the branch manager.
- Event dates must fall within 90 days of posting.
- New postings should not cover existing postings.
- Items larger than 8½ x 11 inches may be removed first when the board is crowded.
- Commercial notices for services, items for sale and businesses, etc., are not permitted and will be removed.
Banners
Any banner to be displayed between the columns outside the library requires the prior approval of the Director of Development & Communication, who is responsible for scheduling banners. These banners vary in content, design and objective, which include promoting library programs; celebrating heritage months; publicizing community events; and recognizing our donors and nonprofit partners. The decision to hang a banner in front of the library is made in consideration of the criteria outlined above and ultimately rests with the library CEO.
Appendices
Connecticut State Statues Chapter 814c, Human Rights and Opportunities, Sec. 46a-63 Discriminatory public accommodation practices