DRAFT
Document #8Board of Library Trustees MeetingMay 27, 2009
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
LIBRARY NAMING POLICY
The following policy statement is proposed to guide the recommendations of the Chief Librarian and to apprise residents of new ways of honoring individuals. The
District of Columbia Municipal Regulations
on this matter
permit a library to be named for anindividual, and this has been done in the past. In public meetings but not yet throughofficial action, the Library Board has supported naming a neighborhood library only forthe communities served in recognition of the fact that a neighborhood library is central tothe life of a neighborhood.
It is the policy of the Board of Library Trustees to name library buildings after thecommunities they serve, their geographic location, or a similar geographic nexus.Individuals may be recognized by naming locations inside or outside of the library.Naming library rooms, areas, and spaces:
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Areas within and about the libraries offer many naming opportunities. These areasinclude meeting rooms, special use areas, collections, gardens and walkways.
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Named spaces should include the functional name of the space as well. [Ex: TheSmith – Jones Meeting Room]
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Proposals for the naming of such spaces are to be submitted to the Chief Librarianfor his or her consideration. Such requests will be acted on by the Library Boardat the recommendation of the Chief Librarian.The DC Public Library Foundation shall develop guidelines to name an area within alibrary to honor or recognize a donor. These guidelines shall be submitted to the Board of Library Trustees for their approval.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS
Key provisions as set forth in The District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR19 sec. 808):
808.1 Library buildings shall be named by action of the Board of LibraryTrustees upon the written recommendation of the Director of thePublic Library.808.2 No library building shall be named in honor of any living persons.808.3 No library building shall be named in honor of any deceased personuntil at least two (2) years after that person’s death.808.4
The official name of a library building that is named in honor
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