Worcester Public Library Upholds Its Open Meeting Room Policy

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White Pride won’t bend library policy. (Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 9/15/2011)

Excerpt: The recommendation the full library board accepted last night capped a summer-long series of heated discussion surrounding NEWP. Opponents of the group have called them Nazis promoting a dangerous ideology at a time when society is looking for scapegoats. Mr. James has said his group is simply speaking up for white people’s rights, and has the right to meet and discuss the group’s business as other groups that reserve library meeting rooms do. He has said that if the library could ban his group, they could ban any group they don’t agree with. Civil liberties activists have defended the group’s right to meet, and its First Amendment right to free speech.

Last week, the materials subcommittee voted to recommend no changes. Subcommittee members said the existing library rules are sufficient, and said it was against the library’s mission to censor or prevent a diversity of opinion.

The library has meeting rooms downtown and at the Frances Perkins Branch in Greendale.

Under the current policy, the rooms are for noncommercial purposes and may be used by groups or individuals engaged in "educational, cultural, intellectual, civic or charitable activities." The meetings must be open to the public and admission fees normally cannot be charged.

Related posts:
Barring of white supremacist group leads Worcester Public Library to review meeting room policy. (8/2/2011)
Bizarre, very unofficial library promo.  (7/4/2011)
Black and white @ the Worcester Public Library. (2/26/2011)