Displays and Exhibits Policy

Purpose

The Library sponsors its own displays and exhibits, including but not limited to book displays featuring parts of the collection, displays for cultural awareness days/months, traveling exhibits, and holiday displays for student engagement. The Library will consider requests to provide temporary space for EMU units, student groups, faculty, staff, or students who propose an exhibit. The policy herein refers primarily to the use of the space on the north side of the Library Lobby, but shall also encompass exhibits in other library areas. However, it shall not include those held in the Halle Library Gallery, which are managed by the Halle Library Gallery Policy

Goals

The primary purpose of exhibits and displays in the library is to support students’ education and wellness and engage the EMU community in library collections, services, and events. Proposed exhibits should align with the mission of the Library or the University and:

• reflect the diversity of the University's curriculum and student body,
• contribute positively to the library's environment,
• enrich the life of the university community,
• strengthen partnerships between the library and the wider community, or
• be of an educational or cultural nature.

Requirements

Those proposing displays and exhibits must be members of the EMU community including students, faculty, staff, student groups, and academic departments. Those interested in reserving an exhibit or display space must work with an advising faculty librarian. Exhibits and displays should:

• be sized and arranged appropriately for the designated library space,
• display or otherwise refer to the resources and services of the library, and
• not be used for commercial or political purposes, for the solicitation of business, for profit or for fundraising.

Members of the EMU community are invited to develop exhibits but must work with an advising librarian to coordinate logistics including reserving the space, selecting materials from the Library collections, displaying materials from the Library collections, and displaying external exhibit materials.

Reservation process

Those interested in reserving a space for a display or exhibit must complete the Display and Exhibit Reservation Request Form

In order to provide appropriate time for the setup and dismantling of display materials, it is recommended that exhibits run a minimum of five days but not more than 31 days.

Process for displaying library-owned books and materials

If items from the Library collections are to be used in the exhibit, a list of the items or the physical materials themselves should be provided to Library Circulation at least three business days prior to the opening display date to ensure ample time for the materials to be prepared for display.

Display/Exhibit locations

The space under the monitors at the entrance on the first floor is the primary space reserved for non-gallery exhibits and book displays; however, other spaces in the library building may be considered for exhibits and book displays depending on the size and nature of the exhibit.

Removal of the Display/Exhibit

Exhibitors will be responsible for removal of display materials at the conclusion of the exhibit. Library-owned furniture, display tables, and tablecloths may remain in place,  but library-owned books must be placed on a cart and returned to Library Circulation. Book display stands, book ends, and other similar materials must be removed from the display and returned to the Library.

Liability

The Library does not provide insurance coverage for exhibit items. Exhibitors agree to exhibit at their own risk. The Library is not responsible for any damage, loss, or theft of exhibited non-Library items.

Approved by Library Faculty: February 7, 2025

Anticipated date for next review: February 7, 2030