Policy

The Library allows individuals to take photographs in our buildings. Brief filming by news media or community members and small private photo shoots are also permitted. Larger photo shoots must be approved by the Marketing and Communications Director. Filming for commercial and non-commercial film/video productions must follow the county's Administrative Procedure FAC-18 and should be referred to the library's Public Communications Manager. 

Rationale

Libraries are public buildings. Our community takes pride in its libraries and we invite people to share the beauty of our buildings and grounds by taking photographs or filming. Local media are encouraged to photograph or film at our libraries as part of their coverage of local news.

Procedure

• If an individual or small group asks to take informal photographs or undertake brief video filming we tell them yes but remind them:
  • To abide by Library Rules Governing the Use of Multnomah County Library.
  • To not block entrances, doorways or stairs
  • To not impede customer traffic flow throughout the building, nor impede library users' access to materials and resources (i.e. collections and computers)
  • To ask permission if they want to take a photo or film a staff person or library customer  This is particularly critical in situations where patrons are consulting library resources.
• In rare instances, members of the media (or others) may be overly aggressive in filming what a library patron is reading or viewing, so that the patron's privacy is violated. If you observe a situation where you believe a patron's privacy is being violated, consult with the patron to make sure that he or she has freely given permission. If the patron is not comfortable being filmed, ask the crew to cease filming that patron. Consult a supervisor or PIC for assistance if those shooting footage do not cooperate with your request.
• Representatives from local media are encouraged to contact the library Public Communications Manager before coming in to film or take photographs, so that staff at that location can be alerted. If they drop in, library staff should 1) call the Public Communications Manager at 971-806-9432, or provide this contact information to the reporter and 2) alert the PIC at their location.
• For security and preservation reasons, photography and filming are NOT allowed in the John Wilson Special Collections Room at Central Library.
• Requests for commercial or large photo shoots at any MCL library facility must be approved in advance and should be referred to the Public Communications Manager at 971-806-9432.
• Requests to use library facilities for commercial and non-commercial film/video productions must be approved in advance and should be referred to the library's Public Communications at 971-806-9432. Such requests will be processed in accordance with county administrative procedure FAC-18.