Policy

All members of the public may petition, solicit or hand-distribute written materials for any legal purpose in approved locations outside library buildings. Approved locations are selected to ensure that people in these locations will not block access to the library or interfere with library operations.

Library rule 6 prohibits soliciting, petitioning, canvassing or distributing written materials inside a library building, including the doorway or vestibule of a library building, or in a manner on the library premises that unreasonably interferes with or impedes access to the library.

Providing a space for petitioning, soliciting or hand-distribution of written material does not indicate the library’s endorsement of the ideas, issues and events promoted by any person engaged in those activities or contained in the materials individuals or groups may share or distribute. 

Application

This policy applies to library premises. Library premises include all buildings, interior and exterior, and all grounds controlled and operated by Multnomah County Library.

Examples of petitioning, soliciting or hand-distributing written materials could include:

• Gathering signatures or other information, including personal contact information;
• Conducting surveys;
• Handing out fliers or other printed information;
• Selling any goods or services;
• Asking for money. 

Most libraries have an approved location where a person may petition, solicit, or hand-distribute written materials without blocking library access or interfering with library operations. The locations are listed below. Library staff are available to help with finding the locations. If a person does these activities in other areas on library premises in a way that violates library rules, they will be asked to move to the approved location.

Activities must not violate library rules, including interfering with library operations. Here are some examples of activities that would violate library rules (see in particular rules 3 and 6):

• Petitioning, soliciting or hand-distributing written materials inside library buildings, including in doorways or vestibules;
• Interfering with a patron’s ability to enter or leave a library building, including blocking an access ramp;
• Blocking access to library services or programs being provided outside of a library building;
• Blocking access to a bookdrop, ballot box, bike rack, bench or trash can;
• Blocking access to library driveways or parking spaces.

Violation of Multnomah County Library rules may result in exclusion from the library as explained on the rules page.

Activities of Government Agencies

With prior approval from the Library Director or their designee, government agencies may petition, solicit and hand-distribute written materials as part of government programs or services on library premises, including approved locations within a library building.

Approved locations at each library

The library provides the following approved locations as suggested guidance for areas on library premises for petitioning, soliciting and hand-distributing written materials without blocking library access or interfering with library operations. Not all libraries have approved locations on library premises and members of the public engaging in soliciting, petitioning or hand-distributing written materials may be asked to move to approved locations on the sidewalks outside of or near the library premises. The areas identified on the sidewalks are near the library premises and near access points to library entrances that do not block access or interfere with library operations. The approved locations may accommodate up to two people, unless noted. 

Note: The following locations may be changed depending on the current situation (examples: construction work, COVID pandemic, etc.). Library staff are available to answer questions about the approved locations.

Albina 

1. On NE Russell St., near the public entrance:
   1. To the right of the entrance doors as you face them - the concrete segment nearest to the planting bed and the south edge of library premises, room for one petitioner.  They may not block approach to the ADA door operator post.
   2. To the left of the entrance doors as you face them - the concrete segment directly east of the bench/planting bed, at the south edge of library premises, opposite the patron induction station.  Room for two people.
2. On NE Knott St., near the public entrance:
   1. To the right of the entrance doors as you face them - the space at the top of the stairs next to the west railing.  Room for two people.  May not block access to the front entrance or ADA operator or access to the stairway's west handrail. 

Belmont - closed for renovation, see Hawthorne Holds Pickup

Capitol Hill

To the left of the main entrance doors (when facing them) in front of the children's area windows. 

Central

On the sidewalk and to the right or left at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the main entrance on SW 10th Avenue. There is no room on the stairs or at the top of the stairs for activities covered by this policy.

Fairview-Columbia

On NE Village Street, on the sidewalk to the left of the public entrance door (when facing it). 

Gregory Heights 

1. From the parking lot, to the left (north) side vestibule entrance doors (when facing them). Room for one person. 

2. On the sidewalk on NE Sandy Boulevard, to the left of the (south) side vestibule entrance doors ( when facing them). Room for one person.

Gresham

1. From the parking lot, on the sidewalk to the left of the (north) side entrance doors (when facing them). Room for three people. 

2. On the sidewalk on NW Miller Avenue, to the left or right of the (east) side entrance doors (when facing them).

Hawthorne Holds Pickup

On the sidewalk on Hawthorne. The management company allows enforcement of this policy on the common areas of the property complex.

Hillsdale

1. On the sidewalk on SW DeWitt Street, to the right of the entrance doors (when facing them) staying near the building. 

2. At SW Sunset Boulevard entryway, to the right of the door ( when facing it) between the trash can and the corner of the building. Room for one person.

3. On the sidewalk on SW Sunset Boulevard,  the area against the building between the planters and the corner of the entryway area.

For safety, no one may do these activities inside the garage.

Holgate

1. On the Holgate Blvd (south) side of the building: there is space for two people on each side of the main entrance. They should not block access to side yard gate.
2. On the parking lot (north) side of the building: there is space for up to four people to the right of the main entrance (as you face it).  They should not block access to the sidewalk between the building and the bike storage locker, bike racks, benches or access to the footpaths leading to the parking lot. They should not block egress from the community rooms.  There is no room for petitioners to the left of the main entrance.
3. On the SE 79th Ave side of the building the sidewalk is a public path.  Petitioners should not block the bench or access to library premises.

Hollywood

On the sidewalk at the corner of NE Tillamook Street and NE 41st Avenue, outside of the covered area. The covered area is common space owned by the condominium association and not library property.

Kenton 

1. On the sidewalk on N Denver Avenue: to the left of the main entrance between the book drop and the main entrance. Room for one person. 

2. To the right of the main entrance doors (when facing them). 

3. On the sidewalk near the parking lot on N McClellan Street. Activities covered by this policy may not be conducted in the parking lot, or near the staff door or book drop.

Midland

1. On the parking lot side of the building: 
   1. There is room for 2-3 people between the main public entrances, depending on how much space each petitioner occupies.
   2. There is no room for petitioners along the wall directly to the left of the main public entrance that is closest to the park (as you face it). 
   3. There is room for 2 people to the right of the NE 122nd Ave public entrance.  They should not block foot paths to the parking lot or exit from the park-side courtyard.

2.  There are multiple paths across the front of the building from SE 122nd. Petitioners should not block free passage through these areas or access to benches or power outlets.

3. There is no petitioning in the fenced courtyard because this area is considered inside the building's 'envelope'.

4.  On the SE 122nd Ave corner, there is no space for petitioners given the lack of maneuvering room around the bench, bike tool tower, etc.

North Portland 

On the sidewalk of NE Killingsworth Avenue at the bottom of the stairs to the left or right of the stairs (but not in front of the ramp). There is no room on the stairs. 

Northwest

1. On the sidewalk at the corner of NW 23rd Avenue and Thurman Street to the right or left of the front doors, staying near the building. 

2. Along NW 23rd Avenue (east side of building), do not block the staff entrance. 

3. Along NW Thurman Street (north side of building). 

Operations Center

The Operations Center is part of a shared building complex and the property management company does not allow for the activities covered in this policy on the property. The approved location is the public sidewalks along NE 122nd Ave and NE Glisan St.

Rockwood - closed for renovation

1. To the right of the book drop on the driveway (north) side of the entry vestibule.

2. To the left of the entrance doors on the SE Stark Street (south) side of the entry vestibule. Room for one person.

St. Johns - closed for renovation

1. On the parking lot (south) side of the building between the bottom of the access ramp and the bike rack. Room for one person. 

2. On the landing halfway up the front stairs to the main entrance on N Charleston Avenue, as long as access to the building is not impeded. Room for one person.

St. Johns Holds Pickup

Near the wall located to the right of the entrance when facing the library. 

Sellwood 

On the sidewalks at the corner of and along SE 13th Avenue and Bidwell Street to the right or left of the front doors, staying near the building. Do not block the apartment entrance. 

Troutdale

The landlord does not allow the activities covered by this policy anywhere on Cherry Park Market Center property. The approved location is the public sidewalk along the boundaries of the property.

Woodstock

To the left of the main entrance door (when facing it) in front of the poem. 

Additional Information for Staff

Policy owner: Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Policy last reviewed and revised: November 2023, Approved by EMT on 12/6/23
Location of this policy: Daily Operations Manual
Policy noted on library website: https://multcolib.org/multnomah-county-library-rules

Providing guidance for petitioning, soliciting or hand-distributing written materials supports the Library’s mission to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and the public's right to know. 

Soliciting money from individuals (i.e., panhandling) is an act of free speech, and as such it is covered by this policy and should be treated like any other form of petitioning or soliciting.

The approved areas for petitioning, soliciting and hand-distributing written materials are suggestions. A person may opt for another location outside of the library as long as they do not block access to library buildings, services, programs, bookdrops, driveways or parking spaces. If they are blocking access, guide them to the approved areas. 

If library service needs, events, or other situations require a change in listed approved locations, location leaders or PICs should decide on an alternate location or locations that will not block access to the library or interfere with library use. Information about this alternate location should be shared with PICs and LSOs at the location as well as the Public Services Management Team (PSMT).

The “Petitioning, Soliciting and Hand-Distributing Written Materials at the Library” policy does not apply to library-sponsored activities in the vestibules or lobby areas in locations due to direct involvement of staff with the activity. As part of a library-approved activity, which is defined as approved by the Library Director or their designee, but does not involve staff in the development or production of the activity, government agencies that have received prior approval from the library may petition, solicit or distribute written materials in the vestibules, lobbies or other areas by the entrance of library locations. An approved government agency may be allowed to set up a table in the vestibule or lobby of a location as long as it does not interfere with any entrances, aisles or other access points or block fire exits. If the location manager or staff is uncertain whether the government agency is approved to conduct their activity in the vestibule, lobby or by the entrance, requests may be sent to the Library Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives.

For further guidance, contact the location manager or the Library Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives.