Program Proposal Application

Thank you for offering to share your expertise with our community. The Library presents programs that offer education, information, entertainment, and cultural enrichment. Library programs are considered a core service and are designed to further the goals and objectives of the Library’s strategic plan and support the Vision of the Library: to enrich, empower, and transform lives. Community partners like you help us achieve this goal. As a requirement of leading a Library-sponsored program, the presenter must agree to and abide by the items outlined in the Library’s Programming Guideline.
Below is an abridged overview of the items detailed in that Guideline.

Those who want to offer a program that includes either of the two bulleted items below are welcome to submit a request to Book a Meeting Room by agreeing to the terms of the Library’s Meeting Room Reservation Guideline and paying the associated rental fee as a non-Library-sponsored room reservation. More information can be found at Request A Meeting Room.

• Promotes products/services or includes the solicitation of business, funds, or personal information
• Private event, fee-based, or otherwise not open to the general public

Program Criteria

The Library has limited time, resources, funds, and staff to support programs. The following criteria are considered in the decision to accept or decline a program proposal. If the proposed program does not fit any one of these criterion, it may be declined.

• Content focuses entirely on education, information, or cultural enrichment
• Relevant to community interests and issues
• Proposed program does not duplicate content in existing program offerings
• Presenter’s background & qualifications demonstrate high competency in subject
• Content suitable for intended audience
• Sufficient availability of resources and program space
• Staffing levels are sufficient
• No scheduling conflicts
• High patron interest in & attendance for similar past programs
• Library will not incur any financial expense
• Alignment with Guidelines below
• Quality and completion of the Program Proposal Application

Programs must be open to the public and be free to attend and participate. A Library staff person may be present during the program.

Priority sponsorship will be given to government agencies, community organizations, accredited academic institutions, local/state/nationally-recognized non-profit organizations, and the like. The Library partners with presenters representing private businesses only on a special, case-by-case basis.

Programs are not to be used for commercial purposes and must be secular and non-partisan. Solicitation of sales, money, business, and personal information from program attendees is prohibited.

With permission from the Library Director or a Library Supervisor, brochures and business cards related to the program subject may be placed on a display table for attendees to pick up at their discretion. These promotional materials should not be a talking point in the program and may not be used or passed out before, during, or after the program or in the program space.

The presenter will communicate any special requests, A/V or otherwise, in the Program Proposal Application.

The Library will manage the creation of marketing graphics and images, taking into account the presenter’s design requests. Any marketing or publicity related to the program must be approved by the Library Director or a Library Supervisor before use or dissemination.

The presenter(s) and all program attendees are subject to all City and Library policies and guidelines and to the rules for acceptable and appropriate behavior outlined in the Library’s Code of Conduct and Responsibilities.

The Library reserves the right to decline any program proposal as it sees fit. The Library reserves the right to cancel or discontinue the presenter’s program if Library staff deems any of the items in this Guideline violated.

Program Proposals must be submitted no later than 90 days and no earlier than 120 days before the possible program.

Once the Program Proposal Application is submitted, a Library staff person will evaluate the proposal and reply to the contact person listed in the Application within 21 days.

Questions about the Programming Guideline, Program Proposal Application, or meeting room rentals can be emailed to lib.rooms@bedfordtx.gov.

LINK TO BPL CONFIDENTIALITY GUIDELINE

LINK TO PROGRAM PROPOSAL APPLICATION