The Library Board of Directors views the use of its meeting rooms by outside groups as an extension of library service to the community. Meeting rooms are available for both non-profit and for-profit groups devoted to educational, cultural and civic activities or activities of general community interest and serve the Derby area.

Room availability will be considered regardless of the beliefs, affiliations or viewpoints of a requesting group’s individual members. However, neither the Board nor the City of Derby advocate or endorse the beliefs or purposes of the groups given permission to use the meeting facilities. This position of non-endorsement is to be clearly stated in all publicity for the meeting, including oral pronouncements and printed literature.

The Library’s meeting rooms may be used by groups pursuing educational, informational, cultural, civic, recreational, professional, and service goals. Derby for-profit businesses may use the facilities for internal business meetings.

The Library’s meeting rooms may not be used for partisan political rallies; commercial or sales programs; or private social events such as birthday and anniversary parties, showers, receptions, reunions, etc.

The Board of Directors will deny a reservation for meeting space should they deem the activity to be inappropriate for a public building.

Applying organizations will agree to hold the Library Board of Directors and the City of Derby, including their employees or agents, harmless from any liability for the loss, theft, or damage to property of any group or individual using the Libraries’ meeting rooms or kitchen facilities, and in addition assume no responsibility for injury to individuals while on library premises. The applicant will be responsible for loss or damage resulting from room use. Compensation for such loss or damage must be made promptly upon billing. Whereas, the Library is agreeable to giving access to said premises for the event provided that the Derby Public Library and the City of Derby are held harmless and indemnified on account of any damages sustained to the premises or its personal property or personal injuries sustained by the Lessor and their guests upon such access.

Certificate of Liability Insurance and proof of not-for-profit status will be required for groups meeting at the Library.

In order to reserve a meeting room, a representative of the requesting group must complete the library’s Application for Use of a Meeting Room and present a check for any applicable usage fee. Submitting the application, which is available online, signifies the group’s agreement to comply with the terms and conditions of the Library’s meeting room policy and that the authorized representative will assume liability for damage to or loss of Library property while on the premises. Applications must be completed by a representative at least 18 years of age. A copy of this policy will be given to the group’s representative. Room reservations are not taken in person, over the telephone or via email.

A maximum of two tentative reservations may be made.  These reservations will be held for five (5) business days only, after which the times become available to other organizations.

There is no automatic carryover of scheduled times or equipment by a group to a succeeding calendar year, but a reasonable effort will be made to maintain previous time slots, overall scheduling permitting.

Once the Library Director or his/her designee reviews your request, you will receive an email confirmation from EventKeeper’s Room Request. The room is not reserved until you receive this acknowledgement and submit the required fee.

Permission to use a meeting room will be granted by the Library Director or his/her designee. If a group is denied such permission, it may appeal to the Library Board of Directors

Groups that decide to cancel their use of a meeting room must notify the Library at least three (3) business days prior to their scheduled use in order to receive a refund of their usage fee (if applicable). The sole exception to this rule is inclement weather: in case of inclement weather, a group representative should contact the Library on the day of the meeting to check on a possible early closing.

Apply online and check room availability here

The Library, acting through its Board of Directors and/or its Director, reserves the right to accept or reject any application for the use of its meeting rooms.

1. Prior notification of the Library Director is requested if the news media is invited to or will be present at any event.
2. Maximum capacity, per order of the fire marshal is required.
3. Groups using a Library meeting room will be responsible for:
4. Advising the Library of the furniture and equipment needed for their events and set up (without blocking doorways or fire equipment)
5. Restoring the room to the furniture arrangement in which it was found
6. Paying for any damage or loss to Library property (as assessed by the City of Derby) resulting from their use.
7. Groups requiring audio-visual equipment – the user must be thoroughly trained in advance and will be held responsible for any damage to hardware or software.
8. Meetings must not interfere with the normal operations of the staff or with the quiet enjoyment of the Library by patrons.
9. Attendees at all meetings are expected to comply with the Library‘s Patron Code of Conduct and Young Adult Policies. Further, groups using the rooms are responsible for supervising their meetings to ensure that attendees adhere to these policies.  
10. Groups of children under the age of eighteen (18) may use the meeting rooms only with adult supervision. As a rule, the library will require at least one (1) adult supervisor age twenty-one (21) or older for every ten (10) children.
11. Children of meeting participants may not be left unsupervised in other areas of the Library.
12. For safety and security reasons, individuals associated with the group are not allowed to wander around the Library while the group’s activities are underway.
13. Use of the Library meeting rooms may be subject to cancellation due to inclement weather conditions or any other situation not known at time of scheduling. This decision will be made by the Library Director or his/her designee.
14. No meeting facility or other area within the Library will be used for commercial or pecuniary activity, such as marketing, buying, and selling of items and services to the public, gambling or the exchange of money, with the exception of the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) organization, unless authorized by the Library Director.
15. Fundraising activities are not permitted, nor are solicitations from an event’s participants or audience, unless authorized by the Board. Solicitations not connected to events, within Library buildings or grounds, are not permitted without the approval of the Library Director.

1. The following are prohibited on library premises:
   1. Alcoholic beverages, vaping, smoking, illegal abusive substances, and/or the use of sterno candles or other combustible materials.
2. If so requested via the Application for Use of a Meeting Room, groups reserving the Meeting Room may use free-of-charge:
   1. The adjoining kitchen and its equipment to serve beverages and light refreshments. They must leave the kitchen in a clean and orderly condition upon exiting.
   2. Trash should be placed into tied trash bags and left in the kitchen for the custodian to remove.
   3. The Library’s tables, chairs, and lectern. Other supplies and equipment required are the sole responsibility of the group.
   4. The library’s piano. Should a group wish to have the piano specially-tuned for its event, it must pay for such tuning and it must use the library’s piano tuner.
3. Storage of items owned by a group or its members before or after a meeting is not permitted. Neither the Library nor the City of Derby assumes responsibility for personal items left on the premises before or after a meeting.
4. Permission to use the meeting rooms means floor space only. Groups may not affix items to the walls, tack boards, etc. Artwork on display may not be moved or altered.
5. No group may charge admission fees at their functions held in a Library meeting room. They may, however, make normal collections of dues from their own members.
6. Groups that fail to comply with these rules means permanent revocation of the group’s room privileges. Room use may also be denied to groups that cancel without notification twice within a twelve (12) month period.