Community Meeting Rooms

The Tacoma Public Library provides free meeting rooms at the downtown Main Library and at all nine branch libraries to the community as a public service.
Use of these meeting rooms does not constitute an endorsement by the Library of a program or point of view expressed. No advertisements or announcements implying such an endorsement is permitted.
All activities in the Library's meeting rooms must be open to the public at no charge, with the exception of certain City, County, State, or Federal Government meetings. As the Tacoma Public Library does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in any of its programs and services, organizations using the Library's meeting rooms are requested to comply with Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act in making programs accessible to persons with disabilities; i.e., making available Braille or taped materials, interpreters for persons whose hearing is impaired, etc.
Permission to use Library meeting rooms will be denied to any organization and/or meeting

• Whose purpose is illegal;
• Whose conduct would interfere with the proper functioning of the Library;
• Whose purpose is promotional or for monetary gain;
• Whose primary purpose involves physical activity or exercise,
• Whose activity does not have adult sponsorship.

The laws of the State of Washington (RCW 42.17.130) prohibit the use of public facilities for the purpose of assisting the campaign for election of any person to any office; or for the promotion or opposition of any ballot issue. Public facilities may be used for general political purposes, such as: information sharing, organizational meetings, or community forums. Library facilities are available on a non-discriminatory, equal access basis in compliance with state law.

What’s available.

Main Library
The downtown Main Library three meeting rooms available.

Olympic Room: 250 persons auditorium style, or 125 persons conference style (with tables and chairs).

The Olympic Room has built-in sound equipment and a projection screen. A microphone is available upon request.

Cascade Room A 40 persons auditorium style, or 25 persons conference style (with tables and chairs).
Cascade Room B:25 persons auditorium style, or 15 persons conference style (with tables and chairs).

The two Cascade Rooms can be combined for larger groups.

The Moore Branch Library (215 South 56th Street)
The Anna Lemon Wheelock Library (3722 North 26th Street)

Large meeting rooms with a capacity for 100 - 125 persons are available at both these locations. Additionally, a smaller meeting room is available at the Anna Lemon Wheelock Library.

Other branch libraries.
Each of Tacoma’s branch libraries have meeting rooms which can comfortably accommodate 25 - 50 persons dependent upon location. Contact the individual branch libraries for specific details and availability.

Equipment
The Tacoma Public Library does not provide any equipment to meeting room users,. including slide projectors, overhead projectors, film projectors, tape recorders, and extension cords.
Kitchen facilities, including a refrigerator and oven, coffee and tea pots are available for each meeting room. Groups utilizing kitchen facilities must provide their own supplies. No alcoholic beverages may be served or consumed on Library property.

Reserving a meeting room

Main Library
Reservations for rooms at the downtown Main Library can be made on the telephone business hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) by calling the Library’s Administrative Office at (253) 404-3944.

Branch Libraries
Reservations for rooms at the nine branch libraries must be made in person or over the telephone with the branch location at which you wish to hold your meeting.
Reservations may be made for one meeting or several. All reservations for monthly or continual meetings must be renewed every six months. In instances when two or more groups request identical meeting dates, preference will be given to groups which have not previously used Library facilities.
Meeting rooms may be reserved a maximum of six months in advance of a public meeting. The Library reserves the right to reschedule meeting room reservations at any time in order to use the meeting room space for programs or events sponsored by the library. As much notice as possible will be provided to the group(s) affected by a change, and suggestions for other spaces will be made.

Using the Library's meeting rooms.

Meeting room users should plan on arriving at least 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled meeting to review and sign the Library’s policy regarding use of the room.
Meeting rooms are available during normal operating hours as currently scheduled. All libraries are closed on Sundays and legal holidays. Access to the meeting rooms prior to the time the library is open is not possible. All meetings must be dismissed at least 15 minutes prior to the Library's closing time and the meeting room and kitchen facility must be left clean and free of materials, foodstuff, and utensils. The applicant will be liable for all costs incurred by the Library to have a meeting room cleaned, or for damage to Library property. Groups damaging Library property will lose the privilege to use the meeting rooms.
When there is a meeting of any group scheduled or being held in the library which potentially threatens the health and welfare of the library patrons and/or staff, an administrative officer of the Library has the authority to cancel the meeting or suspend the meeting if already ongoing until such time as the threat is abated, and said administrative officer is authorized to make such determination.
Nothing may be affixed or mounted in any way to the walls of the meeting room.
The Library is not responsible for the theft or damage to property brought onto Library property.
The Library will not provide storage for any purpose to any group.
In deference to other patrons, meetings must not disrupt the use of the Library by others. Persons attending meetings at the Library are subject to all Library rules and regulations.
Children under the age of six accompanying an adult to a meeting must remain with the adult at all times.
Meetings of groups whose members are under age 18 must be supervised and attended by an adult.
The capacity for each room, as determined by the Fire Marshall, will be observed at all times.
Smoking is not allowed in Tacoma Public Library facilities.
No group shall advertise or sell articles or services of any kind in library meeting rooms, or solicit the purchase of goods or services available at another location, even if such sale is for the benefit of the general public, such as for charitable or educational purposes.
The meeting rooms may not be used for individual musical practice sessions.

Who can use the Library's meeting rooms.
Tacoma Public Library meeting rooms are available, without charge, to all nonprofit and community groups. Groups which regularly charge membership dues are permitted to collect such dues at the library.
All meetings held in library facilities will be available to the general public without charge. Persons wishing to attend and participate in meetings, seminars, etc. conducted in Library meeting rooms without paying whatever dues, memberships fees and the like stipulated by the sponsoring group must be allowed to do so.
Groups which use library facilities and charge admission, tuition or registration fees from meeting participants are reminded that such fees must be not be collected on library property, and that all meetings must be available to the public without charge.

Cancellation
If a scheduled meeting is not to be held, the applicant must inform the Library as soon as possible in advance of the meeting. Failure to use the room on two consecutive occasions without advance notification will result in the loss of meeting room privileges for a period of six months.

Penalties
A penalty will be assessed if any of the above regulations are not met. The penalty may include the following:

• A) Cancellation of remaining reservations for meeting room space;
• B) Loss of meeting room privileges for a period of six months.

For more information about the Tacoma Public Libraryís community meeting rooms please contact the Libraryís Community Relations Officer at (253) 591-5688.

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