Hung fliers at Libraries

[tocs]

After suggesting that it might be a good idea to hang some CT Hackerspace fliers at the library at the monthly board meeting last night I was handed some flayers. So, I went to a few libraries and asked if it would be OK to hang flayers.I went to four libraries. At all four only "Not For Profit" organizations are allowed to engage in flier hanging activities. After having been to a CT Hackerspace I felt it would be safe to say that no one is making a profit from the space. I did explain that the space is not a 501C3 organization and there are membership dues but that it is a community oriented space and that there is a free open house night on Wednesdays.

First, I went to the CH Booth Library in Newtown. I should mention here for those interested that on Fridays the library opens not at 9am but 11am. So, after a short wait I went in and asked if I could hang a flier. The kind and affable librarian listens to my very short request and explanation and she offered to take the flier, make copies, and hang the flayers herself on not one but ALL THREE bulletin board across the library. What a resounding success this trip to the library was. Then to add to the great triumph she talked briefly about the 3D printer at the Westport Library and mentioned that the Connecticut Library Association (or board, or alliance, or league, or whatever) was having some sort of Maker (like a Hacker but slightly more gentrified) talk at one of there upcoming meetings.

The Southbury Library is big and new. Built 2006, it is a department of the Town of Southbury with "its own 6-member Board of Directors (and 3 alternate members) who oversee library policies"*. The imposing 32,000 square-foot building houses not only around 100,000 items, but internet, a coffee bar, and a fireplace**. Making my query at the front desk I was told that only not for profits are allowed to post bulletins and that the director was busy at the moment. I did want to ask the director if I could post the CTH notice and so I went down to the basement to browse, and buy, some of the book that they have offered for their book sale. When I returned upstairs I found the director unoccupied and she came over to speak with me. The long and short of it is that at the Southbury library only official not for profit organizations can post flayers. Every one was very understanding but I left feeling that I had somehow failed in my duties.

Still, I had a job to do and I kept at it. The Woodbury Library was next on my list. I carefully parked in a space not mark "For Police Use Only" (the library shares a parking lot with the police department) and walked in. I was told again that only not for profits are allowed to post bulletins. My assertion that any riches from the hackerspace were of the spiritual type (a sort of secular spiritualism) type was enough for her to accommodate me in my request. She pointed towards the bulletin board and I went to tack up the notice. The board next to the front door and so full off flayers that it took me some time to find a spot and rearrange pages already pinned up.

Finally, I made it to the library in Watertown. With the wait in Newtown and the time spent browsing the book sale in Southbury (more books for sale than many library collections) I was running a little later than I had meant to. Again the Watertown Library only lets those boasting of non profit status are allowed to post on the board next to the door. Again, quick assurances that the hackerspace is not turning a profit ("Well," I said several times today "it is not officially a 501C3 or anything but the space is community oriented."). I posted the notice on the well organized board and considered the day a resounding success.

* source: www.southbury-ct.org/content/992/121/145/
** en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southbury#Southbury_Public_Library

[Peter Duperry]

Gary, thank you very much for your efforts. It is much appreciated.

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[Jeff Myer]

I agree with Pete, Thank you very much! I appreciate your narrative almost as much as the action itself. I enjoyed reading your report very much. I think that what you went through regarding non-profit stuff should be passed on to our non-profit committee (when it forms) as a strong case FOR official non-profit recognition. Another marketing avenue that may be more open with non-profit status is air time on the radio.

Again, thanks for the efforts as well as the excellent write up of your experience!

Jeff

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[tocs]

I see my spell checking falls into the "not the way to use a spell checker" category. I enjoyed writing the account. I hope a few people look at the "flayers".

[Andrew MacGinitie]

what Jeff said :)

On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 10:53 AM, tocs <gscotf...@yahoo.com> wrote:

I see my spell checking falls into the "not the way to use a spell checker" category. I enjoyed writing the account. I hope a few people look at the "flayers".

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