7.007 Use of Flags on Library Property

12/20/2022
Replaces 05/25/2022

The Board of Library Trustees adopts this Policy 7.007 as the flag policy of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

The library has two flagpoles, i.e., a flagpole located at the front of the library’s property at 500 North Dunton Avenue and another at 112 North Belmont (Makerplace).

Generally, flags on library flagpoles are one or more of the following:

  1. The United States flag;
  2. The State of Illinois flag;
  3. The Village of Arlington Heights flag;
  4. National League of Families POW/MIA flag.

The library will follow provisions governing the display of the flags found in the United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, and the Illinois Flag Display Act 5 ILSC 465.

Other flags: From time to time, the board may approve flying other flags. Any flags approved by the board shall represent an expression of the library’s official sentiments or the library’s mission, vision and values. Flags flown on the library’s flagpoles will be approved by the board and serve as a government forum for expression of the library’s missions, vision, values or official sentiments (government speech) as was recognized by the United States Supreme Court in its decision in Shurtleff et al. v. City of Boston.

The library does not fly flags at the request of the public, any organization, or any individual. Use of a library flagpole is not intended to serve as or create a forum for free expression by the public.

When approving flags to be flown on library flagpoles, the board will consider the following:

  1. Whether the United States or the State of Illinois has recognized the flag or cause through statute or proclamation or other official communication, e.g., National Heritage Months or National Awareness Months;
  2. Whether the flag represents a national, state, or local interest and is consistent with the library’s mission, vision, values or official sentiments;
  3. Whether the flag represents a positive interest or value worthy of public recognition and is consistent with the library’s mission, vision, values or official sentiments.

Trustee responsibilities:

     1. Initial proposal, by trustee, to be at Committee of the Whole, for review.

          a. At that time, trustee will provide:

                 I. Documentation of Point #1, above.

                II. Documentation/photo of existing flag.

               III. Completed Flag Request form

The board will express its approval of flags on library flagpoles either by a written resolution or by majority vote of the Board of Library Trustees which majority vote will be documented in the minutes of a board meeting.