Reserving meeting space

Meeting rooms are available throughout the Athens Regional Library System at several branch locations. View the information below for branches with meeting space, and how to reserve a space for your meeting.


Athens-Clarke County Library Meeting Rooms

General Information
  • Make your request online by going to our online room booking system. Select room below.
  • Reservations also can be made by calling 706-613-3650 during regular library hours.
  • Any room booking maintenance fees must be paid at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event during regular library hours.
  • Room availability is from ½ hr. after opening to ½ hr. before closing time.
  • An additional Security Fee of $50.00 per hour is required for meetings held outside the library’s open hours.
  • Audiovisual Equipment is available in the Auditorium and the Multipurpose Room; equipment must be reserved at the time of the room booking.
  • The library provides tables and chairs, but does not provide set up.

Please view the Athens-Clarke County Library Public Meeting Room Policy.

Rooms & Fees

Multipurpose Room

  • 4 hour limit
  • One section only: no charge
  • One section including food/drink allowance & kitchen access: $50
  • Two sections including food/drink allowance & kitchen access: $100
  • Three sections including food/drink allowance & kitchen access: $200

Appleton Auditorium

  • 4 hour limit, includes food/drink allowance & kitchen): $100

Computer Classroom

  • No food/drink & no kitchen access): $50/hour

Heritage Room Conference Room

  • 4 hour limit, no food/drink & no kitchen access, available only during regular Heritage Room open hours): no charge

Oglethorpe County Library Meeting Rooms

General Information
  • Reservations can be accepted by phone, online, or in person, but the reservation form must be filled out and turned in prior to the meeting.
  • All meetings should be scheduled during regular library hours.
  • Meetings MUST be FREE and Open to Everyone.
  • Personal registration or information cannot be required of attendees.
  • Please read the Meeting Room policy below for a full explanation of rules and regulations.
Rooms & Fees

Multipurpose Room

  • Seats about 100 people (chairs, no tables) or 50 people (chairs with tables).
  • A digital projector is available upon request (must be selected in online form).
  • A small kitchenette with a microwave, large coffee maker, and small refrigerator are included in room reservation. The library will not provide paper products (plates, cups, etc.).
  • Reservation up to 4 hours: $5.00
  • Reservation greater than 4 hours: $10.00
  • Additional $20.00 food service fee for groups serving food other than light refreshments
    • Examples of light refreshments include (but are not limited to) chips, drinks, cake, or fruit.
    • Examples of meal food include (but are not limited to) pizza, subs, BBQ, potluck, etc.

Maker Space

  • The Maker Space is available upon request during library hours.
  • Maximum Occupancy: 3
  • No reservation fee for use of the Maker Space.
  • Maker Space may be used as a study room only if the other study room is unavailable.
  • Features:
    • Sewing Machine
    • Silhouette CAMEO 3 Cutter
    • Machines are free to use, but materials are not provided.

Study Room

  • Study rooms are available upon request during library hours.
  • Maximum Occupancy: 3
  • No reservation fee for use of the study room.
  • Study room includes an electronic typewriter, which is free to use.

Royston Public Library & Lavonia-Carnegie Library Meeting Rooms

General Information

The public meeting rooms of the Franklin County Libraries (Lavonia-Carnegie Library and Royston Public Library) are designed to advance the ideas and purposes expressed in the libraries’ mission statement and strategic plan. The facilities should serve as a public resource by providing access to library and other programs for educational, informational, cultural, and civic functions of the community.

Equal Opportunity & Endorsement
  • The library’s meeting rooms are available on equal terms to all groups in the community, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the groups’ members.
  • All meetings held in public library facilities must be free of charge and open to the public, staff, and the press.
  • Activities taking place in the meeting rooms cannot be closed to any person on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, national origin, disabling condition, or any other legally protected category.
  • Use of the meeting rooms by outside agencies does not constitute an endorsement by the library, library staff, or Board of Trustees of the viewpoints expressed by the participants in programs or meetings.
Priorities for Reservations
  1. Meetings and events sponsored by the library, which are allowed precedence over all outside groups or individuals.
  2. Events cosponsored by the library.
  3. Meetings of the agencies of local government which fund the library.
  4. All other reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis.
  5. The library reserves the right to revise any schedule of meetings if necessary and to preempt established reservations upon reasonable notification of the group(s) involved.
Reservations & Scheduling
  1. Reservations for use of a meeting room are made according to procedures established by the Athens Regional Library and Franklin County Libraries staff.
  2. Reservations must be made by an adult (18 years of age or older). Groups with participants younger than 18 years of age must have adult supervision. The adult who signs the reservation must arrive prior to the beginning of the event, must be present throughout the entire event, and must remain until the departure from the library campus of all under-age attendees.
  3. The signee / contact person for each group is responsible for ensuring that each member of his or her group is aware of and abides by all library regulations and policies.
  4. Meeting rooms are not available during library holidays.
  5. Meetings may be held in the libraries’ meeting rooms before or after regularly scheduled library hours only when prior arrangement has been made and approval has been given by library staff for the hours requested. Procedures for borrowing keys for meeting rooms must be followed as outlined by the Branch Managers.
Meeting Room Fees & Food / Drink Provisions
  • A $5.00 non-refundable reservation/use fee will be charged to all groups or individuals reserving and using the Multi-purpose Room in the Royston Public Library and must be paid in advance of the meeting.
  • The Franklin County Libraries, the libraries’ sponsored groups, and entities of the libraries’ government funding agencies are exempted from the reservation/use fee.
  • Checks submitted for maintenance reservation/use and food fees should be made out to the Athens Regional Library System; all fees collected will be submitted by the Royston Public Library to ARLS to be added to the Franklin County Libraries annual Operating Budget (Revenues).
  • Food and Drink Provisions for both libraries:
    • With notice on the reservation, refreshments may be served in the Lavonia-Carnegie meeting room as well as the Royston Public Library multi-purpose room.
    • An additional $20.00 fee will be charged for reservations requesting food beyond (ex.: catered or potluck meals) light refreshments in the Royston multi-purpose room. Full meals are not allowed in the Lavonia-Carnegie meeting room.
    • All refreshments must remain inside the meeting rooms.
  • Franklin County Libraries guidelines and procedures for room set up and cleaning will be provided to the signee/contact person at the time of reservation.
    Damage to library property will be the responsibility of the group using the room. The reservation signee will be charged with any resulting damage or cleaning fees.
  • Damage to library property may also result in the applicant being denied further use of the facilities. These determinations will be made by the Branch Manager.
Restrictions / Limitations
  • Meetings cannot disrupt the ability of the library to conduct its business in a normal or orderly manner because of noise, crowding, or other factors.
  • Meeting rooms may not be used for private gatherings, parties, celebrations, or commercial gatherings.
  • Events sponsored by the Library may include vending or fund-raising, others may not.
  • Admission fees, solicitations of memberships, payment of dues, and registration of attendance are not permitted; no purchases may be required for attendance.
  • Fees for participation in workshops, study groups, discussion series, conferences, and similar meetings may be collected only if it is to defray direct cost of the materials to be used in that program.
  • Rulings of the county Fire Marshall (or other applicable local authority) as to the capacity of people in the rooms and other matters of safety must be observed at all meetings.
  • No group may use the library as its official address.
  • Other than for library-sponsored events, the library will not accept reservations for a series of meetings which will designate the library as a regular meeting place for any organization. Up to three dates may be reserved at one time.
  • The Library Board and staff do not assume any liability on or for groups or individuals attending a meeting in the library and assumes no responsibility or liability for private property brought into the building or onto the library campuses.
  • Future use of the meeting room may be restricted or denied by library staff for any violation of library policy.
Computer Classroom
  • Reservations are required for use of the Royston Library’s computer classroom for training meetings.
  • The Royston Library’s computer classroom is available during library open hours on a first come, first served basis.
  • Groups using the computer classroom are limited to eight people at one time.
  • Any conversation or other noise in the computer classroom must be quiet enough so other patrons are not disturbed.
  • The computer classroom may not be used for sleeping or for storage of personal belongings.
  • Food or drinks of any kind are not allowed in the computer classroom.
Review Process
  • The ARLS Director reserves the right to review any and all requests for use of library meeting rooms and may reject any which he/she deems unsuitable or inappropriate.
  • Issues regarding meeting room policy and/or the content of programs or events in the meeting rooms should be addressed in writing to the Branch Manager.
  • A written response/decision from the Branch Manager can be expected within ten days of receipt of a review request.
  • An appeal of the Branch Manger’s decision may be filed in writing with the Director of the Athens Regional Library System within ten days after notice of a decision is given to the patron requesting review.
  • The Franklin County Libraries Board of Trustees will, during the next regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting, hear the appeal. The Board’s decision concerning the request will be the final decision.

Madison County Library Meeting Rooms

General Information

The public meeting rooms (Jere Ayers room, study rooms, classroom, and/or other designated rooms) of the Madison County Library are designed to advance the ideas and purposes expressed in the library’s mission statement and strategic plan. The facilities should serve as a public resource by providing access to library and other programs for educational, informational, cultural and civic functions of the community.

Equal Opportunity & Endorsement
  • The library’s meeting rooms are available on equal terms to all groups in the community, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the groups’ members.
  • All meetings held in public library facilities must be free of charge and open to the public, staff and the press.
  • Activities taking place in the meeting rooms cannot be closed to any person on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, national origin, disabling condition or any other legally protected category.
  • Use of the meeting rooms by outside agencies does not constitute an endorsement by the library, library staff or Board of Trustees of the viewpoints expressed by the participants in programs or meetings.
Reservations & Scheduling
  • Reservations for use of a meeting room are made according to procedures established by the Madison County Library staff (see Meeting Room Guidelines and Procedures and Reservation / Agreement Form).
  • Reservations must be made by an adult (18 years of age or older). Groups with participants younger than 18 years of age must have adult supervision. The adult who signs the reservation must arrive prior to the beginning of the event, must be present throughout the entire event, and must remain until the departure from the library campus of all under-age attendees.
  • The signee/contact person for each group is responsible for ensuring that each member of his or her group is aware of and abides by all library regulations and policies.
  • Meeting rooms are not available during library holidays.
  • Meetings may be held in the Jere Ayers room before or after regularly scheduled library hours only when prior arrangement has been made and approval has been given by library staff for the hours requested. Procedures for borrowing keys for meeting rooms must be followed as outlined by the Branch Manager (see Meeting Room Guidelines and Procedures and Reservation / Agreement Form).
Meeting Room Fees & Food / Drink Service
  • Refreshments may be served in the Jere Ayers room.
  • All refreshments must remain in the meeting room.
  • Madison County Library guidelines and procedures for room set up and cleaning will be provided at the time of reservation.
  • Damage to library property will be the responsibility of the group using the room. The reservation signee will be charged with any resulting damage or cleaning fees. Damage to library property may also result in the applicant being denied further use of the facilities. These determinations will be made by the Branch Manager.
Priorities for Reservation
  1. Meetings and events sponsored by the library, which are allowed precedence over all outside groups or individuals.
  2. Events cosponsored by the library.
  3. Meetings of the agencies of local government which fund the library.
  4. All other reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis.
  5. The library reserves the right to revise any schedule of meetings if necessary and to preempt established reservations upon reasonable notification of the group(s) involved.
Restrictions / Limitations
  1. Meetings cannot disrupt the ability of the library to conduct its business in a normal or orderly manner because of noise, crowding, or other factors.
  2. Meeting rooms may not be used for private gatherings, parties, celebrations, or commercial gatherings.
  3. Events sponsored by the Library may include vending or fund-raising, others may not.
  4. Admission fees, solicitations of memberships, payment of dues, and registration of attendance are not permitted; no purchases may be required for attendance.
  5. Fees for participation in workshops, study groups, discussion series, conferences, and similar meetings may be collected only if it is to defray direct cost of the materials to be used in that program.
  6. Rulings of the county Fire Marshall (or other such authority) as to the capacity of people in the rooms and other matters of safety must be observed at all meetings.
  7. No group may use the library as its official address.
  8. Other than for library-sponsored events, the library will not accept reservations for a series of meetings which will designate the library as a regular meeting place for any organization. Up to three dates may be reserved at one time.
  9. The Library Board and staff do not assume any liability on or for groups or individuals attending a meeting in the library and assumes no responsibility or liability for private property brought into the building or onto the library campus.
  10. Future use of the meeting room may be restricted or denied by library staff for any violation of library policy.
Small Study Rooms & Computer Classroom
  • The library’s small study rooms and computer classroom are available during library open hours on a first come, first served basis.
  • The small study rooms are available for a three-hour limited time only, which may be extended if no one else is waiting to use the room.
  • Groups using the small study rooms are limited to eight people at one time.
  • Any conversation or other noise in study rooms or the computer classroom must be quiet enough so other patrons are not disturbed.
  • Small study rooms may not be used for sleeping or for storage of personal belongings.
  • Reservations are required for use of the computer classroom (see Meeting Room Guidelines and Procedures and Reservation / Agreement Form).
Review Process
  • The ARLS Director reserves the right to review any and all requests for use of library meeting rooms and may reject any which he/she deems unsuitable or inappropriate.
  • Issues regarding meeting room policy and/or the content of programs or events in the meeting rooms should be addressed in writing to the Branch Manager. A written response / decision from the Branch Manager can be expected within 10 days of receipt of a review request.
  • An appeal of the Branch Manager’s decision may be filed in writing with the Director of the Athens Regional Library System within 10 days after notice of a decision is given to the patron requesting review.
  • The Madison County Library Board of Trustees will, during the next regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting, hear the appeal. The Board’s decision concerning the request will be the final decision.

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