Safety is our top priority for all participants, from authors and vendors to volunteers and festival goers.
Currently, our festival is contained to 3 spaces in Downtown — the Ferndale Library, Love & Other Books Bookshop, and Go Comedy! Improv Theater.
We are conveniently located across the street from the Ferndale Police Station, which is a great community safety partner. They will be informed of all festival happenings on the day of the event.
Additionally, the library staff is trained for emergency situations.
Ferndale, MI is a progressive and LGBTQ+ friendly community. We are proud to host our event in a community that celebrates diversity.
Code of Conduct
Our goal is to foster an inclusive space rooted in integrity and mutual respect. Every individual at the event is expected to adhere to these standards to ensure a positive experience for all. Please observe the following guidelines:
- Keep personal property secure.
- Report suspicious activity.
- Follow all venue regulations and directions provided by event personnel.
- Respect personal boundaries.
- Contact staff/security immediately for assistance or to report concerns.
We have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment of any kind, including, but not limited to:
- stalking
- intimidation
- offensive verbal comments
- physical assault and/or battery
- threats
- harassing or non-consensual photography or recording
- sustained disruption of presentations and other events
- bathroom policing
- inappropriate physical contact
- unwelcome physical attention
- sexually explicit, suggestive, and/or provocative behavior or signage
- hate symbols
in relation to, but not limited to:
- race
- color
- national origin
- gender
- gender identity
- gender presentation
- sexual orientation
- marital status
- age
- body size
- disability
- appearance
- religion
- citizenship
- pregnancy
Prohibited Activities
To ensure a safe and smooth event, the following are strictly prohibited.
- DO NOT disrupt the event.
- DO NOT distribute offensive, illegal, or infringing content.
- DO NOT impersonate others or conduct unauthorized commercial activities.
- DO NOT harvest personal info.
- DO NOT engage in illegal activities (drugs, violence, etc.).
- Weapons Policy: We have ZERO TOLERANCE for weapons of any kind (or items appearing to be weapons).
- Prohibited Items: Smoking (cigarettes, vape, marijuana), alcohol (outside designated areas), weapons, explosives, recreational devices (drones).
Wellness and Accessibility
We are dedicated to providing a safe and accessible environment for every participant. Our health and safety protocols are informed by current public health guidance and venue partnerships. Please review the following requirements to ensure you are prepared for the event.
- If you require medical assistance, please contact the nearest staff member immediately.
- For accessibility-related requests or questions, please email us at bookfest@loveandotherbooksshop.com as early as possible.
BTBF is dedicated to continually improving our efforts to ensure fully accessible events for people with disabilities. We encourage you to contact the event team for any of your accessibility-related needs.
If you have any questions about accommodations or our ADA policies or would like to provide feedback and suggestions to improve your experience, please reach out to us at bookfest@loveandotherbooksshop.com. We encourage you to make any such request as far in advance as possible to enhance our ability to evaluate and fulfill the request.
To protect the community, we ask that you stay home if you are feeling unwell. Participants are expected to follow all public health guidelines while on-site.
Health & Safety Acknowledgement
By attending, you acknowledge the risk of communicable disease and agree to follow all public health guidance and event policies. Guardians assume full responsibility for any minors in their care.
If a person engages in behavior in violation of this Code of Conduct at any time, we will take prompt action in any form deemed appropriate, including expulsion from the event with no refund. Our policy applies to EVERYONE participating. ALL participants are subject to this Code of Conduct.
Please note that anyone can report harassment to event staff/security at any time. If someone’s behavior has made you uncomfortable, or if you witness harassment happening to someone else, you should immediately contact event staff/security. If necessary, security or event staff will contact local law enforcement, provide an escort, offer a safe place, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment.
