Code of Conduct
At the Sacramento Book festival, we make safety for attendees and participants a priority.
The Sacramento Book Festival welcomes attendees and participants of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, genders, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, physical appearances, identities, circumstances, and body sizes. Although open to the public, the Sacramento Book Festival is a private event and as such, we reserve the right to remove people who disrespect or endanger others, to disallow them from participating for the duration of the festival, and to ban attendees who do not comply with the Code of Conduct from future festivals. It’s simple – please be respectful and use your best judgment, so that everyone can enjoy their time at the Sacramento Book Festival.
TERMS OF USE
All Sacramento Book Festival attendees and guests are required to adhere to this Code of Conduct. Entry to the festival is a revocable license. The Sacramento Book Festival may revoke this license for noncompliance with these terms, or for disorderly conduct, including exhibitors, attendees, speakers, panelists, staff, volunteers, and sponsors. Please be mindful of each other’s time and personal space.
HARASSMENT
Disorderly conduct includes but is not limited to any behavior that is illegal, unsafe, disruptive, discriminatory or causes excessive discomfort to our attendees. Unacceptable behavior also includes but is not limited to stalking, intimidation, harassing or non-consensual photography or recording, sustained disruption of programs, offensive verbal, or written comments in relation to, but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, body size, disability, appearance, religion, citizenship, pregnancy. We have zero tolerance for any speech that is discriminatory or derogatory. We also have zero tolerance for any behavior that is verbally or physically intimidating.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
Some event conversations may include discussion related to sex, discriminatory language, violence or other triggering topics or language, due to the topics of the participants’ books or topic of the conversation as a whole. These program elements are not considered harassment and festival organizers, moderators and interviewers will do due diligence to make sure these topics are addressed in a respectful manner.
REPORTING AN ISSUE
If you witness or experience behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it to a Sacramento Book Festival staff member or volunteer immediately. They will have badges identifying them. All reports will be taken seriously and handled with discretion. You can also email us at EMAIL ADDRESS during or after the event. Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.
All suspected violations of the law should be reported to local law enforcement. For emergencies, immediately dial 9-1-1.
LISTEN TO STAFF
Anyone asked to stop any harassing behavior by festival organizers, volunteers, or security personnel is expected to comply immediately. We ask you to be respectful of all festival volunteers and staff, as well as to the facility staff. As an attendee, you represent not only our festival but our community.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to make the Sacramento Book Festival a welcoming and accessible event for all attendees. If you require specific accommodations, please contact the organizers in advance or visit the information desk in the entry hall during the event. Please also be mindful of accessibility needs throughout the weekend. This includes keeping aisles clear, offering seats when needed, and refraining from wearing strong cologne or perfume.
PROHIBITIONS
Alcohol, drugs, weapons, and items that can be mistaken as weapons are expressly prohibited, even if they are part of a costume.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
We also prohibit the use of Artificial Intelligence (also known as Generative AI or Large Language Models). This includes but is not limited to the use of ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Meta AI to create book covers or write books. Use of writing aids (like Grammarly or Pro Writing Aid) that may include some AI features is allowed. We are a human book festival supporting human book authors.
IMAGE RELEASE
The Sacramento Book Festival may be recorded or reproduced by the festival and/or attending participants. By registering to be in attendance at the Sacramento Book Festival, you hereby authorize the festival, its designees, and/or attending participants to record, transcribe, modify, reproduce, perform, display, transmit and distribute in any form and for any purpose any such recordings of the Sacramento Book Festival. By attending the festival, you hereby release the Sacramento Book Festival and/or its attending participants from any and all claims it or its organizers may possess, now or in the future, in connection with such activities.
In addition, the festival host, CWC Sacramento, reserves the right to photograph facilities, activities, and program participants for potential future use. All photos will remain the property of CWC Sacramento. Commercial photography by any outside party at any CWC Sacramento program is prohibited without express written consent. Participants at CWC Sacramento events agree to be photographed, and these photographs may be used for CWC Sacramento’s promotional purposes.
MINORS
All minors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Parents or adult supervisors of minors are responsible for the actions of minors they are supervising.
LIABILITY
You assume any and all risks occurring before, during, or after the Sacramento Book Festival. You also release the Sacramento Book Festival and The Scottish Rite Masonic Center and their agents and respective affiliates and representatives from any related claims.
If you have any questions about these polices, please contact us at info@sacramentobookfestival.com.