Publication Policy

This policy explains how CivicCause publishes educational civic experiences in the Civic Learning Library. It is meant to be clear, public, and consistent for everyone who contributes.

Purpose

The Civic Learning Library exists to preserve and organize real civic experiences that help people better understand civic life. It is educational rather than promotional.

The Library is separate from Organization Publishing. Organizations use Organization Publishing to communicate current activities. The Civic Learning Library preserves past civic experiences so others can learn from them over time.

Publication Criteria

CivicCause keeps publication criteria intentionally minimal and objective. A submission may be published when it:

• Meets CivicCause Community Standards.
• Describes a past civic experience rather than attempting to influence a future civic decision or event.
• Fits within one or more Civic Learning Playbooks.
• Is shared by someone who has the right to share the material.
• Includes permission for CivicCause to publish the accepted material.

Publication does not mean CivicCause endorses the author, organization, viewpoint, or every statement in the material. It means the material met the published standards for the Library.

Attribution

Contributors retain ownership of their work. CivicCause publishes accepted submissions with permission, and authors are clearly identified when material appears in the Library.

CivicCause may add context, formatting, labels, or Library navigation so readers understand where the material fits. Attribution should make clear who contributed the experience and what CivicCause added to help organize it.

Contributor Rights

Contributors keep the right to use and publish their work elsewhere.

• Contributors retain ownership of their work.
• Contributors may publish their work elsewhere.
• Contributors may request updates or removal.
• Contributors understand that CivicCause determines publication according to this public policy.

CivicCause Stewardship

CivicCause stewards the Civic Learning Library so it remains educational, useful, and distinct from promotional publishing. The same standards apply to CivicCause founders, staff, partner organizations, subscribers, and community contributors.

CivicCause may publish, decline, archive, or remove material that no longer satisfies the published standards or no longer serves the purpose of the Civic Learning Library.