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Freedom Of Information Policy

It is the policy of the Board of Library Trustees of the West Chicago Public Library District to permit access to and copying of its public records in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (the “Act”) (5 ILCS 140/3.5), effective July 1, 1984, as amended, balanced, however, by the limited exceptions recognized in the Act to safeguard individual privacy and the efficient operation of the Library.

The Library Director is hereby authorized to serve as the Library’s Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer and directed to designate additional employees to serve as FOIA Officers.

Administrative Procedures

Procedure for Requesting Records

  1. Written requests may be submitted to the Library either by personal delivery, mail, fax, email ([email protected]), or other means available to the Library. The Library may honor oral requests for inspection or copying.
  2. The request should be made at the Library District’s Administrative Office at 118 West Washington Street, West Chicago, IL 60185 during normal working hours (i.e., 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday).
  3. All requests for inspection and copying received by the Library shall immediately be forwarded to its Freedom of Information officer.

Fees Schedule

  • The first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal paper are free.
  • After the first 50 pages, the library will charge $ .15 per page.
  • Colored copies and copies sized other than legal or letter size will be charged at the actual cost of reproduction.
  • Cost of electronic records will be charged at the actual cost of the recording medium.
  • Certified copies are $1.00
  • Attachments to email are free of charge
  • Fees may be waived or reduced if waiver is in the public interest.

Retrieval and Copying of Records and Board Notification

Only the FOIA Officer may retrieve and/or copy records. The FOIA Officer of the Library shall notify the Board President by telephone of the request for records within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the request for records. The Board President shall provide guidance as requested by the designated employees of the Library.

Responses to Request for Records

The FOIA Officer must respond within five (5) business days after receipt of a request (twenty- one (21) days if the request is for a commercial purpose. An extension of five (5) days may be permitted under certain circumstances.

  • A. Upon receiving a request for a public record, the Freedom of Information officer shall:
    1. Note the date the public body receives the written request;
    2. Compute the day on which the period for response will expire and make a notation of that date on the request;
    3. Maintain an electronic or paper copy of a request, including all documents submitted with the request until the request has been complied with or denied; and
    4. Create a file for the retention of the original request, a copy of the response, a record of communications with the requester, and a copy of other communications.
  • B. When it is necessary to deny a request based on “personal privacy” or “preliminary draft” exceptions, the FOIA Officer must first notify the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor.
  • C. If a request is denied:
    1. 1. Give a detailed factual basis and provide a citation to legal authority:
    2. 2. Name the FOIA Officer responsible for the denial;
    3. 3. Notify the requester that the requester has the right to appeal the denial to the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor or the courts;
    4. 4. Provide the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor’s address and telephone number to the requester.

Index of Available Public Records

The following list of public records available for inspection is not meant to be exhaustive but to give assistance to the public as to the type of records which can be accessed. Each request will be evaluated on its merits on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the “Open Meetings Act” (Chapter 5 Act 120 Paragraph 1 – 6 Illinois Compiled Statutes). Guidelines and criteria for responses to requests are stated in the Library District’s “Freedom of Information Policy Statement and Administrative Guidelines.”

Financial Records

  • Audit Reports
  • Bank Statements
  • Bills and Invoices
  • Budget and Appropriation Ordinances
  • Budget Worksheets
  • Cancelled Checks
  • Daily Cash Receipts Reports
  • Levy Ordinances
  • Monthly Bill Approval Lists
  • Monthly Combined Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Fund Balances
  • Petty Cash Reimbursement Reports
  • Receipts for Expenditures
  • Receipts for Revenue
  • Working Budgets

Board of Trustees Records

  • Agendas
  • Legal Notices
  • Minutes
  • Monthly Meeting Packets
  • Ordinances
  • Policy Statements
  • Resolutions
  • Strategic Long-Range Plan

Library Administrative Records

  • Annual Reports
  • Bid Documents
  • Building and Equipment Maintenance/Service Contracts
  • Correspondence from Library
  • Correspondence to Library
  • Employee Timesheets and Payroll Records
  • Forms
  • Insurance Policies
  • Job Descriptions
  • Memoranda
  • Organization Chart
  • Per Capita Grant Applications
  • Personnel Files and Records
  • Personnel Policy Handbook
  • Salary Schedules

Approved by Board of Library Trustees: December 18, 1995
Revision Approved by Board of Library Trustees: September 27, 2004 Revision Approved by Board of Library Trustees: August 27, 2007 Approved by Board of Library Trustees: August 24, 2009
Approved by Board of Library Trustees: January 25, 2010 Approved by Board of Library Trustees: September 23, 2013
Approved by Board of Library Trustees January 23, 2017

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