Miscellaneous Non-Resident Issues

Board procedure: Resolution/ordinance

An inquiry was submitted regarding the process a library board should utilize to implement a policy on non-resident service. Reference was made to the Illinois State Library System Director’s Memo #03-002 question number 3 that recommends library boards utilize a resolution or an ordinance to implement such policies. You inquired if a library board could simply use a “motion.”

Intergovernmental contracts

An inquiry was submitted regarding the ability of a public library to engage in intergovernmental contracts with other units of government. Specifically if such agreements require reciprocity of services between the other units of government, as in the case of schools, with libraries. The other units of government specifically mentioned in the inquiry include municipal government, park district, police and fire departments and the county forest preserve.

Library board action: Schedule

An inquiry was received on July 15, 2002 regarding the time schedule for public libraries to take official action on participation for non-resident service for the year 2003 and subsequent years.

Contracts with municipalities for library services

What are the responsibilities of a public library that contracts with a municipality for library services? Do such contracts permit reciprocal borrowing privileges at other public libraries?

Grants and nonparticipation

If a public library chooses to be nonparticipating, does that affect the ability of the library to receive grants from the Illinois State Library?

Reciprocal borrowing: Opting out

This correspondence is in response to your inquiry of May 1, 2003 in regards to the non- resident rules. Specifically you inquired, “if a public library opts out of participating in the non-resident library card program, they cannot issue their own local use cards and they do not have to honor other libraries non-resident cards”.