Transparency & FOIA

Brief Description of Lake Forest Library

  1. Our purpose is to provide materials and services for the recreational, social, informational, and educational needs of the community.

  2. View or download the Library's organizational chart.

  3. The annual operating and capital budget for FY24 is $5,765,955.
    Funding sources are property and personal property replacement taxes, state and federal grants, fines, charges, and donations. Tax levies are for general operating expenditures.

  4. The office is located at 360 E Deerpath Rd, Lake Forest IL 60045.

  5. We have approximately 48 persons employed: 21 full-time and 27 part-time.

  1. Effective January 1, 2012, the Illinois State Legislature adopted a new law which requires:

    • Within six days of approving its budget, an IMRF employer must post the total compensation package for each employee receiving a total compensation package that exceeds $75,000 a year.
    • At least six days before an IMRF employer approves an employee's total compensation package that will equal or exceed $150,000 a year, the employer must post the total compensation package for that employee.
    • The term "total compensation package" is defined as the "payment by the employer to the employee for salary, health insurance, a housing allowance, a vehicle allowance, a clothing allowance, bonuses, loans, vacation days granted, and sick days granted."
    • Lake Forest Library employees that receive over $75,000, as defined above, are disclosed in our Open Meetings Act Compensation Report.
    • Open Meetings Act Compensation Report details are also available by contacting the Library Executive Director.
       

  2. The following organization exercises control over our policies and procedures: The Lake Forest Library Board of Library Trustees, which meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month.

    As of July 1, 2024, its members are:

    • James Clifton, President
    • JoAnn Desmond, Vice President
    • Vince Sparrow, Treasurer
    • Emily Van Bel, Secretary
    • Josh Jackson, Trustee
    • John F. Johnson, Trustee
    • Garth Pearson, Trustee
    • Robert Shaw, Trustee
    • Heather Strong, Trustee

 

Freedom of Information Act Request

Any request to inspect, copy, or certify public records of the Lake Forest Library under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1, as amended by Public Act 96-542, effective January 1, 2020, must make such request in writing. The request should specify in particular the records to be provided for inspection or to be copied. Indicate which records are to be certified if applicable.

The request should be directed to the Library Director and Freedom of Information Officer, Lake Forest Library, 360 East Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045.

Certain types of information maintained by the Lake Forest Library are exempt from inspection and copying. However, the following types or categories of records are maintained under our control:

  • Monthly Financial Statements
  • Annual Receipts and Disbursements Reports
  • Operating Budgets
  • Annual Audits
  • Minutes and Resolutions of the Board of Library Trustees
  • Library Policies
  • Annual Reports to the Illinois State Library

The request must state whether there is a "commercial purpose" for the request. Commercial purpose is defined by the Freedom of Information Act as "the use of any part of a public record or records, or information derived from public records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services." Misrepresentation of the purpose of the request is a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.

Complete the Lake Forest Library Request For Public Records Form and mail the request to the address noted above.

Records May Be Inspected or Copied

Records may be inspected or copied. If inspected, an employee must be present throughout the inspection. Records will be made available for inspection Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, at Lake Forest Library, 360 E Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, Illinois.

Costs

To reimburse the Library for its actual costs for reproducing and certifying (if requested) the requested information:

  • The first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal paper are free. The fee for records copied, after the first 50 pages, will be $0.10 per page.
  • Colored copies, copies sized other than legal or letter size, electronic records, e.g. disks, diskettes, tapes, etc., will be charged at the actual cost of reproduction.
  • The fee for certification will be $1.00 per certificate.
  • Fees exceeding $10.00 will be payable in advance.

Procedure

The Library shall respond to a written request for public records within five (5) working days after its receipt, or 21 days if the request is for a commercial purpose. Denial shall be by letter from the Library's FOIA Officer. No denial shall be issued without the knowledge and consent of the Library Director.

The letter denying the request for public records shall notify by letter the person making the request of the decision to deny such, the reasons for the denial, and the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial.

Each notice of denial shall also inform such person of his right to appeal to the Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Each notice of denial shall inform such person of his right to judicial review under Section 11 of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/11. When a request for public records is denied on the grounds that the records are exempt under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/7, the notice of denial shall specify the exemption claimed to authorize the denial. Any person who is dissatisfied must submit their written appeal within sixty (60) days of receipt of the letter denying the request for public records.

The Library's failure to respond to a written request within five (5) working days after its receipt shall be considered a denial of the request.

The five (5) working day time limit prescribed above may be extended for five (5) additional working days for any of the following reasons:

  • the requested records are stored in whole or in part at other locations than the office having charge of the requested records;
  • the request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records;
  • the request is couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive search for the responsive records;
  • the requested records have not been located in the course of routine search and additional efforts are being made to locate them;
  • the requested records require examination and evaluation by personnel having the necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under Sections 7 or 7.5 of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/7 and 5 ILCS 140/7.5, or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions;
  • the request for records cannot be complied with by the Library within the time limits without unduly burdening or interfering with Library operations;
  • there is a need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another public body or among two or more components of a public body having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter of the request.

When additional time is required for any of the above reasons, the Library shall notify by letter the person making the written request within the five (5) working day time limit the reasons for the delay and the date by which the records will be made available or denial will be forthcoming.