Freedom of Information Act Policy

FOIA Policy Approved 11-18-25

FOIA Policy

Any patron requesting public records of the Lake Bluff Public Library under the IllinoisFreedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1/(“Act”) must make such a request in writing,either in print or electronically. The person requesting records should specify inparticular the records to be provided and copied.

All requests should be directed to FOIA Officer, Lake Bluff Public Library, 123 E. ScrantonAve., Lake Bluff, IL 60044.

The first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal paper are free. The fee for recordscopied, after the first 50 pages, will be $.15 per page. Colored copies, copies sized otherthan legal or letter size, electronic records, e.g. disks, diskettes, tapes, etc., will becharged at the actual cost of reproduction. The fee for certification will be $1 percertificate. Fees exceeding $5 will be payable in advance. For commercial FOIA requeststhe Library may charge the requestor for the costs of any search for and review of publicrecords or other personnel costs associated with reproducing public records. Forrequests of a record maintained in electronic format, the Library will furnish the copy inthe requested format if feasible. If not feasible, then the copy will be provided in theelectronic format in which it is maintained, or in a paper format, at the option of therequestor. If a copy is provided in electronic format, no fee will be charged beyond theactual costs of the recording medium.

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

A request will be denied if the public records requested fall within one of the specificexemptions of the Act or in those situations where the public body does not have eithera right of access or ownership of the public records or where the public body isprohibited from disclosing public records. If only part of the request is denied, accesswill be given to the remaining non-exempt portion of response of public records. TheLibrary’s written response to requests will explain the Library’s detailed factual basis forwithholding exempt records or parts thereof. Records may be inspected or copied. Ifinspected, a Library employee must be present throughout the inspection. The letterdenying the request for public records shall notify by letter the person making therequest of the decision to deny such, the reasons for the denial, and the names andtitles or positions of each person responsible for the denial. Each notice of denial shallalso inform such person of his right to appeal to the Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General not later than sixty (60) days after the date of the Library’sfinal denial or the requester may seek judicial review of the denial under Section 11 ofthe Act [5 ILCS 140/11]. When a request for public records is denied on the groundsthat the records are exempt under Section 7 of the Act [5 ILCS 140/7], the notice ofdenial shall specify the exemption claimed to authorize the denial.

Public records available to the public may be requested in the following manner:

• All requests must be in written form, either in print or in electronically (email).
• Request form is available at the Library’s website.
• Request forms must be completed legibly.
• The Act does not require the Library to create new public records that do notalready exist within the Library’s possession and custody.
• Requests must specify the records requested to be disclosed for inspection or tobe copied. If any records are to be certified, they must be specified.
• Legal counsel may be consulted to advise as to the proper response to therequest.
• The Library may not require the requestor to specify the reason or purpose of therequest “except to determine whether the records are requested for a commercialpurpose or whether to grant a request for a fee waiver.”
• Request is to be returned to the FOIA officer via email for to the Library, LakeBluff Public Library, 123 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff, IL 60044.
• Requests received after 5:00 p.m. will be dated as being received on the nextconsecutive business day.
• Within five (5) business days or twenty-one (21) business days for commercialrequests, of receipt of a written request in the Administrative Office, the Librarywill respond with information regarding: access to the public records, extensionof response time under the Act, or the grant or denial of the request, in whole orin part, in writing.
• Records will be made available by appointment on weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m., excluding holidays, at the Lake Bluff Public Library, 123 E. Scranton Ave.,Lake Bluff, IL 60044.

The five (5) working day time limits prescribed above may be extended for five (5)additional working days including 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 requested records require the collection of a substantial number of specifiedrecords.
• The requested records are couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive
• search for the records responsive to it.
• The requested records have not been located in the course of routine search andadditional efforts are being made to locate them.
• The requested records require examination and evaluation by personnel havingthe necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt fromdisclosure under 5 ILCS 140/7 or should be revealed only with appropriatedeletions.
• The requested records cannot be complied with by the Library within the timelimits without unduly burdening or interfering with Library operations.
• There is a need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicablespeed, with another public body or among two or more components of a publicbody having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter ofthe request.

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