Freedom of Information Act

 

The Library provides excellent customer service and information in a variety of formats, materials and programs that educate, inform, enrich, inspire, and entertain.

The FY2024 operating budget is $4,880,580.00. Funding sources include property and personal property replacement taxes, the State Per Capita Grant, fines and fees, investments, charges and donations. Tax levies, can include, but are not limited to:

1. Corporate purposes (for general operating expenses)
2. IMRF (provides for employee's retirement and related expenses)
3. Social Security (provides for employee's FICA costs and related expenses)
4. Audit (for annual audit and related expenses)
5. Building and Maintenance (caring for the building and equipment)
6. Liability (insurance premiums, workers' compensation insurance, and risk management)
7. Working Cash (for internal loans)
8. Debt Service (for bond and interest payments)

Rolling Meadows Library is located at 3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008. Telephone number: 847-259-6050.
The Library has 26 full-time and 31 part-time employees.

The Library Board of Trustees, which meets at 7:00 p.m. at the Library on typically the second Wednesday of each month, are appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, and oversee the Library's budget, policies and procedures. Board members are: Jean Threadgill, President; Phil Priest, Vice-President; Steve Rossi, Treasurer; Marsha Kremer, Secretary; Melanie Elfers, Mary Erturk, Megan Gawlik, Liesel Hughes and Sylvia Vange.

If rescheduled, notice is posted as required by the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Board and management team members serve on the following committees: Bylaws, Development, Nominating (Development Subcommittee), Finance, Heritage, Personnel, and the Planning Committee. Meeting dates, agendas, and minutes are posted in the Library and on the library website at www.rmlib.org

The Library is required to report and be answerable for our operations to: The Illinois State Library, Springfield, IL. Its members are Secretary of State and State Librarian, Alexi Giannoulias; Director of State Library, Greg McCormick; and various other staff.

To request information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please contact:

Jack Bower, FOIA Officer
Administration Office
Rolling Meadows Library
3110 Martin Lane
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 847-259-6050
Email: RMLfoia@rmlib.org

Requests may be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail, or in person. Use of the FOIA Request Form is preferred, but not required.

You must specify the records requested to be disclosed for inspection or to be copied. Indicate records to be certified, if any. The library will respond to you within five (5) working days from the day after receipt of the request. If additional time is needed the library will contact you in writing.

In addition, you must indicate if you have a "commercial purpose" in your request. A commercial purpose is defined in the 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." However, there are exceptions for news media, non-profits, scientific and academic organizations for disseminating news, articles or opinions of public interest, or research or education. If a "commercial purpose" is involved, the Library FOIA Officer can ask additional questions of the requester to determine the request classification. The Library has up to 21 days to respond and either deny the request based on exemptions or undue burden; or estimate the time and cost of the copying for prepayment; or provide the documents requested.

The first 50 pages of black and white copies on letter or legal sized paper are free. Pages after 50 will be charged at $.15 each. Color copies or copies on paper sized other than legal or letter will be charged the actual cost of reproduction. If the records are kept in electronic format, you may request a specific format and if feasible, they will be so provided. If not, they will be provided in the electronic format in which they are kept. Cost of electronic records will be charged at the actual cost of the recording medium. (i.e. disks, etc.). There is a $1.00 per record charge for certification of copies. Records may be inspected or copied. If inspected, an employee must be present throughout the inspection. The place and times the records will be available are as follows: Rolling Meadows Library Administration Office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..

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

1. Monthly Financial Statements
2. Annual Receipts and Disbursements Reports
3. Budget and Appropriation Ordinances
4. Levy Ordinances (See past Ordinances here.)
5. Operating Budgets
6. Annual Audits (See past Audits here.)
7. Minutes of the Library Trustees that have been approved and closed minutes which have been released
8. Library Policies
9. Adopted Ordinances and Resolutions of the Board
10. Annual Reports to the Illinois State Library (See past Reports here.)