Freedom of Information Act

1-70 Freedom of Information Act

Chatham Area Public Library is committed to providing citizens and taxpayers access to applicable public records under the Freedom of Information Act. 

A brief description of our public body is as follows:

1. Our purpose is to provide materials and services for the recreational, social, informational, and educational needs of the community.
2. An organizational chart is available to view at the Library, and on our website. Our elected board of trustees are: Michael Roubitchek, Christine Westerlund, John Moore, Vanessa Ross, Jenny Vaughn, Rodd Whelpley and Dianne Roberts.
3. The total amount of our operating budget for FY 2024-25 is $1,525,637. Funding sources are property taxes, state and federal grants, fees, charges, and donations. Current year tax levy for the library is $1,284,633.24. Current year tax rate is 0.2594.
4. The office is located at 600 East Spruce Street, Chatham, IL 62629.
5. We have approximately the following number of persons employed:
   1. Full-time: 8
   2. Part-time: 24
6. Control over our policies and procedures is exercised by the Chatham Area Public Library Board of Trustees which meets monthly on the third Monday, at 7:00 PM, in the Conference Room of the Chatham Area Public Library.
7. The Library is required to report and to be answerable for library operations to the Illinois State Library, Springfield, Illinois. Its members are State Librarian, Alexi Giannoulias (Secretary of State); Director of State Library, Greg McCormick; and various other staff.
8. You may request the information and the records available to the public in the following manner:
   1. Use request form. (see attached)
   2. Your request form should be directed to Amy Byers, Library Director.
   3. To reimburse us our actual costs for reproducing and certifying (if requested) the records, you will be charged the following fees:
      1. There is a $1.00 charge for each certification of records.
      2. There is no charge for the first fifty (50) pages of black and white text either letter or legal size;
      3. There is a $.15 per page charge for copied records in excess of 50 pages; The actual cost of copying color copies and other sized copies will be charged.
9. Certain types of information maintained by us are exempt from inspection and copying. However, the following types or categories of records are maintained under our control:
   1. Monthly Financial Statements
   2. Monthly Receipts and Disbursement Reports
   3. Operating Budgets
   4. Annual audits
   5. Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Committees
   6. Library Policies, including Materials Selection
   7. Adopted Ordinances and Resolutions of the Board
   8. Monthly and Annual Statistical Reports

ADOPTED: MARCH 20, 2000

AMENDED: OCTOBER 21, 2024