FOIA officer contact

Freedom of Information Act — Camargo Township District Library

Please direct requests to: Jackie Wells, Director and FOIA Officer Contact: camargotownshipdistlib@yahoo.com

Overview

The Freedom of Information Act is the principal Illinois law governing the inspection of public records. It is a pro-disclosure statute originally enacted on July 1, 1984. This important open-government law is grounded in the principle that the public should be able to access public records and information about the workings of their government.

Making a Request

Any patron requesting public records of the Camargo Township District Library under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1, as amended by Public Act 96-542 (effective January 1, 2010), must make such a request in writing. The person requesting records should specify in particular the records to be provided and copied.

All requests should be directed to:

Library Director
Camargo Township District Library
14 North Main St
Villa Grove, IL 61956

Any person requesting that records be certified must indicate specifically which records must be certified.

Response Time

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.

No denial shall be issued without the knowledge and consent of the Library Director.

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.

Notice of Denial

The letter denying the request for public records shall notify the person making the request, by letter, of:

  • The decision to deny the request
  • The reasons for the denial
  • The names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial

Each notice of denial shall also inform the person of:

  • Their right to appeal to the Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General
  • Their 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.

Appeals

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.

Extensions

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

  1. The requested records are stored in whole or in part at other locations than the office having charge of the requested records.
  2. The request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records.
  3. The request is couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive search for the records responsive to it.
  4. The requested records have not been located in the course of routine search and additional efforts are being made to locate them.
  5. The requested records require examination and evaluation by personnel having the necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under 5 ILCS 140/7, or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions.
  6. The request for records cannot be complied with by the Library within the time limits without unduly burdening or interfering with Library operations.
  7. There is a need for consultation — 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 the person making the written request, by letter, within the five (5) working day time limit, of:

  • The reasons for the delay
  • The date by which the records will be made available, or denial will be forthcoming

Source: Camargo Township District Library Policy Manual, p. 8

Request Form

Click here to access the FOIA Request Form