Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Library Description
The Eldorado Memorial Public Library District is a publicly supported public library district headquartered in Saline County, Illinois and serving communities in Hamilton County and Gallatin County, Illinois. Governed by a seven-member elected board of trustees, the library’s purpose is to provide materials and services for the recreational, social, informational, and educational needs of the community.The library’s website offers 24-hour access to electronic information, services, and the catalog.
The Illinois Public Library District Act of 1991 (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 75, 16/1-10) states: “That library shall be forever for the use of the residents and taxpayers of the district in which it is located, subject to reasonable rules and regulations the board adopts to render the use of the library of the greatest benefit to the greatest number of those residents and taxpayers.”
The library is located at this address: Eldorado Memorial Public Library
1001 Grant Street, Eldorado, IL 62930-0426
Financial Information
Funding sources are property tax, personal property replacement taxes, state and federal grants, fines, charges, and donations. Tax levies are:
- Corporate purposes (for general operating expenditures)
- IMRF (provides for employee’s retirement and related expenses)
- Social Security (provides for employee’s FICA costs and related expenses)
- Audit (for annual audit and related expenses)
- Building and Maintenance (for maintaining the building)
- Tort Liability (for insurance premiums, risk management, attorney’s fees and related expenses, unemployment and worker’s compensation insurance)
Staffing
When fully staffed, the library has the following number of employees:
- Full-time (averaging 32 hours or more): 3
- Part-time (averaging fewer than 32 hours): 5
An organizational chart is available here.
Advisory Information
The following organization exercises control over EML’s policies and procedures: The Eldorado Memorial Public Library Board of Library Trustees, which meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month, 5:30 pm, at the library.
Its members are detailed on this website’s Board of Trustees page.
The following organization operates in an advisory capacity regarding the library’s operation: Illinois Heartland Library System.
The library is required to report and be answerable for our operations to:
Illinois State Library, Springfield, Illinois. Its members are: State Librarian, Alexi Giannoulias (Illinois Secretary of State).
FOIA Officer and Contact Information
The Eldorado Memorial Public Library District FOIA Officer is the Library Director. The secondary FOIA Officer is the EML Assistant Library Director.
What is FOIA?
FOIA is the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5ILCS 140), records in possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/2(c), “public records” means all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body. Records that are not subject to release via the FOIA process include confidential and trade secret information.
How to Submit a FOIA Request
FOIA requests must be submitted in writing.
The FOIA request should include a clear description of the public record requested. If a request is unclear, EML may need to contact you to further clarify the request.
Written requests can be submitted in three ways:
- Via EMAIL to foia@eldoradomemoriallibrary.com with the subject “FOIA request”
- By FAX to 618-273-4402 with “FOIA Request” clearly stated as the subject and to the “attention of the FOIA Officer”
- By MAIL or hand delivery to
Eldorado Memorial Public Library District
ATTN: Library Director, FOIA Request
1001 Grant Street
Eldorado, IL 62930
Important Note: We encourage all requestors to send FOIA requests by email rather than by postal mail.
Required Information When Filing a FOIA Request
- The requestor’s name
- Complete contact information (name, address, email address that can be used for communication and responsive documents, phone number)
- A clear description of the document(s) being sought
- A statement that the request is being made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act
- Whether this is a commercial request or not
- Format requested for delivery of public records (hard copy print, email, Excel spreadsheet, etc.)
Requests may be to inspect or copy records. If inspected, an employee or representative of Eldorado Memorial Public Library District must be present throughout the entire inspection. Inspection of documents shall not be allowed when records are in immediate use by persons exercising official duties that require use of the records