Recently Asked Questions (RAQs)

I am interested in developing a policy to outline who/how the library may collect donations on behalf of other organizations. We have always had a Lion's Club eyeglass donation box in the library. I inherited this procedure but I cannot find any policy that specifies the parameters of such an agreement. Does the organization we would collect for have to be a 501C3? I can't find guidance on what is acceptable, appropriate and most of all legal. Does the organization have to be one that reports finances to the state? We are a special legislative district library. I found some information from the state (below) but my legalese isn't what I'd like it to be. Thanks for any information you can provide. (PS this is prompted by someone telling a local group that we would let them collect old sneakers for their cause...Eeeewww!)

SECTION 174-B
Solicitation
Executive (EXC) CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE 7-A

We are planning an emergency preparedness training for library staff to include CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Narcan training. We have heard from librarians that some boards are concerned about the implications of having staff trained. We would like to have some commonly asked questions addressed so that we can answer them if they come up.

1. If staff are trained, do they incur a duty to act? Would they personally or the library as institution become liable should they freeze up and not intervene?

2. If staff are trained but inadvertently cause harm in the process of administering aid, are they covered by any kind of Good Samaritan law?

3. Can a library have a policy of requiring all staff to undergo these types of trainings?

4. Are there any other legal implications or obligations that should be considered that the average person may not think of?

We have become aware that a recent law in New York shortened the statute of limitations to collect consumer debts.  Does this affect our library’s ability to enforce and collect library fines?

We have two individuals in our community, within 500 feet on either side of the library, that have been identified as sex offenders on the NYS website. One comes to the library to take out materials. He is an adult and now living and working in the community, but still identified on the NYS website. He is listed at a higher level of offense. He does not come into our children's room, but does check out materials when programs are happening with children of all ages. Our employees are concerned with this individual in the library – he has not posed any threat, but there is still concern. What is the legal course for him coming into the library, coming into the library during certain hours and what action can be taken if something more transpires?

A recent article appeared in a local newspaper that was describing the local efforts of a group called Moms for Liberty to have certain books removed from school libraries because the group consider the titles to be inappropriate for school age children. However, the language used and quoted in the article, including “#Porninschools Exposed" and that they found over 80 titles that should be given an "R" rating seems as if it could be construed as an accusation against school libraries that they are distributing materials to minors that are prohibited by law. The article also quoted the group as intending to get people "outraged" by posting excerpts from books they consider objectionable. I would like to know if the school librarians facing these kinds of accusations have any recourse to bring action against the organization or individuals within the organization making these kinds of possibly slanderous and libelous accusations.