| |
Libraries From the perspective of a library user, the operation of a library seems a serene endeavor involving comfortable buildings available for the public to come and read or research many hours a week with a treasure trove of content. Behind the scenes, however, and seldom appreciated by the public, are the legal issues faced by the professional staff of the library and the library's elected or appointed officials who are devoted to continuing the success of this community service. Several Illinois statutes including the Illinois Local Library Act and the Public Library District Act of 1991 provide guidance for creating, organizing and financially supporting local libraries. Whether your library operates as a library district or as a municipal library board, it is no longer possible to maintain and operate a library without developing substantial knowledge of finance, personnel issues, zoning and property questions, and liability concerns. Ancel, Glink represents a number of library districts and boards throughout Chicago and surrounding counties. Libraries generally need less legal advice than many other governmental bodies. The trick is to sense when an attorney's advice is needed and to ask for it when it can still be of assistance. The firm offers its library clients attorneys with expertise in a variety of practice areas, including public finance, employment, construction and corporate concerns while counseling the library about the library's regular day-to-day business. Because the firm represents many kinds of governmental bodies, we can offer special expertise when conflicts occur between governments or when intergovernmental agreement scan result in mutual benefits.
Ancel, Glink attorneys have recently produced the Financial Manual for Illinois Public Library Districts and Boards, to be published and available in 2007 through the Illinois Library Association. Britt Isaly, one of our attorneys, is a former Board member and a Treasurer of the Village of Lake Bluff Public Library, and, with Stewart Diamond, is a co-editor of the Financial Manual. We are proud to offer this manual through the ILA to assist library trustees and library staff interested in learning more about the financial management tools for their libraries. The manual outlines the budgeting and levying process of Illinois libraries, and also provides guidance related to personnel, construction and liability issues. Although the manual cannot supply the answer to every question about library finance, it is a good source for initial reference and investigation. The firm is also a frequent contributor to the ILA's journal, the Reporter, and speaks at the annual ILA Conference. In addition to our representation of libraries, we also provide consulting services to Illinois libraries and we are often asked to provide second opinions to Illinois governments.
|
|
