ADA Policies and Assistance EDWARD CHIPMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY ADA POLICY
The Edward Chipman Public Library welcomes individuals with disabilities and strives to operate its services, programs, and activities in such a way as to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
The building that houses the Edward Chipman Public Library is over 100 years old and visitors with physical disabilities may find access to the building challenging. Therefore, in an effort to ensure that library patrons with disabilities have access to library services, programs and activities the library offers the following services:
● Online access to the Library catalogue is available from any personal computer, tablet or smartphone listing books, VHS, DVD, Audio Cassette, magazines, Axis360 eBooks and Acoustic audio.
● Curbside service is available upon request at any time the library is open to the public for any of the services offered inside the Library. Library patrons can call ahead to request curbside service for:
○ Checking out any materials that are available at the Library for loan, such as books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, etc.;
○ Using the photocopiers or fax machine for patrons who wish to pay to utilize these machines but are unable to enter the building;
○ Applying for a library card;
○ Paying fines for overdue borrowed materials;
○ Checking out laptop computers.
● Laptop computers are available for check out by patrons with disabilities who are unable to access the public computers in the library building. These computers provide access to the Library’s online catalogue and all other programs available on the Library computers. The use of these computers is governed by the Library’s laptop computer policy.
● Access to programs and activities scheduled in the library building will be accommodated upon request either through relocation to another site, or through technological means, such as conference call or SKYPE.
Service Animals
Individuals with disabilities who are accompanied by their trained service animal are welcome in the building with their service animal. Documentation showing that the animal is trained as a service animal is not required; however, the Library staff may ask if the animal is needed because of a disability, and what work or task it has been trained to perform. The Library staff will only ask an individual with a disability to remove their service animal from the Library if the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it, or if the animal is not housebroken.
Effective Communication
In accordance with the ADA, the Library will take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with individuals with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. The Library will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services upon request where necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity of the Library. When choosing an aid or service, a library representative will consult with the requester to discuss what aid or service is appropriate. The Library representative will give primary consideration to the requester’s choice of aid or service unless another equally effective means of communication is available, or the preferred means requested would result in a fundamental alteration of the Library’s services, or in an undue financial or administrative burden.
ADA Coordinator
The Library has designated a responsible staff member as an ADA Coordinator to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out the Library’s ADA responsibilities. The ADA Coordinator’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Respond to inquiries, and provide information, regarding access to the library’s services and programs for individuals with disabilities;
• Oversee the Library’s curbside service delivery program;
● Accept and respond to accommodation requests from patrons with disabilities wishing to access library services or participate in a library program. The ADA Coordinator will consult with the requester to find an effective way in which to make the service or program accessible, either by relocating the program or by providing access through technological means.
• Accept and respond to individuals with communication impairments requesting auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, consulting with the requester to determine which aids will provide effective communication.
EDWARD CHIPMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY POLICY REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Edward Chipman Public Library is committed to making reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures to permit access to its site of service animals accompanying persons with disabilities. Service animals play an important role in ensuring the independence of people with disabilities, and it is therefore our policy to welcome service animals in all areas of the library where members of the public are allowed to go.
What is a Service Animal?
Service animals include any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Service animals come in all breeds and sizes, may be trained either by an organization or by an individual with a disability, and need not be certified or licensed. Service animals do not always have a harness, a sign, or a symbol indicating that they are service animals. A service animal is not a pet. Service animals assist people with disabilities in many different ways, such as:
● Guiding people who are blind or have low vision and retrieving dropped objects for them;
● Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds and the presence of others;
● Carrying and picking up items, opening doors, or flipping switches for people with disabilities who have limited use of hands or arms, limited use of their legs, or limited ability to bend or stoop;
● Pulling wheelchairs;
● Alerting people with disabilities to the onset of medical conditions such as seizures, protecting them and cushioning them if they fall, reviving them, and performing other tasks that reduce the risk of disability-related injury;
● Doing work or performing tasks for persons with traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities, such as reminding a person with depression to take medication or waking him up, alerting a person with anxiety to the onset of panic attacks, orienting people with schizophrenia, and helping people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities to locate misplaced items, find places, or follow daily routines; and
● Providing physical support and assisting people with physical disabilities with stability and balance.
Staff Requirements with Regard to Service Animals:
Most of the time, people with disabilities who use service animals may be easily identified without any need for questioning. If we can tell by looking, it is our policy not to make an individual feel unwelcome by asking questions. If we are unsure whether an animal meets the definition of a service animal, it is our policy to ask the individual only two questions at the point that the individual seeks entry to the library:
1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or tasks has the dog been trained to perform?
If the individual answers “yes” to the first question and explains the work or tasks that the animal is trained to perform, we will welcome the person and service animal into the library without asking any additional questions about his or her service animal. We will not ask an individual questions about his or her disability. We will not ask an individual to show a license, certification, or special ID card as proof of their animal’s training. We will not ask an individual with a service animal to use a specific entrance or exit. We must permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities to all areas of the library normally used by guests or other members of the public and will treat individuals with service animals with the same courtesy and respect that we afford to all of our patrons.
Pursuant to Illinois law, it is the policy of the Edward Chipman Public Library to permit service animals in training to accompany their trainers in all areas where members of the public are allowed.
Please direct any inquiries or complaints about this policy in accordance with our usual procedures by contacting the ADA Coordinator at the Edward Chipman Public Library at 815-472-2581.
Edward Chipman Public Library Chromebook Lending Policy
The library owns two Chromebook computers that are for the use of its patrons whose disabilities make it difficult for them to enter the library building to utilize the public computers.
The following rules and regulations apply:
[1] Chromebooks may be borrowed by resident library card holders, ages 18 and up, in good standing (i.e. user households with fines and/or lost books are blocked.) This will be on a first-come basis. Photo identification in addition to an Edward Chipman Library card will be required.
[2] The loan period will be for 2 hours. The last check out time can be no later than 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 :00 a.m. on Saturday.
[3] If a Chromebook is not returned by the scheduled time, a phone call will be made to the patron and a $10.00 late fee applied. This late fee will double the next day.
If the Chromebook is not returned by the third day, a call will be placed to local police re theft of property from a public entity.
Users who have on two separate occasions returned the Chromebook late will lose Chromebook privileges for a period of six months.
[4] Each Chromebook is equipped with operating software. No additional software may be installed or downloaded.
[5] Each Chromebook comes with a power cord and carrying case for which the borrower is responsible.
[6] The library does not assume responsibility for lost or corrupted files for any reason, such as hardware failure or network interruptions. Users wishing to save files they have created must back them up on their own flash drive.
[7] Chromebooks must be returned in person to the library’s check-out person. Chromebooks may be returned via curbside service by calling 815-472-2581. Chromebooks must be picked up and returned by the person requesting the Chromebook via curbside service. Chromebooks cannot be put in the drop box. Borrowers are advised to wait until the Chromebook is checked and the sign-out sheet returned with the signature of the staff member on duty.
[8] The Library’s Public Computer Use policy applies to Chromebook use. Users attest that they have read and will adhere to the policy.
For any additional questions or concerns please contact our ADA Coordinator for the Edward Chipman Public Library:
Robin Adkins
815-472-2581
robinadkins@momencelibrary.com