Recently Asked Questions
Submit a Question to Ask the Lawyer
| Topic | Question | Submission Date | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permission for Appearance of Background Images |
Our historical society produced a documentary about the making of a sculpture. |
Historical societies and museums, Image Rights, Copyright, Privacy | |
| Staff Expectations for Emergency Preparedness Training |
We are planning an emergency preparedness training for library staff to include CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Narcan training. |
Emergency Response, Policy, Training, Templates, Employee Rights | |
| Handling Funds for Friends of the Library |
There seems to be a trend for libraries that have Friends groups to hold fundraisers, donations, and membership drives at the library. |
Templates, Friends of the Library, Budget, Donations | |
| Debt Collection and Library Fines |
|
Fees and Fines, Policy, Public Libraries, Debt Collection | |
| Charitable organization filing requirements for small (under 50k) “Friends” |
Are incorporated "Friends", who do not receive over $50 thousand, do not have paid staff, and are only able to provide the funds to the library |
Friends of the Library, Fundraising, Budget, IRS, Non-profits | |
| Petition Needed for School Ballot Vote |
For public libraries seeking school ballot funding, there's some gray area around whether a petition with signatures of eligible school distric |
NYS Education Law, School Ballots, Public Libraries, School Districts, Voting, Board of Trustees | |
| Legal Recourse for Slanderous Accusations Against Librarians |
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 r |
Book challenges, School Libraries, Policy, Intellectual Freedom, Public Libraries, Defamation | |
| Sex Offenders in Libraries (NYS) |
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 |
Public Libraries, Policy, Safety, Sex Offenders, Civil Rights | |
| Reallocation of Earmarked Library Funds |
Is it legal for a library board to approve expenditures (without a referendum) for a capital project from its operating funds (or operating fun |
Board of Trustees, Budget, By-laws | |
| Can Library Surplus Funds Be Added to Municipal General Fund |
We are a small municipal library serving a village of 6500 & a town population the same size. |
Budget, Municipal Libraries, Taxes |
