These questions and their accompanying instructions 1) introduce some Kansas library laws and 2) instruct in the use of this Web site for answering more legal questions.
To submit answers for completing the "Learn Kansas Library Law" CE Project, print and write your answers on this Word version.
- What type of library do you have?
Answer: _________________________________ - What is the number of the law establishing your type of library?
Answer: K.S.A. __________
How to find answers to the above questions. - In the right-side, top-menu, click "What type of library do you have?"
- Read the definitions and write the answers above.
- How many members should your library board have?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - In the right-side menu, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Library boards."
- Click and read "Library Boards" article in The Kansas Public Library Handbook."
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to to your type of library identified in question #1 above.
- Under "Boards," click on "Appointment" or, for "District Libraries," "Election."
- After read the law, write above the number for your type of library or check "Kansas law about my type of library doesn't clearly say."
- What date during the year do library board member terms end?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - In the right-side menu, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Library boards."
- Read the "Library Boards" article in The Kansas Public Library Handbook."
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to to your type of library.
- Under "Board->Terms," click the law.
- After read the law, write above the date for your type of library or check "Kansas law about my type of library doesn't clearly say."
- How many consecutive years can a trustee serve?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Library boards."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" read "How long can trustees serve on the board?"
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to your type of library.
- Under "Boards->Terms" click the law.
- Read the law and write the number for your type of library or check "Kansas law about my type of library doesn't clearly say."
- If a board member has served two four-year terms, how many years must he or she be off the board before being appointed again?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to your type of library.
- Under "Boards->Terms" click the law.
- Read the law and write above the number for your type of library or check "Kansas law about my type of library doesn't clearly say."
- When trustee terms expire, can they stay on the board until a replacement is appointed?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions."
- Click "Library boards."
- Under "Articles" read "Library Boards," the section called "Expired Terms of Library Board Members."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" read "When trustee terms expire, can they stay on the board until a replacement is appointed?"
- The following people CAN NOT serve on a library board. (Cross out the people below who can be on the library board.)
- On the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;"
- Scroll down to "City, county and township libraries."
- Under "Boards->Appointments," click law "12-1222."
- Read the first paragraph.
- On the right-side menu "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Library Boards."
- Under "Articles" read "Conflict of interest."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions," read the four opinions explaining who can serve on library boards.
- If the city mayor asks the library board to suggest someone to be on the library board, and board members can't find a single person in town willing to serve, what has to happen to allow the mayor to appoint someone from outside the city limits?
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to "Cities, counties and townships."
- Under "Board->Appointment;" click the law 12-1222.
- Read the last paragraph.
- Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions" and click "Home rule."
- Under "Articles," read:
- "Home rule," and
- The charter ordinance or resolution for your type of library.
- Under "Attorney General Opinions," read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion about home rule.
- How are members of a district library board selected?
K.S.A. _________ says:- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
How to find answers to the above questions. - On the right-side, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Library Boards.
- Below "Articles," click "Library boards" from The Kansas Public Library Handbook."
- Click and read the section, "Library Board of a District Library."
- On the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to "District libraries."
- Under "Boards->Appointments" click the law.
- Read the law.
- The treasurer of the library board has resigned. None of the other board members are willing to keep the library’s books (financial records). What options does the board have?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - What does ex officio mean?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Can the city mayor, as an "ex officio" member of the board, vote at a city library board meeting?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Also, look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions."
- Click "Library Boards" and under "Attorney General Opinions."
- Read "What powers to "ex officio" board members have?"
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "City, county and township libraries, under "Boards->Appointments," click law "12-1222." Read the first paragraph.
- How many trustees are needed for a quorum at your library board meetings?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - On the right-side, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Open Meetings."
- Below "Articles," click and read the "Open Meetings" from The Kansas Public Library Handbook."
- For your type of library,
- If one member short of a quorum, e.g., three members of a seven member board, show up for a regular board meeting, can the librarian count for a quorum?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - On the right-side, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Library Boards."
- Below "Attorney General Opinions," click and read the "Can a librarian serve on the library board?"
- Can the library board's chairperson call an emergency executive session of the library board to discuss the librarian's performance?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - If four members of the library board "accidentally" meet for coffee at the local café and one of them brings up the issue of the library's budget being over spent, what should they do?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question. - On the right-side, below "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Open Meetings."
- Below "Articles," click and read the "Open Meetings" from The Kansas Public Library Handbook."
- The library board did not meet on their regular day in August. Can the library board president call a meeting of the library board any day she can roundup a quorum of he board to makeup for the meeting they missed?
- Can board meeting times be changed without notice?
- Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Open meetings" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Open Meetings Act " and click the law beside "Notice of meetings."
- In meetings, can library trustees vote by secret ballot?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Open meetings."
- Under "Articles" read "Open Meetings" article from The Kansas Public Library Handbook.
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" read "Can trustees vote by secret ballot?"
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to "Open Meetings Act."
- Click the law beside "Secret ballots."
- Can discussions about the qualifications of board members be held in executive sessions?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Open meetings."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Open Meetings Act " and click the law beside "Executive sessions."
- A board meeting is scheduled for 4:00 PM on a Monday. Two members of the board have already called the board president to let her know they are going to be out of town. Ten minutes before the meeting is to start two other board members call the library to say they are not coming. The three board members who are already there waiting for the meeting start decide to sit around for the next 45 minutes to discuss a couple of issues that they were going to discuss in the board meeting. Is this a violation of the open meetings law?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - If a library board is defined in Kansas Law as a "body corporate," what powers does it have?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Open meetings."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to your type of library.
- Click and read the law beside "Corporate status."
- Click and read the law beside "Duties" and "Powers."
- Can the librarian change the library hours when daylight savings time ends because he has to milk his cow and hour earlier? (This really did happen.)
- Who supervises the work of the librarian?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above question - Who determines how much tax levy is raised each year for the library: the library board, the city council or county commissioners?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Budget" and read appropriate Attorney General Opinions.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Tax levy" and click "12-1220."
- Can a city or county refuse to fund an established library employee benefit fund?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Employee Benefit Fund" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Employee Benefit Fund" and click "12-16,102."
- Does the governing body of the city or the library determine the amount of annual tax levy for the employees benefit fund of the city library?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Employee Benefit Fund" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Employee Benefit Fund" and click "12-16,102."
- Must a library have liability insurance for the immunity to apply to library board members?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Liability" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Liability" and click "60-3601."
- What "utilities" cannot be paid for with State Grants-in-Aid to Libraries?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "State Aid" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- If State Grants-in-Aid money is misspent, is the money removed from the following year's grant?
- Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "State Aid" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Can funds of a county library levy be given to a city library in that county that is not part of the county library?
- Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Funding, Budgeting, Investment, Auditing" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Can a county board of commissioners divert library tax levy funds to the general fund for the purpose of having the library pay for administrative service charges?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Funding, Budgeting, Investment, Auditing" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- If the city pays the librarian's salary from its general fund, who is responsible for giving the librarian a salary increase?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - It is an hour before story time at the library. The librarian realizes that she needs some crayons and glue for the planned activity. Can she use money from the fine drawer to buy the supplies for story time?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - What taxes do libraries not have to pay?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Library exemption from taxes" and read the appropriate articles.
- Write answer here.
- Library board members are volunteers and they cannot be paid for their service on the board. What can they be compensated for?
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to "City, county, township libraries."
- Under "Boards->Appointments" click "12-1222."
- Read the last sentence.
- In July of 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase. How much will it be then? Are public libraries exempt from paying the federal minimum wage?
- If the library board requires the librarian to attend a CKLS workshop on a regular day off, does the library have to pay him or her at the regular hourly rate?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - How much mileage are they required to pay when someone from the library drives a personal car to a CKLS event?
- Can the library charge to rent new popular fiction books?
- Can the teenage son or daughter work for the librarian and be paid?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - If the librarian is on a leave of absence to care for an ailing spouse, can a board member be paid to fill-in for him or her?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Do patrons have the right to keep damaged items they pay for?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Library Materials Protection Act" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index;" scroll down to "Library Materials Protection Act" and click "21-3702."
- Does Kansas law say libraries must or must not withhold the names of library card holders or the specific titles of items checked out by patrons?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side menu under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions." Click "Open records" and read the appropriate Attorney General Opinion.
- Can the librarian decide to close the library because he or she has to stay home to care for a sick child?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - A library that is a member of Regional System of Cooperating Libraries must provide free service to those who live where?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - The mayor’s office and the library are on the same ventilation system. Can the mayor fire the librarian when she complains about his smoking in his office?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Two equally qualified women have applied to be the librarian. Can the board refuse to hire one of the women because she smokes?
- When interviewing a person to be the new librarian, can board members ask if the person is married or does he or she have any children?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Can they ask him or her what would keep him or her from coming work?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - If the citizens of a community, including towns and townships, want to organize a district library to increase funding for the library, what must they do?
K.S.A. _________ about my type of library says: _______
___ Kansas laws about my type of library do not clearly say.
___ An Attorney General Opinion that applies to my library says:
How to find answers to the above questions. - Look in the right-side, top menu, click "Home page Subject index."
- Scroll down to to "District Library."
- After the phrase "Establishment: petition, election and annual tax levy," click the laws "12-1236" and "12-1237."
- Optional related readings:
- On the right side menu, under "Articles and Attorney General Opinions," click "Libraries-Districts."
- Under "Attorney General Opinions" are the following opinions.
- "Can library districts be created from townships in more than one county or more than one regional library system?"
- "Townships donating money to library districts."
- "Can township libraries abolish themselves and transfer assets to a district library?"
- "Can district libraries be excluded from a regional library system mill levy?"
- "Can the library board of a district library call an election on issuing bonds for acquiring an existing building?"
Questions about library board members
- Librarian
Spouse of the librarian
Mayor
City council member
Spouse of a city council member
How to find answers to the above question.
How to find answers to the above question.
Questions about board meetings
Questions about financing
CKLS Administrator Jim Swan and Department Head Chris Rippel developed the above questions to guide your reading of Kansas library law.