[Michlib-l] FOIA Requests

[Membiela, Clare (MDE)]

Hi Nannette:

Please see attached. Let me know if you would like any further explanation.

Unfortunately there  does not seem to be much that you can do in this situation under FOIA other than to know what the law does and does NOT require, and  have really good rules in place and then apply them strictly and evenly. The law tends to be very much on  the requestors’ side except in really specific circumstances.

If a real problem develops, your safest recourse is to consult your attorney, who can provide you with options based on the particular circumstances of the situation. Your attorney could also review your rules and see if there is any tweaking that could be done to assist you in these types of situations.


I hope the attached helps
Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist with!

Clare

Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.
Library of Michigan
www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan>
517-335-8132
MembielaC at michigan.gov
Information within this message is for educational and informational purposes only. No information in this message constitutes, nor should be interpreted as, legal advice or opinion.

Our collective efforts can help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years!  Here are the goals and strategies: http://mi.gov/top10in10/

[cid:image001.png at 01D2039A.4E4BC0C0]


From: Nannette Miller [mailto:erlib.director at gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 10:57 AM
To: Membiela, Clare (MDE) <MembielaC at michigan.gov>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] FOIA Requests

Hi Clare, Thank you so much! Is there ever a point where it just becomes harassment? All of the statistics she originally asked for are in our state aid reports, so I directed her to the links on our website. Then she came back and wanted three things broken out by month. One of the things isn't actually a data element the way she is identifying it, and one thing we don't keep any records about. I have a feeling she is going to come back over and over wanting more detailed information. Is there a way to stop it?

Nannette

On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 10:36 AM, Membiela, Clare (MDE) <MembielaC at michigan.gov<mailto:MembielaC at michigan.gov>> wrote:
Hello Nannette!

I am compiling some information on your specific FOIA question  that may be of use to you. I will send it to you and post it on MichLib-L today.

In the meantime here are some links to some information on FOIA from the Attorney General’s office, The Michigan Municipal League,  as well as some guides we have posted here at the Library of Michigan.

http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-20988_18160---,00.html


http://www.mml.org/pdf/resources/foia/FOIA%20Resource%20Packet%207-1-15.pdf


http://www.milibraries.org/assets/1/6/LM_Developing_Documents_Summaries_2015_FOIA_Amendments.pdf


I hope these are useful!
Sincerely,
Clare


Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.
Library of Michigan
www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan>
517-335-8132<tel:517-335-8132>
MembielaC at michigan.gov<mailto:MembielaC at michigan.gov>
Information within this message is for educational and informational purposes only. No information in this message constitutes, nor should be interpreted as, legal advice or opinion.

Our collective efforts can help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years!  Here are the goals and strategies: http://mi.gov/top10in10/

[cid:image001.png at 01D2039A.4E4BC0C0]


From: michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org>] On Behalf Of Nannette Miller
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 12:28 PM
To: Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>>
Subject: [Michlib-l] FOIA Requests

Hi,  Has anyone gotten what I call a nuisance FOIA request? A local resident sent a letter wanting our statistics for 5 years, including number of people using the library, number of cards issued, computer usage, budget and income/expense statements, and my salary. We put links to the Annual State Aid Reports on our website and I referred her to those, as allowed by FOIA. She now wants everything by the month. I explained I would have to charge her to do the work to compile those monthly numbers, and she said she doesn't care.

Based on other things she and her little band who don't think Elk Rapids needs a library are doing I'm sure this is just to make things difficult. Any suggestions?

--
[https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0Bz80TZwblruLTkVaS3dVeTVNMk0&export=download]
Nannette Miller | Director
Elk Rapids District Library
231.264.9979<tel:231.264.9979> | erlib.director at gmail.com<mailto:erlib.director at gmail.com> | elkrapidslibrary.org<http://elkrapidslibrary.org>



--
[https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0Bz80TZwblruLTkVaS3dVeTVNMk0&export=download]
Nannette Miller | Director
Elk Rapids District Library
231.264.9979 | erlib.director at gmail.com<mailto:erlib.director at gmail.com> | elkrapidslibrary.org<http://elkrapidslibrary.org>
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