Hi Guys,

We got those same emails a couple of weeks ago. Being a new director, I was worried, so I emailed a trusted colleague. He and his colleague gave me some EXCELLENT advice that I would like to pass on to you.

He wrote, "Oh gosh. That's nothing for her to fret over. I would not even go so far as to say “hit with a FOIA” like its negative... It’s one of those “open government” places that makes wage information of government employees easily accessible. [My library] gets one every year. I am not sure what triggers their interest other than random samplings of local governments and schools in a geographic area. I have another one I get every quarter called Smart Procure. They ask for All purchases made. These are just big mass FOIA companies for “holding government accountable”. They don't actually care about her. It’s just a stat for their database. Other than the time it takes to fill out a report, which for her should not be too bad, it’s an extra large nothing burger. With pickles ;). "

Looking at it THAT way made me realize that it was no big deal and made me feel SO much better. I had our bookkeeper run two quick reports on Quickbooks and emailed them off, and then we had two extra large nothing burgers... with pickles.

I hope that helps and makes you feel a little less worried.

Kari Besancon (Bə-sank’-in), MLIS
District Director
Iosco-Arenac District Library
zv323
989-362-2651
k.besancon@vlc.lib.mi.us

On 3/12/2024 1:06 PM, Lynne Lesky via Michlib-l wrote:

We also got them. We are working on how to respond. I will let you know what we do. This is also my first time responding to a FOIA request, but I was told that we get this one every year, so we are looking for what we sent last year.

Lynne

Lynne K. Lesky, Director

Alanson Area Public Library

7631 Burr Avenue PO Box 37

Alanson, MI 49706

(231) 548-5465

From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Kay Hurd via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 12:59 PM
To: michlib-l@mcls.org <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] FOIA Request

I have received 2 separate requests for financial records from American Transparency. Is anyone else getting this? If so, how are you handling it? This is my first time.

Thanks,

Kay E. Hurd

Director

Almont District Library

213 W. St. Clair

P.O. Box 517

Almont, MI. 48003-0517

810-798-3100 voice

810-798-2208 fax

director@adlmi.org

khurd@adlmi.org

www.adlmi.org

03/08/2024

Records Access Officer,

Pursuant to the FOIA, this is a request for an electronic copy of all payment transactions for Almont District Library for calendar year 2023 or fiscal year 2022-2023. This could be considered one of the following reports: Vendor Payment Checkbook Report, Checkbook Register, Expenditure Data, Transactional Detail Payments, Online Checkbook, or Disbursements. Here is an online example from the City of San Anonio, Texas (https://www.sanantonio.gov/Finance/bfi/registers#50043241-fy2019). We would accept any existing report which contains a minimum of the Payee Name, Amount and Date of each transaction.

The principal purpose of this is to make this information more accessible to the public and to disseminate information regarding the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. This request is not for personal or commercial benefit and we are exercising the general rights of the public. For this reason we are requesting a waiver of fees.

If there is a fee for this data, please obtain my approval in writing prior to proceeding with this request. All documents can be e-mailed to Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com. We would prefer a file format of csv or xlsx.

If any records or portions of records are withheld, please provide the exemption and the name of the individual responsible for the decision.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of my request. If you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please e-mail me at Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com.

Sincerely,
Christopher Schreiner
American Transparency
P.O. Box 970999
Boca Raton, FL 33497-0999

03/08/2024

Records Access Officer

Pursuant to the FOIA, this is a request for a copy of the following records: An electronic file (ie Excel, PDF, Word) of any and all Almont District Library employees including part-time, temporary, seasonal employees and elected officials for year of 2023 (fiscal or calendar year). Each employee record should contain the year of compensation, first name, middle initial, last name, hire date (mm-dd-yyyy), base salary amount, bonus amount, overtime amount, gross annual wages and position title.

The principal purpose of this is to make this information more accessible to the public and to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. This request is not principally for personal or commercial benefit. Our agency is just exercising the general rights of the public. For these reasons, we are requesting a waiver of fees. If there is a charge for this service, please obtain my approval in writing prior to proceeding with request.

All documents can be e-mailed to Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com or mailed in electronic format (preferred format would be .csv or .xls). If any documents are not provided in the format specified, please provide the state or federal statutes relied upon for that decision. If any record or portion of a record responsive to this request is contained in a record or portion of a record deemed unresponsive to the request, I would like to inspect the entire document. Under the Open Records Act/Freedom of Information Act, all non-exempt portions of any partially-exempt documents must be disclosed. If any records or portions of records are withheld, please state the exemption on which you rely, the basis on which the exemption is invoked, and the name of the individual responsible for the decision.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of my request. If you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please e-mail me at Michigan@OpenTheBooks.com.

Sincerely,

Christopher Schreiner
American Transparency
P.O. Box 970999
Boca Raton, FL 33497-0999