We received the FOIA request from OpenTheBooks that has been much discussed. We complied and sent info as requested. We use Quickbooks and it to about 20 minutes for the bookkeeper to export a report and make a few changes as requested. We have about 25 employees. I don't understand why there is so much resistance to just responding to the request. It seems some folks are spending more time trying to wiggle out of it or outsmart the folks making the request - than it would take to just comply and fulfill the information request. I believe in the value of transparency in government- even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable for me and mine. NSB -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
Hi Nancy, I know I shouldn't speak for everyone, but in this case my sense is that the library community would usually gladly respond to an individual's request, or even that of a group - but many of us feel this is just an exercise that wastes time because it's such a blanket request across the state. It feels like the folks at Open the Books have targeted us for no reason other than to see how we respond. So, we balk. Also, because the request asks for personnel info, I know I worry about giving too much data to an unknown entity. I'm kind of protective of my own, and my staff members', personal data. I am lucky in that SPL is a department of our City, so I just turned the letter over to our City Clerk, who will take care of the issue. Smaller libraries may worry about having to jump through hoops to get the info. FOIA requests are inherently 'scary' if you don't get them often. They can make one wonder what one did 'wrong' to illicit the request, and whether there's a lawsuit coming later. So, that's my take on the push back. Libraries are indeed pretty transparent, and almost all the librarians I know are pro-transparency. This request just feels wrong. Best to all, Dave David L. Ewick, MLS, MS City Librarian Southfield Public Library 26300 Evergreen Southfield, Michigan 48076 248 796-4300 dewick@southfieldlibrary.org P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
Nancy Studebaker-Barringer <director@nileslibrary.net> 4/21/2017 7:36 AM >>> We received the FOIA request from OpenTheBooks that has been much discussed. We complied and sent info as requested. We use Quickbooks and it to about 20 minutes for the bookkeeper to export a report and make a few changes as requested. We have about 25 employees.
I don't understand why there is so much resistance to just responding to the request. It seems some folks are spending more time trying to wiggle out of it or outsmart the folks making the request - than it would take to just comply and fulfill the information request. I believe in the value of transparency in government- even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable for me and mine. NSB -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
I think my concern is that they’re asking for so much personally identifiable information. I’d be less likely to resist if the data requested didn’t include personal information. The data, for legitimate use, could be just as valuable with position names (e.g. Library Director, page, etc.) without including personal names linked to all the data. If someone really needed to follow up on an actual person, they could do that with minimal effort, but to aggregate personally identifiable information into who-knows-what kind of database or source they’re creating seems like a privacy invasion more than a “transparency” issue. Perhaps we, as library researchers, need to investigate who these groups are and what they do with this information. My own opinions, Leslie Leslie D. Burke Collection Development & Digital Integration Librarian, Library Kalamazoo College 1200 Academy St Kalamazoo, MI 49006 p 269.337.7144 f 269.337.7395 Leslie.Burke@kzoo.edu<mailto:Leslie.Burke@kzoo.edu> More in Four. More in a Lifetime. No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something – What’s your Green Dot? LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leslieburke/<http://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieburke/> Twitter: librarygal2go; K’s Library on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalamazoocollegelibrary From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Studebaker-Barringer Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 7:37 AM To: michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] FOIA Requests We received the FOIA request from OpenTheBooks that has been much discussed. We complied and sent info as requested. We use Quickbooks and it to about 20 minutes for the bookkeeper to export a report and make a few changes as requested. We have about 25 employees. I don't understand why there is so much resistance to just responding to the request. It seems some folks are spending more time trying to wiggle out of it or outsmart the folks making the request - than it would take to just comply and fulfill the information request. I believe in the value of transparency in government- even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable for me and mine. NSB -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
I don't believe legitimacy is a qualifying question in FOIA. Per the website, there are allowable exemptions and you can determine, with your lawyer, whether the request breaches any of those. They primarily have to do with invasion of personal privacy and you'd likely have to look at case law to determine what you can stand on. Otherwise, it's a law and you must comply. https://www.foia.gov/faq.html#exemptions What is the Presumption of Openness and Who Issues Guidance to Agencies on the FOIA? The FOIA provides that when processing requests, agencies should withhold information only if they reasonably foresee that disclosure would harm an interest protected by an exemption, or if disclosure is prohibited by law. Agencies should also consider whether partial disclosure of information is possible whenever they determine that full disclosure is not possible and they should take reasonable steps to segregate and release nonexempt information. The Office of Information Policy at the Department of Justice is responsible for issuing government-wide guidance on the FOIA as part of its responsibilities to encourage all agencies to fully comply with both the letter and the spirit of the FOIA. Kelli Perkins Collection & Digital Resources Manager Herrick District Library 300 S River Ave, Holland MI 49423 616.355.3718 kperkins@herrickdl.org ________________________________ From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Leslie Burke <Leslie.Burke@kzoo.edu> Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 8:10:35 AM To: Nancy Studebaker-Barringer; michlib-l Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] FOIA Requests I think my concern is that they’re asking for so much personally identifiable information. I’d be less likely to resist if the data requested didn’t include personal information. The data, for legitimate use, could be just as valuable with position names (e.g. Library Director, page, etc.) without including personal names linked to all the data. If someone really needed to follow up on an actual person, they could do that with minimal effort, but to aggregate personally identifiable information into who-knows-what kind of database or source they’re creating seems like a privacy invasion more than a “transparency” issue. Perhaps we, as library researchers, need to investigate who these groups are and what they do with this information. My own opinions, Leslie Leslie D. Burke Collection Development & Digital Integration Librarian, Library Kalamazoo College 1200 Academy St Kalamazoo, MI 49006 p 269.337.7144 f 269.337.7395 Leslie.Burke@kzoo.edu<mailto:Leslie.Burke@kzoo.edu> More in Four. More in a Lifetime. No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something – What’s your Green Dot? LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leslieburke/<http://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieburke/> Twitter: librarygal2go; K’s Library on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalamazoocollegelibrary From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Studebaker-Barringer Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 7:37 AM To: michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] FOIA Requests We received the FOIA request from OpenTheBooks that has been much discussed. We complied and sent info as requested. We use Quickbooks and it to about 20 minutes for the bookkeeper to export a report and make a few changes as requested. We have about 25 employees. I don't understand why there is so much resistance to just responding to the request. It seems some folks are spending more time trying to wiggle out of it or outsmart the folks making the request - than it would take to just comply and fulfill the information request. I believe in the value of transparency in government- even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable for me and mine. NSB -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
participants (4)
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Dave Ewick -
Kelli Perkins -
Leslie Burke -
Nancy Studebaker-Barringer