Service Animals

The North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library (“the Library”) prohibits the presence of any animal on Library premises, with the exception of those animals providing medically necessary support for the benefit of individuals with disabilities (service animals). This policy applies to all trustees, employees, temporary employees, volunteers, patrons, and other guests. At the Library’s discretion, as expressed by a decision of the Board of Trustees or library director, exceptions to this rule may be granted in the event that Library programming or third party programming hosted at the library involve the presence of animals.

Administrative Policy and Procedure

Service Animals

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and North Judson Code, service animals are welcome in all areas of the library where members of the public are normally allowed. This policy also applies to service animals in training.

A service animal is an animal trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled person (be it due to sensory, mental, emotional, physical, or other issues). If the need for service animal is not obvious, staff may ask if an animal is a pet or a service animal. Users of service animals are not required to show papers to prove a disability or certification of the service animal’s status. Staff may not ask about the owner’s disability.

Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work, or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control through voice, signal, or other effective controls.

Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals. The owner(s)/user(s) of aggressive or otherwise disruptive service animals may be asked to remove them from Library facilities. Under such circumstances, the Library will seek to provide the patron the opportunity to obtain Library services without having the service animal on the premises.

Employees requesting to bring service animals to work as a reasonable accommodation for a disability must contact the Director and complete a Disability Accommodation Request form.

Adopted: 11/10/16