Library Policies

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Service animals are permitted at the Syosset Public Library in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines service animals as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action to assist the person with a disability, and the task(s) performed must be directly related to the disability. A service animal is a working animal, not a pet. Pets are not allowed in the library.

Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals which have not been trained to perform a specific job or task do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

While the library occasionally presents educational programs that feature animals, members of the public may only enter the library with an animal if it is a service animal that requires accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

A staff member attempting to ascertain whether a dog is a service animal may never ask about the nature of a person's disability. If it is not obvious that a dog brought into the library is a service animal, a staff member may ask the following questions:

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
  
  
• What specific work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
  
  

Service Animal Guidelines:

• Service animals must be under the immediate control of their handlers at all times.
  
  
• Service animals which are not housebroken, bark excessively, are uncontrolled, or are otherwise disruptive will be required to leave the premises.
  
  
• Animals may never be left unattended on library grounds.
  
  
• Service animals are not permitted on library furniture or fixtures, or in library shopping carts, and must remain on the floor or be carried (as appropriate) by their handlers at all times.
  
  
• Staff may ask the patron for a service animal certificate. If the certificate is not immediately available, it may be presented during their next visit to the library.
  
  
• Misrepresenting a dog as a service animal is a violation of this Policy and may result in the suspension of library privileges.

Library staff may request the handler to correct the animal’s behavior if a service animal is not compliant with this Policy. If the handler does not take effective action to control the animal, library staff may request that the animal be removed from the library. In such a case, the handler will be able to continue with their visit, or visit on another occasion without the animal.

ADOPTED: OCTOBER 15, 2019