DJ 204-30-75

BACKGROUND

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The United States Department of Justice (Department) initiated this matter as a compliance review of the Pike County, Kentucky Public Library District (Library District) under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35.

 The review was conducted by the Disability Rights Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division and focused on the Library District’s compliance with the following title II requirements:

• to conduct a self-evaluation of its services, policies, and practices by July 26, 1992, and make modifications necessary to comply with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.105;
• to notify applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons of their rights and the Library District’s obligations under title II and the Department’s regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.106;
• to designate a responsible employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out the Library District’s ADA responsibilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(a);
• to establish a grievance procedure for resolving complaints of violations of title II, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(b);
• to operate each program, service, or activity so that, when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.150, by:
• delivery of services, programs, or activities in alternate ways, including, for example, redesign of equipment, reassignment of services, assignment of aides, home visits, or other methods of compliance or, if these methods are not effective in making the programs accessible,
• physical changes to buildings (required to have been made by January 26, 1995), in accordance with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151, and the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Standards), 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, App. A, or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), 41 C.F.R. § 101-19.6, App. A.
• to ensure that facilities for which construction or alteration was begun after January 26, 1992, are readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, in accordance with 1) the Department’s title II regulation and 2) the Standards or UFAS, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151;
• to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others, including furnishing auxiliary aids and services when necessary, 28 C.F.R. § 35.160;
• to provide direct access via TTY (text telephone) or computer-to-telephone emergency services, including 9-1-1 services, for persons who use TTY’s and computer modems, 28 C.F.R. § 35.162;
• to provide information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the Library District’s accessible services, activities, and facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(a); and
• to provide signage at all inaccessible entrances to each of its facilities, directing users to an accessible entrance or to information about accessible facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(b).

As part of its compliance review, the Department reviewed the following facilities,  which – because construction or alterations commenced after January 26, 1992 – must comply with the ADA’s new construction or alterations requirements:

The Department’s program access review covered those of the Library District’s programs, services, and activities that operate in the following facilities:

JURISDICTION

1. The ADA applies to the Pike County Public Library District because it is a “public entity” as defined by title II.  42 U.S.C. § 12131(1).
2. The Department is authorized under 28 C.F.R. Part 35, Subpart F, to determine the compliance of the Library District with title II of the ADA and the Department's title II implementing regulation, to issue findings, and, where appropriate, to negotiate and secure voluntary compliance agreements. Furthermore, the Attorney General is authorized, under 42 U.S.C. §12133, to bring a civil action enforcing title II of the ADA should the Department fail to secure voluntary compliance pursuant to Subpart F.
3. The parties to this Agreement are the United States of America and the Pike County Public Library District.
4. In order to avoid the burdens and expenses of an investigation and possible litigation, the parties enter into this Agreement.
5. In consideration of, and consistent with, the terms of this Agreement, the Attorney General agrees to refrain from filing a civil suit in this matter regarding all matters contained within this Agreement, except as provided in the section entitled “Implementation and Enforcement.”

ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PIKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

6. The Library District has adopted a policy to “provide, on equal terms, free basic service to all individuals and groups . . . (with) library service rendered on a strictly impartial basis to all individuals and groups in the community.”
7. In 1992-1993, the Library District conducted a self-evaluation of the libraries existing at that time, using an accessibility checklist provided by the Kentucky Workforce Development Cabinet. Thereafter, as new libraries were built, the Library District required that the designs meet ADA guidelines, and held several public meetings for input from the community.
8. From September through November 2004, a third party performed a public services survey for the Library District.
9. Each year, the Library District allocates funds within its budget to maintain and repair its facilities.
10. The website for the Pike County Public Library District (www.pikelibrary.org) contains software that is adaptable for special needs.
11. The Library District participates with the state library, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, as well as local social agencies for referrals and specialized materials or equipment to provide effective communication.
12. The Library District networks with the Kentucky Talking Book Library, which provides library services to individuals who have a visual or physical disability that prevents them from using standard printed materials. Kentucky Talking Book Library sends books on taps and Braille books through the mail at no cost to the patrons.
13. The Library District provides qualified sign language interpreters upon request for adults and children who have hearing disabilities.

REMEDIAL ACTION

NOTIFICATION

14. Within two months of the effective date of this Agreement, the Library District will adopt the attached Notice (Attachment A); distribute it to all agency heads; post the Notice on its website; and post copies in conspicuous locations in its public buildings. It will refresh the posted copies, and update the contact information contained on the Notice, as necessary, for the life of this Agreement. Copies will also be provided to any person upon request.
15. Within three months of the effective date of this Agreement, and on yearly anniversaries of this Agreement until it expires, the Library District will implement and report to the Department its written procedures for providing information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the Library District accessible programs, services, and activities.

GENERAL EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION PROVISIONS

16. The Library District will take steps to ensure that all appropriate employees are trained and practiced in using the KentuckyRelay Service to make and receive calls.

EMPLOYMENT

17. Within three months of the effective date of this Agreement, the County will amend its employment policies, as necessary, to comply with the regulations of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission implementing title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 29 C.F.R. Part 1630. At minimum, those policies will provide that the County:

WEB-BASED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

18. Within six months of the effective date of this Agreement, and on subsequent anniversaries of the effective date of this Agreement, the Library District will distribute to all persons – employees and contractors – who design, develop, maintain, or otherwise have responsibility for content and format of its website(s) or third party websites used by the Library District (Internet Personnel) the technical assistance document, “Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities,” which is Attachment H to this Agreement (it is also available at www.ada.gov/websites2.htm).
19. Within twelve months of the effective date of this Agreement, and throughout the life of the Agreement, the Library District will do the following:

PHYSICAL CHANGES TO FACILITIES

20. The elements or features of the Library District’s facilities that do not comply with the Standards, including those listed in Attachments I, J, and K, prevent persons with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying the Library District’s services, programs, or activities and constitute discrimination on the basis of disability within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §12132 and 28 C.F.R. §§35.149 and 35.150.
21. The Library District will comply with the cited provisions of the Standards when taking the actions required by this Agreement.
22. Newly Constructed Facilities: In order to ensure that the following spaces and elements in Library District facilities, for which construction was commenced after January 26, 1992, are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, the Library District will take the actions listed in Attachment I.
23. Altered Facilities: In order to ensure that the following spaces and elements in Library District facilities, for which alterations commenced after January 26, 1992, are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, the Library District will take the actions listed in Attachment J.
24. Program Access in Library District’s Existing Facilities: In order to ensure that each of the Library District’s programs, services, and activities operating at a facility that is the subject of this Agreement, when viewed in its entirety, is readily accessible to and usable by persons with mobility impairments, the Library District will take the actions listed in Attachment K.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

25. Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, at yearly anniversaries of the effective date of this Agreement until it expires, the Library District will submit written reports to the Department summarizing the actions the Library District has taken pursuant to this Agreement. Reports will include detailed photographs showing measurements, architectural plans, work orders, notices published in the newspaper, copies of adopted policies, and proof of efforts to secure funding/assistance for structural renovations or equipment.
26. Throughout the life of this Agreement, consistent with 28 C.F.R. §35.133(a), the Library District will maintain the accessibility of its programs, activities, services, facilities, and equipment, and will take whatever actions are necessary (such as routine testing of accessibility equipment and routine accessibility audits of its programs and facilities) to do so. This provision does not prohibit isolated or temporary interruptions in service or access due to maintenance or repairs. 28 C.F.R. §35.133(b).
27. Within six months of the effective date of this Agreement, the Library District will develop or procure a two-hour training program on the requirements of the ADA and appropriate ways of serving persons with disabilities. The Library District will use the ADA technical assistance materials developed by the Department and will consult with interested persons, including individuals with disabilities, in developing or procuring the ADA training program.
28. Within one year of the effective date of this Agreement, the Library District will deliver its training program to all Library District employees who have direct contact with members of the public. At the end of that period, the Library District will submit a copy of its training curriculum and materials to the Department, along with a list of employees trained and the name, title, and address of the trainer.

IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

29. If at any time the Library District desires to modify any portion of this Agreement because of changed conditions making performance impossible or impractical or for any other reason, it will promptly notify the Department in writing, setting forth the facts and circumstances thought to justify modification and the substance of the proposed modification. Until there is written Agreement by the Department to the proposed modification, the proposed modification will not take effect. These actions must receive the prior written approval of the Department, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
30. The Department may review compliance with this Agreement at any time. If the Department believes that the Library District has failed to comply in a timely manner with any requirement of this Agreement without obtaining sufficient advance written agreement with the Department for a modification of the relevant terms, the Department will so notify the Library District in writing and it will attempt to resolve the issue or issues in good faith. If the Department is unable to reach a satisfactory resolution of the issue or issues raised within 30 days of the date it provides notice to the Library District, it may institute a civil action in federal district court to enforce the terms of this Agreement, or it may initiate appropriate steps to enforce title II.
31. For purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph, it is a violation of this Agreement for the Library District to fail to comply in a timely manner with any of its requirements without obtaining sufficient advance written agreement with the Department for an extension of the relevant time frame imposed by the Agreement.
32. Failure by the Department to enforce this entire Agreement or any provision thereof with regard to any deadline or any other provision herein will not be construed as a waiver of the Department's right to enforce other deadlines and provisions of this Agreement.
33. A copy of this document or any information contained in it will be made available to any person by the Library District or the Department on request.
34. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties on the matters raised herein, and no other statement, promise, or agreement, either written or oral, made by either party or agents of either party, that is not contained in this written Agreement (including its Attachments, which are hereby incorporated by reference), will be enforceable. This Agreement does not purport to remedy any other potential violations of the ADA or any other federal law. This Agreement does not affect the Library District continuing responsibility to comply with all aspects of the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
35. This Agreement will remain in effect for three years.
36. The person signing for the Library District represents that he or she is authorized to bind the Library District to this Agreement.
37. The effective date of this Agreement is May 1, 2007.
    

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March 6, 2007