The attorney for the Coplay Public Library Board reversed his opinion regarding feeds for security cameras.

"My initial response was not to have [the camera feed] with the police department," said attorney John Stover at the board's Jan. 9 meeting. "But since that time I've had opportunity to investigate it further."

He did not attend the board's Dec. 12 meeting. Board President Janet Eisenhauer read a memo from him saying the viewing of the camera feeds should be limited to library personnel because of privacy requirements mandated by state library code. Eisenhauer and board member Charles Sodl said in December they did not agree with Stover's opinion that camera feeds should not go to the police department.

"I spoke to some colleagues of mine who also are involved in public libraries and there's no problem with it going to the police department, provided that we do not disclose or show or have any input on circulation records," Stover said Jan. 9. "Those are the sacred cow, for lack of a better word, in the library code."

The board purchased a set of eight cameras for $350 using a donation from Coplay Community Days. Before the cameras can be installed, the board must develop a policy for their use and make it known to patrons that activity in the library will be filmed.

Sodl said last month the cameras are being installed for security purposes and, as such, he believes the feed should go to the police department. He said he did not see the purpose for restricting the feed to library personnel.

"Really a camera does nothing more than what you and I could do if we were sitting in here watching around the room," said Stover.

Eisenhauer said board members will work with Stover and Coplay Police Chief Vincent Genovese to come up with a fair and workable policy for camera use.

In another legal matter, Stover said it appears the library will not legally be able to rent out a room in the library basement because of requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

"We can't discriminate, even unintentionally," he said.

The issue is access to the room requires going down a set of stairs.

"The problem is having a patron down there who could get hurt or who can't get down there because of the way it's set up," Stover said.

He recommended having a zoning or code enforcement official look at the room and recommend what could be done to make it compliant with current laws.

Eisenhauer said it's a nice room and the board hopes to be able to utilize it in some way.