ITEM NUMBER: 7.62 a-c
CHAPTER 7: Administrative
Management
CODE: Policy
COMPUTER ID: AMAILP-62
Title: Animals in the Library Policy
Effective Date: 5-2018
Authorized By: Library Board of Trustees/Library Director
Date of Last Revision: 4-2022
PURPOSE
The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) recognizes that some patrons with
disabilities may have service animals, which are trained to perform tasks for the benefit of
a disabled individual. MCPL recognizes legal rights under federal and state laws
regarding use of service animals. MCPL also considers the safety and health of all of its
patrons, the public and library staff to be of utmost priority.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
Patrons may not bring animals other than service animals (see definition below), or
service animals in training, inside MCPL locations. Handlers of animals other than
service animals will be asked to remove them from the library.
Individuals with disabilities may bring their service animals into all areas of the library
where members of the public are normally allowed to go. All service animals must be
under the full custody and control of their handler at all times. All service animals must be
on a leash or harness at all times unless the handler is unable to leash or harness the
animal because of a disability or use of a leash or harness would interfere with the
OHDVKHGRUKDUQHVVHGLWPXVWEHRWKHUZLVHXQGHUWKHKDQGOHUVFRQWURO HJYRLFH
control, signals, or other effective means). Handlers of the service animals are solely
responsible for the supervision and care of the service animal. Therefore, handlers must
keep the service animal directly with them at all times.
ITEM NUMBER: 7.62 b
Both state and federal laws address disability protections. Unlike other issues where
federal law may preempt state law, for disability protections, the federal laws specify that
they do not limit any equal or greater protections and rights afforded under state laws.
This means that a property owner or establishment must adhere to whichever law
provides the greater protections for a person with a disability.
Under Wisconsin law, a service animal may be any animal that is individually
trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such
work or tasks include (but are not limited to) guiding people who are blind, alerting people
who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a
seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a
person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or
performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Animals whose
sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals
under the ADA or Wisconsin law. While Emotional Support Animals or Comfort Animals
are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals, they are not
considered service animals under the ADA or Wisconsin law, and are therefore not
allowed in the library. These support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness,
and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have
special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities.
Handlers of service animals are not required to show papers or to prove a disability.
Service animals are not required to be licensed or certified by a state or local government
or training program, or be identified by a special harness or collar.
Under Wisconsin law, staff may ask only the following question regarding a trained
service animal: Is the service animal required because of a disability? Staff may not
ask about the h
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove their service animal or service
animal in training from the library unless the, behavior of the service animal constitutes an
unreasonable risk of injury or harm to property or other persons, or violates other library
policies that patrons are subject to.
In these cases, library staff should give the person with the disability the option to obtain
library services without having the services animal or service animal in training on the
premises. Fear of allergies, annoyance on the part of other patrons or employees or fear
of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to
people with service animals or service animals in training.
ITEM NUMBER: 7.62 c
Service and Support Animals:
ib_supportanimals_msk_2019_10_01 (wisconsin.gov)
DEFINITIONS (if applicable)
Service Animal: Any animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or
ntal disability.
Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more
major life activities, or any abnormal sensory, mental or physical condition that 1)
is medically cognizable or diagnosable; 2) exists as a record or history or 3) is
perceived to exist.
CHAPTER 7: Administrative
Management
CODE: Policy
COMPUTER ID: AMAILP-62
Title: Animals in the Library Policy
Effective Date: 5-2018
Authorized By: Library Board of Trustees/Library Director
Date of Last Revision: 4-2022
PURPOSE
The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) recognizes that some patrons with
disabilities may have service animals, which are trained to perform tasks for the benefit of
a disabled individual. MCPL recognizes legal rights under federal and state laws
regarding use of service animals. MCPL also considers the safety and health of all of its
patrons, the public and library staff to be of utmost priority.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
Patrons may not bring animals other than service animals (see definition below), or
service animals in training, inside MCPL locations. Handlers of animals other than
service animals will be asked to remove them from the library.
Individuals with disabilities may bring their service animals into all areas of the library
where members of the public are normally allowed to go. All service animals must be
under the full custody and control of their handler at all times. All service animals must be
on a leash or harness at all times unless the handler is unable to leash or harness the
animal because of a disability or use of a leash or harness would interfere with the
OHDVKHGRUKDUQHVVHGLWPXVWEHRWKHUZLVHXQGHUWKHKDQGOHUVFRQWURO HJYRLFH
control, signals, or other effective means). Handlers of the service animals are solely
responsible for the supervision and care of the service animal. Therefore, handlers must
keep the service animal directly with them at all times.
ITEM NUMBER: 7.62 b
Both state and federal laws address disability protections. Unlike other issues where
federal law may preempt state law, for disability protections, the federal laws specify that
they do not limit any equal or greater protections and rights afforded under state laws.
This means that a property owner or establishment must adhere to whichever law
provides the greater protections for a person with a disability.
Under Wisconsin law, a service animal may be any animal that is individually
trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such
work or tasks include (but are not limited to) guiding people who are blind, alerting people
who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a
seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a
person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or
performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Animals whose
sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals
under the ADA or Wisconsin law. While Emotional Support Animals or Comfort Animals
are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals, they are not
considered service animals under the ADA or Wisconsin law, and are therefore not
allowed in the library. These support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness,
and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have
special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities.
Handlers of service animals are not required to show papers or to prove a disability.
Service animals are not required to be licensed or certified by a state or local government
or training program, or be identified by a special harness or collar.
Under Wisconsin law, staff may ask only the following question regarding a trained
service animal: Is the service animal required because of a disability? Staff may not
ask about the h
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove their service animal or service
animal in training from the library unless the, behavior of the service animal constitutes an
unreasonable risk of injury or harm to property or other persons, or violates other library
policies that patrons are subject to.
In these cases, library staff should give the person with the disability the option to obtain
library services without having the services animal or service animal in training on the
premises. Fear of allergies, annoyance on the part of other patrons or employees or fear
of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to
people with service animals or service animals in training.
ITEM NUMBER: 7.62 c
Service and Support Animals:
ib_supportanimals_msk_2019_10_01 (wisconsin.gov)
DEFINITIONS (if applicable)
Service Animal: Any animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or
ntal disability.
Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more
major life activities, or any abnormal sensory, mental or physical condition that 1)
is medically cognizable or diagnosable; 2) exists as a record or history or 3) is
perceived to exist.