Service Animals Policy

TCPL allows service animals - as defined by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the library where the public is allowed to go. Service animals are not required to wear special vests or have documentation, but must be licensed. They must be leashed (unless the person’s disability prevents them from using such a device), and must at all times, be under the person’s control. TCPL staff can ask that the service animal be removed, if the animal is out of the person’s control.
 
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as: Any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. A service animal is a working animal, not a pet. Other species of animal are not service animals under the ADA. To determine if an animal is a service animal, two questions may be asked:

1.    Is this animal required because of a disability?
2.    What work or task has this animal been trained to perform?

Drafted by LaWanda Cook on October 19, 2021.

Approved by the Library Services & Policy Committee on November 11, 2021.

Approved by the Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees on November 16, 2021.

PDF Version of the Policy