Whistle-Blower Protection Policy

The Harrison Public Library (HPL) is committed to the highest ethical conduct, and thus requires its trustees, staff, volunteers and persons who provide contracted services to HPL to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the performance of their duties and responsibilities for HPL and to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and policies.

Each such individual also has the responsibility to report in good faith as soon as practicable actions at HPL that violate laws, regulations, and/or the HPL Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy. Matters which must be reported under this policy include actual or suspected fraud, theft, embezzlement, accounting or auditing irregularities, bribery, kickbacks, misuse of HPL’ s assets or suspected regulatory compliance violations. Any allegations that prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

A report should be made to the HPL Library Director or, if the reporter feels uncomfortable, to the President of the HPL Board of Trustees.    The person receiving the report will acknowledge receipt in writing within five business days, but only if the reporting person’s identity is disclosed. A report will be followed up promptly, and an investigation conducted.  HPL will strive to keep the identity of the reporting individual as confidential as possible while conducting an adequate investigation. If the preliminary investigation shows no justification for a complaint, the complaint will be closed and the complainant, if he/she has identified him/herself, will be notified of this decision.  If the preliminary investigation reveals wrongdoing, the Library Director or President of the Board will report to the full Board of Trustees. The Board, in consultation with the Library Director, will decide how further investigation is to be carried out. The person making the complaint will receive general information on the progress of this investigation and its outcome, unless doing so would jeopardize the investigation.

All reports made under this policy, and investigations relating thereto, shall be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation. Disclosure of such reports to individuals not involved in any investigation may be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

A person who in good faith makes a report is protected from any intimidation, discrimination, harassment, victimization, adverse employment consequences or other retaliation on account of such report. Any staff member of HPL who retaliates against someone who has made a report in good faith will be subject to disciplinary action.

Approved by the Harrison Public Library Board of Trustees, 2/4/2016