Open Public Records Act (OPRA)

Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Request

203 Laurel Road
Voorhees, New Jersey 08043
Barbara DelPidio
Open Public Records Administrator

Phone: (856) 772-1636
Fax: (856) 772-6105
 

To fill in a form online, and then print out and mail, CLICK HERE.
 

OPRA applies to records created, maintained, kept on file, or received in the course of official business. Unless the requested records fall under an exemption to OPRA, the responsive documents must be made available to the requestor.

Pursuant to New Jersey law, the requestor of a Camden County Library System record generally must be granted access to the requested records or the request must be denied no later than seven (7) business days after the Camden County Library System receives the request, provided that the record is currently available and not in use, in storage or archived. Immediate access ordinarily shall be granted for budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts and government employee’s salary and overtime information. If the record is unavailable because it is in use, in storage or archived, then the requestor must be so advised within seven (7) business days after receipt of the request, and further advised as to when the record shall be made available. If the requestor has not provided a name, address, telephone number, or other means of contacting the requestor, no response is required until the requestor reappears seeking a response to the original request.

The requestor agrees to pay the fees due (total amount calculated by Camden County Library System as per Assembly Bill 559 and Senate Bill 1212 – legislation that passed both houses which amends N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5b - *See chart below for regular photocopies and special service charge for extraordinary photocopies) prior to the records being turned over to or delivered to the requestor.

Charges for Reproduction of County Records

(Unless fees are set by another law for specific record)

As per N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., whenever the nature, format, or manner of collation, or volume of a government record is such that the records cannot be reproduced by ordinary document copying equipment in ordinary business size or involves an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate the request, a government agency may charge, in addition to the actual cost of duplicating the records, a special service charge. Set forth herein are the established charges, which shall apply to all such requests, made to the Camden County Library System. The County reserves the right to assess an additional charge beyond those listed below if an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort is necessary to respond to a request.

Letter Size Photocopies (8.5” X 11” and smaller) $0.05 (five cents) per page

Legal Size Photocopies (8.5” X 14”) $0.07 (seven cents) per page

Compact Discs (CD’s)* $0.75 (seventy five cents) per

Delivery/Postage fees Additional depending upon delivery type

Electronic records (sent via e-mail or fax) are free of charge

*The above fee schedule for the charge for the Compact Disc is the actual cost for such reproductions. As otherwise provided by law, whenever the nature, format, manner of collation or volume of the requested record prevents reproduction by ordinary means, or requires a substantial amount of manipulation or programming of information technology, the County may charge a fee representing the actual cost of reproduction of duplication plus a reasonable special charge representing the extraordinary means, methods, labor, or supervisory effort required to accommodate the request.

1.     All government records are subject to public access under the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), unless specifically exempt.

2.     A request for access to a government record under OPRA must be in writing, hand-delivered, mailed, transmitted electronically, or otherwise conveyed to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.g. The seven (7) business day response time does not commence until the records custodian receives the request form. If you submit the request form to any other officer or employee of the County of Camden, that officer or employee must either forward the request to the appropriate custodian, or direct you to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.h.

3.     Requestors may submit requests anonymously. If you elect not to provide a name, address, or telephone number, or other means of contact, the custodian is not required to respond until you reappear before the custodian seeking a response to the original request.

4.     The fees for duplication of a government record in printed form are listed above. We will notify you of any special service charges or other additional charges authorized by State law or regulation before processing your request. Payment shall be made by cash, check or money order payable to the Camden County Library System

5.     You may be charged a 50% or other deposit when a request for copies exceeds $25. The Camden County custodian will contact you and advise you of any deposit requirements. You agree to pay the balance due upon delivery of the records. Anonymous requests in excess of $5.00 require a deposit of 100% of estimated fees.

6.     Under OPRA, a custodian must deny access to a person who has been convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey, any other state, or the United States, and who is seeking government records containing personal information pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family. This includes anonymous requests for said information.

7.     By law, the Camden County Library System Records Administrator must notify you that it grants or denies a request for access to government records within seven (7) business days after the custodian of records receives the request. If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage, the custodian will advise you within seven (7) business days after receipt of the request when the record can be made available and the estimated cost for reproduction.

8.     You may be denied access to a government record if your request would substantially disrupt the County Library System’s operations and the custodian is unable to reach a reasonable solution with you.

9.     If the Camden County Library System is unable to comply with your request for access to a government record, the custodian will indicate the reasons for denial on the request form or other written correspondence and send you a signed and dated copy.

10.   Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the requestor, if the custodian of records fails to respond to you within seven (7) business days of receiving a request, the failure to respond is a deemed denial of your request.

11.   If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the Camden County Library System to deny access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at grc@dca.state.nj.us, or at their web site at www.state.nj.us/grc.The Council can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County. As provided by law, the requestor has the right to appeal a denial of access to county records by initiating an action in the Superior Court of New Jersey.

12.  Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act.