Item No. 26
MEMO

At the City Council's meeting on October 27, 2026, the Council referred to a future agenda a letter from the Ames Public Library Board of Trustees. The letter requested the adoption of an ordinance setting closed hours for Library grounds (request letter attached). 

The City Attorney's Office has advised City staff that the Library Board has “charge, control and supervision of the public library, its appurtenances and fixtures, and rooms containing the same, directing and controlling all affairs of such library.” Ames Municipal Code section 15.7(2). However, establishing hours on the library grounds beyond the building would require a City ordinance. This item is being placed on the agenda for discussion to seek Council direction on next steps. 

Library staff have contacted several other larger Iowa cities to learn what practices are in place- it is outlined below:  

• Des Moines - The land outside Central Library (downtown Des Moines) is considered a park, so hours are governed by the Des Moines Municipal Code (6 AM – Midnight only). Enforcement is possible/handled by the Des Moines Police Department. 
  
  
• Council Bluffs - The City has an ordinance about no overnight parking or camping on City property, which covers the grounds of the library.
  
  
• Ankeny - The City code addresses overnight parking/camping, abandoning property on City grounds.
  
  
• Cedar Rapids - The City code addresses camping overnight on public property. The Police Department gives a warning the first time they have to talk to someone about camping and it is not an instant trespass ticket like it is on other city facilities; however, if there is a repeat offense, they get a trespass.
  
  
• Omaha Public Library - Outdoor spaces are open to all library patrons only during regular library hours.
  

If the Council desires to support the request of the Library Board of Trustee to establish closed hours for Library grounds, it would be appropriate to direct the City Attorney's Office to prepare an ordinance for Council consideration.

The City Council may recall that in January 2025, it requested a memo from the City Attorney outlining "options that could be considered by the City Council that will create parity among public spaces (for example library, public streets, sideways, and alleys) with City parks which have a curfew of 10:30 p.m.” The memo responsive to that request, dated February 7, 2025, is attached for the City Council's reference.