When the library sends staff home due to severe weather, does it have to pay them?

It may depend on whether the employees are "exempt" or "non-exempt" under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Illinois lawyers Gerard E. Dempsey and Janet N. Petsche analzye a pair of opinion letters issued in October 2005 by the Department of Labor on severe weather emergencies. See Library Law: Severe Weather Warning: FLSA Consequences for Closing the Library? Part I   - Credit to the North Suburban Illinois Library System