HB 197: "An Act relating to libraries."
00HOUSE BILL NO. 197 01 "An Act relating to libraries." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. AS 14.56.300 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 14.56.300. Library assistance grant fund. There is established in the 05 department a library assistance grant fund. From legislative appropriations to the fund, 06 the department shall make grants to eligible libraries for public library operations, 07 [OR] for interlibrary cooperation, or for regional library services [BOTH]. 08 * Sec. 2. AS 14.56.310 is amended to read: 09 Sec. 14.56.310. Eligibility. (a) Libraries eligible for grants under 10 AS 14.56.300 are 11 (1) public libraries established under AS 29.35.125 or, in a 12 municipality that does not have a public library established under AS 29.35.125, 13 another library that 14 (A) is a nonprofit corporation and holds meetings of its
01 board of directors in public; 02 (B) provides services listed in AS 29.35.125(a); and 03 (C) is approved to receive grants under AS 14.56.300 by 04 resolution of the governing body of that municipality; [OPERATED BY 05 MUNICIPALITIES OR BY PUBLIC LIBRARY NONPROFIT 06 CORPORATIONS; AND] 07 (2) libraries sharing resources free of charge with [OR PROVIDING 08 SERVICES TO] other libraries in the state; and 09 (3) libraries providing regional library services. 10 (b) A library described in (a)(1) of this section is eligible for a public library 11 assistance grant. Only one library in a city or unincorporated community is 12 eligible for a public library assistance grant during a fiscal year. A library 13 described in (a)(2) [EITHER (a)(1) OR (2)] of this section is eligible for an interlibrary 14 cooperation assistance grant. A library described in (a)(3) of this section is eligible 15 for a regional library services assistance grant. 16 * Sec. 3. AS 14.56.330(a) is amended to read: 17 (a) A public library assistance grant under AS 14.56.310(a)(1) may be a basic 18 grant or a per capita grant. A basic grant [AS 14.56.300 - 14.56.340] may not be 19 less than $5,000 or more than $7,000 [EXCEED $10,000] for each [LOCAL PUBLIC 20 LIBRARY] service outlet of the public library in any one fiscal year. The amount 21 of a basic grant must be [HOWEVER, NO AMOUNT OVER $5,000 MAY BE 22 GRANTED UNLESS IT IS] equally matched by local money or in-kind services. 23 The director of the division of state libraries shall determine the value of in-kind 24 services. If the amount available for public library assistance grants during a 25 fiscal year is not sufficient to fully fund basic grants for all eligible libraries, the 26 amount available shall be prorated so that the amount of basic grants for all 27 eligible libraries is reduced by the same percentage. After payment of basic 28 grants to all eligible libraries during a fiscal year, any amount remaining for 29 public library assistance grants shall be distributed as per capita grants to each 30 library that received a basic grant. The amount of the per capita grants shall be 31 based on the population of the municipality or unincorporated community served
01 by each of the libraries. 02 * Sec. 4. AS 14.56.340 is amended to read: 03 Sec. 14.56.340. Regulations. The board shall adopt regulations necessary to 04 carry out the purposes of AS 14.56.300 - 14.56.330. The regulations must include 05 qualifications for grant eligibility and provisions regarding the use of grant funds. 06 * Sec. 5. AS 29.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 07 Sec. 29.20.305. Public library boards. (a) The governing body of a 08 municipality that establishes a public library may serve as the public library board or 09 provide by ordinance for a public library board of not less than five nor more than 10 eleven municipal residents, only one of whom may also be a member of the governing 11 body. An ordinance providing for a board must define the board's powers and duties. 12 (b) Unless the governing body serves as the public library board, members of 13 the board are either appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the governing body or 14 are elected at a regular election, as specified in the ordinance. Unless the governing 15 body serves as the board, at least two initial members serve one-year terms and at least 16 two initial members serve two-year terms. The regular term of a board member is 17 three years and until a successor is selected and qualifies, unless the ordinance 18 provides for a different regular term not to exceed five years. 19 (c) Unless the governing body serves as the public library board, vacancies on 20 the board are filled by the mayor subject to confirmation by the governing body. A 21 person appointed to fill a vacancy serves until the expiration of the term for which 22 appointed and until a successor is selected and qualifies. A board member who served 23 two consecutive full regular terms may not serve again after leaving office until at 24 least three years have elapsed. 25 (d) Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, a public library board 26 (1) shall choose its chair and secretary; 27 (2) shall appoint a public library director, set the director's salary, and 28 delegate active management of the public library to the director; 29 (3) may contract with other public and private entities for services. 30 * Sec. 6. AS 29.35 is amended by adding a new section to read: 31 Sec. 29.35.125. Public libraries. (a) A municipality may establish a public
01 library managed by a board under AS 29.20.305. A public library in an 02 unincorporated community may be established and managed by the corporation or 03 council that receives an entitlement on behalf of the community under AS 29.60.140. 04 A public library shall provide at least the following services free of charge to the 05 residents of the municipality or community: 06 (1) establish and maintain a collection of books and other materials for 07 loaning; 08 (2) provide access to interlibrary loan services; 09 (3) provide reading or other educational programs for children; and 10 (4) provide reference information. 11 (b) A public library established under this section shall submit an annual report 12 of its operations and the services it provides to the director of the division that has 13 responsibility for state libraries. 14 * Sec. 7. AS 14.56.200, 14.56.210, 14.56.220, 14.56.230, 14.56.240, and 14.56.350 are 15 repealed on June 30, 1999.