AS Title 14, Chapter 56: State and Community Libraries

Article 1. State Library and Historical Library. Chapter 56. State and Community Libraries. Sec. 14.56.010. Department of Education and Early Development to govern library. The Department of Education and Early Development shall manage and have complete charge of all of the property contained in the institutions known as the state library and state historical library. The state library and state historical library shall be maintained in the state capital. Sec. 14.56.020. Powers of the Department of Education and Early Development. The department shall (1) stimulate and encourage citizens' participation in the development and improvement of library facilities; and (2) establish policies, plans, and procedures of the department, and adopt reasonable regulations and orders, with penalties, as may be required. Sec. 14.56.030. State library duties. The department shall undertake state library functions that will benefit the state and its citizens, including (1) coordinating library services of the state with other educational services and agencies to increase effectiveness and eliminate duplication; (2) providing reference library service to state and other public officials; (3) providing library services and administering state and other grants-in-aid to public libraries to supplement and improve their services, the grants to be paid from funds appropriated for that purpose, or from other funds available for that purpose; (4) providing library service directly to areas in which there is not sufficient population or local revenue to support independent library units; (5) distributing financial aid to public libraries for extension of library service to surrounding areas and to improve inadequate local library service under regulations adopted by the department; (6) offering consultant service on library matters to state and municipal libraries, community libraries, school libraries, and libraries in unincorporated communities; (7) serving as a depository for state and federal publications concerning Alaska; (8) applying for, receiving, and spending, in accordance with AS 37.07 (the Executive Budget Act), federal, state, or private funds available for library purposes; (9) recording and distributing the election pamphlet provided for by AS 15.58 to libraries throughout the state for use by blind voters; (10) establishing and charging fees for reproduction, printing, and handling costs, for mailing and distributing state publications and research data, and for other services authorized by this chapter; (11) operating and maintaining the Alaska State Archives under AS 40.21 . Sec. 14.56.035. Accounting and disposition of fees. [Repealed, § 92 ch 36 SLA 1990.] Secs. 14.56.040 — 14.56.060. Applications, payments and limitations on grants-in-aid. [Repealed, § 2 ch 36 SLA 1981.] Sec. 14.56.065. [Renumbered as AS 14.56.350 .] Sec. 14.56.070. State museum duties. [Repealed, § 3 ch 192 SLA 1968.] Sec. 14.56.080. Historical library duties. The department shall (1) collect, catalog, and preserve an Alaska collection consisting of books, laws, pamphlets, periodicals, manuscripts, microreproductions, audiovisual materials, etc.; (2) serve as a depository for state and federal historical publications concerning Alaska; (3) acquire, catalog, and maintain private papers and manuscripts relative to Alaska which are adjudged worthy of preservation for reference and research purposes; (4) perform other functions necessary to the operation of a historical library. Article 2. State Library Distribution and Data Access Center. Sec. 14.56.090. State library distribution and data access center established. There is established in the state library the state library distribution and data access center. Sec. 14.56.100. Duties of center. The center shall, in cooperation with federal, municipal, and private data collection and research efforts, promote the establishment of an orderly depository library and data index distribution and access system. Sec. 14.56.110. Regulations. The Department of Education and Early Development shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of AS 14.56.090 — 14.56.180. Sec. 14.56.120. Deposit of publications and research data. (a) Each state agency shall deposit, upon release, at least four copies of each of its state publications in the center. Additional copies of each publication may be requested by the center for deposit in quantities necessary to meet the needs of the depository library system and to provide inter-library service to those libraries not having depository status. (b) Each state agency shall notify the center of the creation of all data published or compiled by or for it at public expense, including automated data bases, and provide for its accessibility through the center unless the data is protected by the constitutional right to privacy or is of a type stated by law to be confidential or the agency is otherwise prohibited by law from doing so. (c) The center is also a depository for publications of municipalities and regional educational attendance areas, including surveys and studies produced by a municipality or regional educational attendance area or produced for it on contract. Four copies of each publication produced for a municipality or regional educational attendance area may be deposited with the center for record and distribution purposes. (d) Each municipality or regional educational attendance area may notify the center of the creation of all data published or compiled by or for it at public expense and provide for its accessibility through the center, unless the data is protected by the constitutional right to privacy or is of a type stated by law to be confidential or the municipality or regional educational attendance area is otherwise prohibited by law from doing so. (e) When a research project or study is conducted for a person by a state agency, a municipality, or a regional educational attendance area, even though no state funding is involved, the state agency, municipality, or regional educational attendance area shall request that person for permission to make copies of its final report available to the center under AS 14.56.090 — 14.56.180. If permission is granted, the report shall be deposited with the center. Sec. 14.56.123. Liaison with center. Each state agency shall and each municipality and regional educational attendance area may designate one of its employees to be responsible for depositing the materials and information specified in AS 14.56.120 . Sec. 14.56.125. Summaries and indices. (a) Upon notification of the creation of data under AS 14.56.120 , a state agency shall and a municipality or regional educational attendance area may prepare an abstract or summary of it. (b) The center shall prepare and keep current an index of all publications and data abstracts or summaries on file and shall publish and distribute that index regularly to contracting depository libraries and to other Alaska libraries upon request. Sec. 14.56.130. Other documents required of state agencies. Upon the request of the center, a state agency shall furnish the center with a complete list of its current state publications, data published or compiled by or for it at public expense, and a copy of its mailing or exchange lists. However, data that is protected by the constitutional right to privacy or is of a type stated by law to be confidential or that the agency is otherwise prohibited by law from distributing may not be furnished to the center. Sec. 14.56.135. Efficiency and computerization. The center shall, to the extent practicable, avoid duplication, coordinate its activities with other state agencies charged with record-keeping functions, and employ computerization to compile or organize research data and other materials. Sec. 14.56.140. List of publications. [Repealed, § 11 ch 27 SLA 1979.] Sec. 14.56.150. Depository library contracts. The center may enter into depository contracts with municipal, regional educational attendance area, university or community college libraries, public library associations, state library agencies, the Library of Congress, and other state and federal library systems. The requirements for eligibility to contract as a depository library shall be established by the Department of Education and Early Development upon the recommendation of the state librarian and shall include and take into consideration the type of library, its ability to preserve publications or data and to make them available for public use, and the geographical location of the library for ease of access to residents in all areas of the state. Sec. 14.56.160. Depository library designations. Libraries may be designated as either “complete depository” or “selective depository.” A complete depository library shall be sent one copy of every state publication. A selective depository library shall be sent one copy of every publication from the specific state agencies it designates. Sec. 14.56.170. Distribution of state publications and research data. The center may not engage in general public distribution of either (1) state publications or lists of publications or (2) the index of publications and research data. However, unless expressly prohibited by law, the center shall make available to any person, upon request and under procedures established by it, publications, summaries, research data, indices, and other materials in its possession. Reasonable fees for reproduction or printing costs and for mailing and distribution of materials may be charged by the center. Sec. 14.56.180. Definitions. In AS 14.56.090 — 14.56.180, unless the context otherwise requires, (1) “center” means the state library distribution and data access center; (2) “research data” or “data” means a representation of facts, concepts or instructions in a formalized manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by humans or by automatic means that was prepared to serve as a basis for reasoning, calculation, discussion, or decision and that is determined appropriate for indexing by the state librarian; (3) “state agency” includes state departments, divisions, agencies, boards, associations, commissions, corporations, and offices, and the University of Alaska and its affiliated research institutes; (4) “state publication” includes any official document, compilation, journal, bill, law, resolution, bluebook, statute, code, register, pamphlet, list, book, report, study, hearing transcript, leaflet, order, regulation, directory, periodical, or magazine issued or contracted for by a state agency determined by the state librarian to be appropriate for retention in the center. Secs. 14.56.182 — 14.56.190. Alaska Blue Book. [Repealed, § 19 ch 6 SLA 1998.] Secs. 14.56.200 — 14.56.240. Rural community libraries. [Repealed, § 6 ch 124 SLA 1998.] Secs. 14.56.250 — 14.56.290. [Renumbered as AS 14.56.182 — 14.56.190.] Article 3. Library Assistance Grants. Sec. 14.56.300. Library assistance grant program. There is established in the department a library assistance grant program. From legislative appropriations, the department shall make grants to eligible libraries for public library operations, for interlibrary cooperation, or for regional library services. Sec. 14.56.310. Eligibility. (a) Libraries eligible for grants under AS 14.56.300 are (1) public libraries established under AS 14.56.400 or, in a municipality that does not have a public library established under AS 14.56.400 , another library that (A) is a nonprofit corporation and holds meetings of its board of directors in public; (B) provides services listed in AS 14.56.400 (a); and (C) is approved to receive grants under AS 14.56.300 by resolution of the governing body of that municipality; (2) libraries sharing resources free of charge with other libraries in the state; and (3) libraries providing regional library services. (b) A library described in (a)(1) of this section is eligible for a public library assistance grant. A library described in (a)(2) of this section is eligible for an interlibrary cooperation assistance grant. A library described in (a)(3) of this section is eligible for a regional library services assistance grant. Sec. 14.56.320. Applications. An eligible library may apply to the department for a grant under AS 14.56.300 — 14.56.340 in accordance with regulations adopted by the board. Sec. 14.56.330. Limitations. (a) A public library assistance grant under AS 14.56.310 (a)(1) may be a basic grant or a per capita grant. A basic grant may not be more than $7,000 for each service outlet of the public library in any one fiscal year. The amount of a basic grant must be equally matched by local money, the fair value of volunteer labor, or a combination of local money and volunteer labor. If the amount available for public library assistance grants during a fiscal year is not sufficient to fully fund basic grants for all eligible libraries, the amount available shall be prorated so that the amount of basic grants for all eligible libraries is reduced by the same percentage. After payment of basic grants to all eligible libraries during a fiscal year, any amount remaining for public library assistance grants shall be distributed as per capita grants to each library that received a basic grant. The amount of the per capita grants shall be based on the population of the municipality or unincorporated community served by each of the libraries. (b) State money granted to a library under AS 14.56.300 — 14.56.340 may not be used to supplant local money equal to local expenditures for that library in fiscal year 1980, as adjusted annually by the commissioner to conform approximately to changes in the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for Anchorage, Alaska. A library that uses state money to supplant local money forfeits eligibility for grants under AS 14.56.300 — 14.56.340 for two years. Sec. 14.56.340. Regulations. The board shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of AS 14.56.300 — 14.56.330. The regulations must include qualifications for grant eligibility and provisions regarding the use of grant funds. Sec. 14.56.350. Public library construction grants. [Repealed, § 6 ch 124 SLA 1998.] Article 4. Public Library Construction and Expansion Grants. Sec. 14.56.355. Library construction and major expansion matching grant program. (a) There is established in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development a matching grant program for library construction and major expansion. (b) A person in charge of construction or major expansion of an eligible library may apply to the department for a matching grant under regulations adopted by the department. (c) Subject to appropriation, the department shall award not more than 50 percent of the total proposed grant project costs to an eligible applicant. (d) The department shall establish regulations to implement this section and the eligibility standards under AS 14.56.356 . The regulations must include consideration for and establishment of an eligibility priority for an application that is submitted by a community that does not have a public library described in AS 14.56.356 (a)(2). (e) In this section, (1) “department” means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; (2) “major expansion” means an expansion of an existing library to increase the square footage of the structure by not less than 30 percent. Sec. 14.56.356. Eligibility. (a) To be a library eligible for a grant under AS 14.56.355 , a library must be (1) publicly owned and operated by a community; and (2) a public library as described in AS 14.56.400 that is not a public school library. (b) An applicant for a grant under AS 14.56.355 must provide matching funds from (1) the local government entity in an amount not less than 20 percent of the total proposed grant project costs; and (2) private donors in an amount not less than the amount remaining of the total proposed grant project costs after the state and local contributions are made toward the project. Article 5. Public School Library Collection Development Grants. Sec. 14.56.360. Public school library collection development grants. (a) There is established in the department a public school library collection development grant program. (b) The person or division in charge of the state library shall award and administer grants of not more than $3,000 for a fiscal year for use by a public school library eligible under AS 14.56.365 to expand and improve the library collection to include relevant and current reading materials. (c) If money appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible grant requests submitted under AS 14.56.365 , the available funding shall be awarded to the highest ranked applicants, according to criteria established by the department in regulation. Sec. 14.56.365. Eligibility. (a) A library eligible for a grant under AS 14.56.360 must be a public school library established and supported by a school district that (1) provides physical space or, if a correspondence school operated by a school district, resources for use as a library; (2) provides regularly scheduled library hours for all students enrolled in the school; (3) provides designated library personnel to staff the library; (4) provides acceptable evidence of the promotion of library and information literacy standards; (5) maintains an annual library budget that includes library staffing and materials; and (6) contributes, from the school district's budget, an amount that is not less than the grant award that is paid for library collection materials or contributes in-kind value of services. (b) The department shall establish by regulation an application and review procedure, including requirements for submission of adequate documentation to prove eligibility under this section. Documentation must include submission of library class schedules, job descriptions for library staff, and a copy of an annual budget for the library. Sec. 14.56.370. Eligible expenditures. (a) A library collection development grant may be used only to purchase library collection materials by a public school or by a school district if the district operates a correspondence program with an eligible school library. In this subsection, “library collection materials” means books, magazines, reference and audio-visual materials, and electronic subscriptions that support school curriculum and student reading activities. (b) A library collection development grant may not be used to supplant school district expenditures for the library or to purchase classroom materials, textbooks, testing software, library automation software, computer hardware, operating software, or technology support. Sec. 14.56.375. Report. A recipient of a grant awarded under AS 14.56.360 shall prepare a brief annual report to the department describing the effects of the grant and whether all conditions of the grant were met or exceeded. Article 6. Requirements for Public Libraries. Sec. 14.56.400. Public libraries. (a) A public library established under this section shall provide at least the following services free of charge to the residents of the municipality or community: (1) establish and maintain a collection of books and other materials for loaning; (2) provide access to interlibrary loan services; (3) provide reading or other educational programs for children; and (4) provide reference information. (b) A public library established under this section shall submit an annual report of its operations and the services it provides to the director of the division that has responsibility for state libraries.