| New York State Library |
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Recommendation 3*: Promote the availability of local public library service to all New Yorkers and improve local support for public libraries through the formation of Public Library Districts.
*from Meeting the Needs of All New Yorkers: Library Service in the New Century, the final report of the Regents Commission on Library Services (July 2000) |
Creating Public Library Districts in New York State: a “how-to” guide[Prepared for the Division of Library Development by Panz Library Consulting] |
The State Library has engaged the services of Libby Post, President and CEO of Communication Services in Albany, New York to assist with the implementation of the Regents Public Library District Initiative. Ms. Post has worked successfully with a number of public libraries in New York State in exploring governance options and achieving public library district status. She has also worked with the New York Library Association, the Mid-Hudson Library System and others on library advancement projects. Her interest in assisting libraries, not-for-profit organizations, and healthcare agencies with marketing, development and public relations led her to start Communication Services in 1984. Ms. Post will be available to conduct four statewide public library district workshops during the next twelve months. She is also available to provide up to ten consultations with individual public library boards that are seriously committed to exploring the public library district option. The State Library looks forward to working in partnership with the public library systems to plan statewide public library district workshops and to identify those member library boards that would most benefit from Ms. Post’s expertise. The workshops (approximately 4 hours each) will provide attendees (public library trustees, library staff, library system staff, community members and local government officials) with:
The consultations with individual libraries (approximately 2 hours each) will focus on specific public library district and funding options available to the library and provide trustees, library administrators, local government officials and community groups with an understanding of the detailed process for following through on those options that appear to be most feasible. All materials created through this project are the property of the New York State Library. |
A Public Library District is a library that enables voters to approve the library budget and elect the library trustees. Libraries can choose from a number of models:
A School District Public Library is created by passage of a referendum placed on the school district ballot. A petition signed by 25 qualified voters within the school district is necessary to place the proposition for a vote. School District Public Libraries have service areas that coincide with the school districts in which they are located, and voters within the school district determine the library’s budget and trustees.
School District Public Libraries are totally independent of the school district. Once the library has been established, the library board has the authority to schedule a vote on a library budget each year. If the proposition to fund a School District Public Library passes, the school district must collect the tax money and pay the funds to the library. Because they are public entities, School District Public Libraries are subject to civil service and public procurement laws and regulations.
Click here for more information on School District Public Libraries (from Creating Public Library Districts in New York State: a "how-to" guide).
The vote to create a Special Legislative District Public Library is authorized by State legislation. A State Legislator introduces a bill specifying the service area of the library and authorizing a public vote to create the library, elect trustees, and establish a budget. Once the State legislation is passed, an election is scheduled within the municipality to select trustees and approve the initial library budget. Click here for sample legislation. The municipality collects taxes on behalf of the library and turns the funds over to the library board, which is completely autonomous. If the new Special Legislative District Public Library is replacing an existing library, the existing library transfers assets to the new library and surrenders its charter to the Board of Regents.
Click here for more information on Special Legislative District Public Libraries (from Creating Public Library Districts in New York State: a "how-to" guide).
This model is available to libraries currently chartered as Association Libraries that do not want to relinquish their “private” status by re-chartering as a School District Public Library or a Special Legislative District Public Library.
Although an Association Library District is not a public entity, the library can emulate the basic characteristics of a public library district by providing a process for:
Click here for more information on Association Library District Public Libraries (from Creating Public Library Districts in New York State: a "how-to" guide).