The following information addresses the questions City Council stated at the September 19 Council Meeting including items regarding the Goal and Overview of the State Aide to Libraries Grant, submission requirements, and notation of goals representative of "wishlist" items.
GOAL
The State Aid to Libraries Grant Program was established with a fully enacted state aid law in 1961 with the expressed intent that it is the "policy of the state of Florida to aid and encourage the establishment and development of free library service throughout the state, by grants of money to counties and municipalities maintaining a free library, or free library service." (State Aide to Libraries Grant instruction packet)
"The over-arching goal of the State Aide to Libraries Program is to assist local governments in maintaining and developing such vital services, specifically:
- Providing equal access to free public library service to all residents of the service areas of participating governments.
- Coordinating library service throughout the service area.
- Providing consistent plans, programs, policies and procedures in the operation, maintenance and development of library service throughout the service area. (State Aide to Libraries Grant instruction packet)
OVERVIEW
Florida's State Aid to Libraries Program is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services which has management responsibility for implementation of the Florida Statutes: Chapter 257 mandating the program.
The State Aid to Libraries allocation is based on the City's financial support of the Library. Matching funds are allocated each year by the Florida Legislature and dependent upon their funding level, could result in a maximum match of $.25 per dollar of City funding.
The City of New Port Richey's Public Library became eligible in October 2003, for the first time, to participate in the State Aid to Libraries Grant program. Since that time, the grant funds have assisted the City Library in providing enhanced programming including the Summer Reading Program, Band Books Concerts and visiting authors; computers, digital devices, and new technologies; materials to the homebound via the Books to Mail Program; literacy and computer instruction; and resources for the collection. The 2016-2017 award received was $31,179 and was impactful in the range and enhanced quality of services provided to the community.
REQUIREMENTS
Submission Date: October 15, 2017
Additional Documents must be submitted on or before: December 1, 2017
Eligibility: A municipality that establishes or maintains a librarian provides free library service
- Applicant Information
- Expenditure or Appropriation Report
- Certification by person who manages the Library's finances and single library administrative head
- Designation of the Single Library Administrative Unit
- Designation of a Governing Body
- Interlock Agreements that establish the Library
- Verification of Governing Body Authority
- Position Description of Single Administrative Head
- Certification of Credentials- Single Administrative Head
- Schedule of Library Hours of at least 40 hours per week
- Long-Range Plan adopted or approved by the library's governing body, outlining the library's operation and development goals over a 3-5 year period
- Interlock Agreements for Library Service
- Verification of Reciprocal Borrowing
- Verification of Joint Planning
By Dec 1 each year:
- Current Annual Plan of Service
- Budget for the Current Year
- Summary Financial Report
- Annual Statistical Report
Notation Annual Plan of Service Goals
It was the direction of Council to separate items according to those that might be described as "wishlist" vs those that are realistically attainable. However, all items represented on the Annual Plan of Service represent goal setting whose fulfillment is dependent on the annual budget and staffing allotted each year by the City Council as well as the possible development of future support from partnerships, grants, donations or sponsorships, etc.