18740-18751
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 18740-18751
18740. A library system, eligible for funds under this article, may consist of the following systems: (a) A cooperative library system that, as of the effective date of this act, was designated a system under the Public Library Services Act of 1963. (b) A library system in which two or more systems consolidate to form a library system. (c) A library system that is formed by adding independent public library jurisdictions to an existing system. (d) A library system formed by any combination of the above. 18741. (a) Each system described in Section 18740 shall receive an annual allowance for the improvement and maintenance of coordinated reference service support to the members of the system. Following the effective date of this chapter, if there occurs a consolidation among individual public libraries that, as of the effective date of this chapter, are members of a system, the per member allowance to the system shall continue at the same level as if the consolidation had not taken place. (b) After identifying the needs of the underserved, each system shall use a fair and equitable portion of its reference allowance to improve the system's reference service to its underserved population through appropriate collection development, provision of reference specialists, and staff training. Funds for the reference grant may also be used for general and specialized reference collection development, employment of reference specialists, and system-wide reference training. 18742. Any system may apply to the state board for funds for Special Service Programs on a system-wide basis. Proposals shall identify the needs of the target service group, assess the capacity of the applicant system to respond to those needs, and shall identify the activities and timelines necessary to achieve those objectives. Systems may also apply for funds for other system-wide programs, but such programs shall include a component for serving the underserved on a system-wide basis. 18743. Each member library of a system shall provide equal access to all residents of the area served by the system. Member libraries that incur a net imbalance shall be reimbursed through the system for the handling costs of the net loans according to the allocation formula developed pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 18724. 18744. Each member library of a system shall be reimbursed through the system to cover handling costs, excluding communication and delivery costs, of each interlibrary loan between member libraries of the system according to the allocation formula developed pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 18724. 18745. Each system shall annually apply to the state board for funds for intrasystem communications and delivery. Proposals shall be based upon the most cost-effective methods of exchanging materials and information among the member libraries. 18746. Each system shall annually apply to the state board for funds for planning, coordination, and evaluation of the overall systemwide services authorized by this chapter. 18747. (a) Each system shall establish an administrative council whose membership consists of the head librarians of each jurisdiction in the system. Duties of the administrative council shall include general administrative responsibility for the system, adopting a system plan of service, and submitting annual proposals to the state board for implementation of the provisions of this article. (b) Each system shall establish an advisory board consisting of as many members as there are member jurisdictions of the system. The governing body of each member jurisdiction shall appoint one member to the advisory board from among its residents. 18749. The term of any member of a system advisory board shall be for two years, and each member shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Staggered terms shall be established by drawing of lots at the first meeting of the advisory board so that a simple majority of the members shall initially serve a two-year term, and the remainder initially a one-year term. The appointing jurisdiction shall ensure that members of a system advisory board are representative of the public-at-large and of the underserved residents in the system service area. 18750. The duties of each system advisory board shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Assisting the Administrative Council in the development of the system plan of service. (b) Advising the Administrative Council on the need for services and programs. (c) Assisting in the evaluation of the services provided by the system. 18751. When any system or systems consolidate, a grant of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each of the two years following the consolidation shall be made to the newly consolidated system.