Sponsor Statement for SB 148

"An Act relating to libraries."

At the present time, there is no statutory definition of what a public library is; how it is established, organized, administered, or what services it should provide. SB 148 addresses those matters.

Since the enactment of the Public Library Assistance Grant program in 1982, a total of 55 new public libraries have been established. Unfortunately, 25 of them closed after only one or two years of operation, in part because of an unrealistic understanding of the effort needed to operate a public library.

Obviously, new libraries place pressure on the limited funds available for this service and funds allocated to those which subsequently closed unfortunately served to dilute those limited funds. SB 148 should help to alleviate this problem, thereby stabilizing the amounts made available to the public library community.

This bill (companion to HB 197) also revises some current language in the grant programs. A substantial change is the change in the formula for funding the grants. Currently, the funds are distributed by providing a $5,000 basic grant, without any local effort or contribution. Up to an additional $5,000 is then awarded on a one-to-one match of local funds. (The state has provided no more than a $2,000 match in recent years, so that no library receives more than a total of $7,000.)

This bill combines the basic and matching components into one basic grant of $7,000, which requires a one-to-one local match (this bill allows for "in-kind" local matches). In the event there are funds remaining after that disbursement, the balance will be appropriated on a per capita basis.

This bill also repeals two public library construction grant programs which are no longer funded, although the repeal date does not take effect until June 30, 1999, so current projects can be closed out.

This bill was drafted at the request of the public library community and is supported by the directors of the 18 largest public libraries. It is also supported by the Alaska Municipal League's Education Subcommittee.

SS: SB 148 S(HES): 4/2/97: mj