KRS 171.201: Public library service appropriations -- Public library services

improvement and equalization fund -- Purposes -- Restrictions -- Distribution

formula.

(1) For grants to public libraries for promoting, aiding, and equalizing public library

service in Kentucky, there may be funds appropriated out of the general expenditure

fund of the State Treasury.

(2) In addition to any other funds appropriated to the Department for Libraries and

Archives, there shall be appropriated annually to the department o ut of the general

expenditure fund of the State Treasury an amount sufficient to provide the

following assistance to local public libraries:

(a) The department shall first distribute to each county public library system a

foundation grant based upon the co unty population using the last official

census as follows:

1. Counties with a population of twenty -two thousand (22,000) or less

shall receive nine thousand dollars ($9,000);

2. Counties with a population between twenty -two thousand one (22,001)

and forty -five thousand (45,000) shall receive eight thousand dollars

($8,000); and

3. Counties with a population over forty -five thousand (45,000) shall

receive seven thousand dollars ($7,000); and

(b) The department shall distribute the remaining funds appropriate d for this

program to each county public library system, based on the county's share of

the state population, at a rate of fifty -three cents ($0.53) per capita in fiscal

year 1997-98 and seventy-three cents ($0.73) per capita in fiscal year 1998 -99

and each year thereafter to be used for the following purposes:

1. Purchase, upgrading, and maintenance of the technology necessary to

enable the staff and the public to have access to electronic information;

2. Purchase of library materials and equipment;

3. Maintenance and operation of bookmobiles and extension programs;

4. Staff training and compensation;

5. Building maintenance;

6. Debt service;

7. Resource-sharing;

8. Program development; and

9. All other local library needs and services; and

(c) For counties which do not have a public library, the department shall make the

foundation grant and per capita distribution to a recognized library

organization for the purpose of providing or establishing countywide public

library service under existing departmental guidelines.

(3) The appropriation necessary to fund the formula foundation grants and a seventy -

three cents ($0.73) per capita distribution shall constitute the base for the agency's

biennial budget request for this program.

(4) (a) In addition to the foundation grants and per capita distribution to a local

public library, there is hereby created within the Department for Libraries and

Archives a public library services improvement and equalization fund to

assure substantially equal public library services for all citizens of the

Commonwealth. The creation of this fund is not intended to limit or prevent

any public library from providing services and facilities beyond those assured

by the state-supported program.

(b) It is intended that the proceeds of the fund created under this subsection be

used to:

1. Improve early childhood development;

2. Support lifelong learning opportunities;

3. Enhance economic development;

4. Enrich cultural resource opportunities for all Kentuckians; and

5. Expand adult education and adult literacy programs.

(5) Expenditures from the fund created in subsection (4) of this section shall not be

made unless those expenditures:

(a) Comply with the categories of allowable costs in subse ction (2)(b) of this

section; and

(b) Comply with the enterprise information technology architecture and standards

developed by the Commonwealth when utilized for technology procurements.

(6) (a) The fund created under subsection (4) of this section shall be distributed based

on a formula using the per population assessment and equalization rate of two

hundred percent (200%) of the poverty level per annual population assessment

produced by the United States Bureau of Census. The exact formula and

distribution of the fund shall be set forth in an administrative regulation

promulgated by the Department for Libraries and Archives.

(b) A local public library shall not be qualified to receive funds under subsection

(4) of this section, if that library's regular a nnual appropriation in the current

fiscal year is less than the appropriation received in the previous fiscal year.