State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 43 > 43.15

43.15

43.15 Standards for public library systems. A public library system shall not be established unless it meets the requirements under this section.

43.15(1)

(1) Population. The territory within the system shall:

43.15(1)(a)

(a) Have a population of 100,000 or more. If, because of the withdrawal or realignment of participating counties, a public library system has fewer than 3 participating counties and a population under 200,000, the remaining parts of the system shall realign with an existing system within 2 years after the date on which the population falls below 200,000.

43.15(1)(b)

(b) After July 1, 1998, no new system may be established unless it serves a population of at least 200,000.

43.15(2)

(2) Financial support.

43.15(2)(a)

(a) Each county proposed to be included within a system shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the division, its ability to provide adequate funding to implement the plan submitted under s. 43.11 (3) and the report submitted under s. 43.13 (1).

43.15(2)(b)

(b) The county shall maintain its support for library services at a level not lower than the average of the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(c)

(c) If a city, village, town or school district that contributed to the county tax in the previous year is granted an exemption from the county tax under s. 43.64 (2) for the current year, the 3-year average under par. (b) shall be calculated as follows:

43.15(2)(c)1.

1. Subtract the previous year's equalized valuation of that portion of the city, village, town or school district that is located in the county from the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)2.

2. Divide the remainder under subd. 1. by the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)3.

3. Multiply the quotient under subd. 2. by the county's average support for library services for the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(d)

(d) For the year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the 2 years preceding the first year for which an exemption is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b). For the 2nd year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the year preceding the year for which the exception is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b).

43.15(2)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (b) in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the county does all of the following:

43.15(2)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the county's support for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (b) because library services supported by the county have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(2)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(3)

(3) Territory included.

43.15(3)(a)

(a) A consolidated system shall consist of one county only. A federated system shall consist of one or more counties.

43.15(3)(b)

(b) No more than one system may be established within a single county. If the territory of a municipality lies in 2 or more counties which are not in the same public library system, the municipal library board or, if no such board exists, the municipal governing body shall determine the system in which the municipality will participate.

43.15(3)(c)

(c) If the territory of a joint library lies in 2 or more counties that are not in the same public library system, the joint library board or, if no such board exists, the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties that created the joint library shall determine the system in which the joint library will participate.

43.15(4)

(4) Method of organization.

43.15(4)(a)

(a) A public library system may be organized as a single-county federated public library system, a multicounty federated public library system, or a single-county consolidated public library system. Two public library systems may merge with the approval of each public library system board and the county boards of the participating counties.

43.15(4)(b)

(b) A county may participate in a federated public library system if it does all of the following:

43.15(4)(b)1.

1. Adopts and maintains the plan of library service submitted and approved under ss. 43.11 (3) and 43.13 (1).

43.15(4)(b)2.

2. Provides the financial support for library services required under sub. (2).

43.15(4)(b)3.

3. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities and to furnish library services to residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library.

43.15(4)(c)

(c) A municipal, county or joint public library may participate in a public library system if it meets all of the following requirements:

43.15(4)(c)1.

1. Is established under this chapter.

43.15(4)(c)2.

2. Is located in a county that participates in a public library system.

43.15(4)(c)3.

3. Is authorized by its municipal governing body or county board to participate in the public library system.

43.15(4)(c)4.

4. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities, to participate in interlibrary loan of materials with other system libraries and to provide, to any resident of the system area, the same library services, on the same terms, that are provided to the residents of the municipality or county that established the member library. This subdivision does not prohibit a municipal, county or joint public library from giving preference to its residents in library group programs held for children or adults if the library limits the number of persons who may participate in the group program, or from providing remote access to a library's electronic database only to its residents.

43.15(4)(c)5.

5. The total amount of funding received from its governing body or, for a joint public library, its governing bodies, is not less than the average of such funding received for the previous 3 years. The following are not included as funding for purposes of computing the 3-year average:

43.15(4)(c)5.a.

a. Funding received from a state, federal or private source that has been designated as funding for library services.

43.15(4)(c)5.b.

b. Unspent funding appropriated by a municipality or county for library services for a prior year.

43.15(4)(c)5.c.

c. For a municipal or joint public library, funding received from a county.

43.15(4)(c)6.

6. Employs a head librarian who is certified as a public librarian by the department and whose employment requires that he or she be present in the library for at least 10 hours of each week that the library is open to the public, less leave time.

43.15(4)(c)7.

7. Beginning in 2008, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours each week except that for a library in existence on June 3, 2006, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours or the number of hours each week that the library was open to the public in 2005, whichever is fewer.

43.15(4)(c)8.

8. Beginning in 2008, annually spends at least $2,500 on library materials.

43.15(4)(d)

(d) A county may establish a consolidated public library system in which the included county and its underlying communities form a single system. The county may, for such purposes, take over and acquire any library property by consent of the authority controlling that property.

43.15(4)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (c) 5. in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the municipal governing body or county board does all of the following:

43.15(4)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the funding provided by the municipality or county for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (c) 5. because library services for which the funding is appropriated have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(4)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(5)

(5) Capital costs excluded. For the purpose of determining the amount of financial support required under subs. (2) (b) and (4) (b) 2. and (c) 5., amounts spent for capital projects shall be excluded.

43.15(5m)

(5m) Limit. A public library system may not be established if its establishment would cause the number of public library systems to exceed the number in existence on June 3, 2006.

43.15 - ANNOT.

History: 1971 c. 152; 1981 c. 197; 1985 a. 29, 177; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 286; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 270; 1997 a. 27, 150; 2005 a. 226, 420; 2007 a. 97.

43.15 - ANNOT.

Cross Reference: See also s. PI 6.06, Wis. adm. code.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 43 > 43.15

43.15

43.15 Standards for public library systems. A public library system shall not be established unless it meets the requirements under this section.

43.15(1)

(1) Population. The territory within the system shall:

43.15(1)(a)

(a) Have a population of 100,000 or more. If, because of the withdrawal or realignment of participating counties, a public library system has fewer than 3 participating counties and a population under 200,000, the remaining parts of the system shall realign with an existing system within 2 years after the date on which the population falls below 200,000.

43.15(1)(b)

(b) After July 1, 1998, no new system may be established unless it serves a population of at least 200,000.

43.15(2)

(2) Financial support.

43.15(2)(a)

(a) Each county proposed to be included within a system shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the division, its ability to provide adequate funding to implement the plan submitted under s. 43.11 (3) and the report submitted under s. 43.13 (1).

43.15(2)(b)

(b) The county shall maintain its support for library services at a level not lower than the average of the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(c)

(c) If a city, village, town or school district that contributed to the county tax in the previous year is granted an exemption from the county tax under s. 43.64 (2) for the current year, the 3-year average under par. (b) shall be calculated as follows:

43.15(2)(c)1.

1. Subtract the previous year's equalized valuation of that portion of the city, village, town or school district that is located in the county from the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)2.

2. Divide the remainder under subd. 1. by the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)3.

3. Multiply the quotient under subd. 2. by the county's average support for library services for the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(d)

(d) For the year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the 2 years preceding the first year for which an exemption is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b). For the 2nd year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the year preceding the year for which the exception is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b).

43.15(2)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (b) in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the county does all of the following:

43.15(2)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the county's support for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (b) because library services supported by the county have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(2)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(3)

(3) Territory included.

43.15(3)(a)

(a) A consolidated system shall consist of one county only. A federated system shall consist of one or more counties.

43.15(3)(b)

(b) No more than one system may be established within a single county. If the territory of a municipality lies in 2 or more counties which are not in the same public library system, the municipal library board or, if no such board exists, the municipal governing body shall determine the system in which the municipality will participate.

43.15(3)(c)

(c) If the territory of a joint library lies in 2 or more counties that are not in the same public library system, the joint library board or, if no such board exists, the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties that created the joint library shall determine the system in which the joint library will participate.

43.15(4)

(4) Method of organization.

43.15(4)(a)

(a) A public library system may be organized as a single-county federated public library system, a multicounty federated public library system, or a single-county consolidated public library system. Two public library systems may merge with the approval of each public library system board and the county boards of the participating counties.

43.15(4)(b)

(b) A county may participate in a federated public library system if it does all of the following:

43.15(4)(b)1.

1. Adopts and maintains the plan of library service submitted and approved under ss. 43.11 (3) and 43.13 (1).

43.15(4)(b)2.

2. Provides the financial support for library services required under sub. (2).

43.15(4)(b)3.

3. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities and to furnish library services to residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library.

43.15(4)(c)

(c) A municipal, county or joint public library may participate in a public library system if it meets all of the following requirements:

43.15(4)(c)1.

1. Is established under this chapter.

43.15(4)(c)2.

2. Is located in a county that participates in a public library system.

43.15(4)(c)3.

3. Is authorized by its municipal governing body or county board to participate in the public library system.

43.15(4)(c)4.

4. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities, to participate in interlibrary loan of materials with other system libraries and to provide, to any resident of the system area, the same library services, on the same terms, that are provided to the residents of the municipality or county that established the member library. This subdivision does not prohibit a municipal, county or joint public library from giving preference to its residents in library group programs held for children or adults if the library limits the number of persons who may participate in the group program, or from providing remote access to a library's electronic database only to its residents.

43.15(4)(c)5.

5. The total amount of funding received from its governing body or, for a joint public library, its governing bodies, is not less than the average of such funding received for the previous 3 years. The following are not included as funding for purposes of computing the 3-year average:

43.15(4)(c)5.a.

a. Funding received from a state, federal or private source that has been designated as funding for library services.

43.15(4)(c)5.b.

b. Unspent funding appropriated by a municipality or county for library services for a prior year.

43.15(4)(c)5.c.

c. For a municipal or joint public library, funding received from a county.

43.15(4)(c)6.

6. Employs a head librarian who is certified as a public librarian by the department and whose employment requires that he or she be present in the library for at least 10 hours of each week that the library is open to the public, less leave time.

43.15(4)(c)7.

7. Beginning in 2008, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours each week except that for a library in existence on June 3, 2006, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours or the number of hours each week that the library was open to the public in 2005, whichever is fewer.

43.15(4)(c)8.

8. Beginning in 2008, annually spends at least $2,500 on library materials.

43.15(4)(d)

(d) A county may establish a consolidated public library system in which the included county and its underlying communities form a single system. The county may, for such purposes, take over and acquire any library property by consent of the authority controlling that property.

43.15(4)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (c) 5. in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the municipal governing body or county board does all of the following:

43.15(4)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the funding provided by the municipality or county for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (c) 5. because library services for which the funding is appropriated have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(4)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(5)

(5) Capital costs excluded. For the purpose of determining the amount of financial support required under subs. (2) (b) and (4) (b) 2. and (c) 5., amounts spent for capital projects shall be excluded.

43.15(5m)

(5m) Limit. A public library system may not be established if its establishment would cause the number of public library systems to exceed the number in existence on June 3, 2006.

43.15 - ANNOT.

History: 1971 c. 152; 1981 c. 197; 1985 a. 29, 177; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 286; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 270; 1997 a. 27, 150; 2005 a. 226, 420; 2007 a. 97.

43.15 - ANNOT.

Cross Reference: See also s. PI 6.06, Wis. adm. code.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 43 > 43.15

43.15

43.15 Standards for public library systems. A public library system shall not be established unless it meets the requirements under this section.

43.15(1)

(1) Population. The territory within the system shall:

43.15(1)(a)

(a) Have a population of 100,000 or more. If, because of the withdrawal or realignment of participating counties, a public library system has fewer than 3 participating counties and a population under 200,000, the remaining parts of the system shall realign with an existing system within 2 years after the date on which the population falls below 200,000.

43.15(1)(b)

(b) After July 1, 1998, no new system may be established unless it serves a population of at least 200,000.

43.15(2)

(2) Financial support.

43.15(2)(a)

(a) Each county proposed to be included within a system shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the division, its ability to provide adequate funding to implement the plan submitted under s. 43.11 (3) and the report submitted under s. 43.13 (1).

43.15(2)(b)

(b) The county shall maintain its support for library services at a level not lower than the average of the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(c)

(c) If a city, village, town or school district that contributed to the county tax in the previous year is granted an exemption from the county tax under s. 43.64 (2) for the current year, the 3-year average under par. (b) shall be calculated as follows:

43.15(2)(c)1.

1. Subtract the previous year's equalized valuation of that portion of the city, village, town or school district that is located in the county from the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)2.

2. Divide the remainder under subd. 1. by the previous year's equalized valuation of property in the county that was subject to the county tax levied in the previous year.

43.15(2)(c)3.

3. Multiply the quotient under subd. 2. by the county's average support for library services for the previous 3 years.

43.15(2)(d)

(d) For the year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the 2 years preceding the first year for which an exemption is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b). For the 2nd year following the first year for which an exemption is granted under s. 43.64 (2), the product calculated under par. (c) 3. shall be the amount used as the annual county support level for the year preceding the year for which the exception is granted for the purpose of calculating the 3-year average under par. (b).

43.15(2)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (b) in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the county does all of the following:

43.15(2)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the county's support for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (b) because library services supported by the county have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(2)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(3)

(3) Territory included.

43.15(3)(a)

(a) A consolidated system shall consist of one county only. A federated system shall consist of one or more counties.

43.15(3)(b)

(b) No more than one system may be established within a single county. If the territory of a municipality lies in 2 or more counties which are not in the same public library system, the municipal library board or, if no such board exists, the municipal governing body shall determine the system in which the municipality will participate.

43.15(3)(c)

(c) If the territory of a joint library lies in 2 or more counties that are not in the same public library system, the joint library board or, if no such board exists, the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties that created the joint library shall determine the system in which the joint library will participate.

43.15(4)

(4) Method of organization.

43.15(4)(a)

(a) A public library system may be organized as a single-county federated public library system, a multicounty federated public library system, or a single-county consolidated public library system. Two public library systems may merge with the approval of each public library system board and the county boards of the participating counties.

43.15(4)(b)

(b) A county may participate in a federated public library system if it does all of the following:

43.15(4)(b)1.

1. Adopts and maintains the plan of library service submitted and approved under ss. 43.11 (3) and 43.13 (1).

43.15(4)(b)2.

2. Provides the financial support for library services required under sub. (2).

43.15(4)(b)3.

3. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities and to furnish library services to residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library.

43.15(4)(c)

(c) A municipal, county or joint public library may participate in a public library system if it meets all of the following requirements:

43.15(4)(c)1.

1. Is established under this chapter.

43.15(4)(c)2.

2. Is located in a county that participates in a public library system.

43.15(4)(c)3.

3. Is authorized by its municipal governing body or county board to participate in the public library system.

43.15(4)(c)4.

4. Enters into a written agreement with the public library system board to participate in the system and its activities, to participate in interlibrary loan of materials with other system libraries and to provide, to any resident of the system area, the same library services, on the same terms, that are provided to the residents of the municipality or county that established the member library. This subdivision does not prohibit a municipal, county or joint public library from giving preference to its residents in library group programs held for children or adults if the library limits the number of persons who may participate in the group program, or from providing remote access to a library's electronic database only to its residents.

43.15(4)(c)5.

5. The total amount of funding received from its governing body or, for a joint public library, its governing bodies, is not less than the average of such funding received for the previous 3 years. The following are not included as funding for purposes of computing the 3-year average:

43.15(4)(c)5.a.

a. Funding received from a state, federal or private source that has been designated as funding for library services.

43.15(4)(c)5.b.

b. Unspent funding appropriated by a municipality or county for library services for a prior year.

43.15(4)(c)5.c.

c. For a municipal or joint public library, funding received from a county.

43.15(4)(c)6.

6. Employs a head librarian who is certified as a public librarian by the department and whose employment requires that he or she be present in the library for at least 10 hours of each week that the library is open to the public, less leave time.

43.15(4)(c)7.

7. Beginning in 2008, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours each week except that for a library in existence on June 3, 2006, annually is open to the public an average of at least 20 hours or the number of hours each week that the library was open to the public in 2005, whichever is fewer.

43.15(4)(c)8.

8. Beginning in 2008, annually spends at least $2,500 on library materials.

43.15(4)(d)

(d) A county may establish a consolidated public library system in which the included county and its underlying communities form a single system. The county may, for such purposes, take over and acquire any library property by consent of the authority controlling that property.

43.15(4)(e)

(e) The division shall adjust the 3-year average requirement under par. (c) 5. in any year, as necessary, to reflect the cost savings resulting from the consolidation or sharing of library services if the municipal governing body or county board does all of the following:

43.15(4)(e)1.

1. Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the division, that the funding provided by the municipality or county for library services is or will be lower than otherwise required by par. (c) 5. because library services for which the funding is appropriated have been or will be consolidated or shared.

43.15(4)(e)2.

2. Submits a plan demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the division, that services to library patrons following the consolidation or sharing of services will be at least substantially equivalent to the services available to patrons before the consolidation or sharing.

43.15(5)

(5) Capital costs excluded. For the purpose of determining the amount of financial support required under subs. (2) (b) and (4) (b) 2. and (c) 5., amounts spent for capital projects shall be excluded.

43.15(5m)

(5m) Limit. A public library system may not be established if its establishment would cause the number of public library systems to exceed the number in existence on June 3, 2006.

43.15 - ANNOT.

History: 1971 c. 152; 1981 c. 197; 1985 a. 29, 177; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 286; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 270; 1997 a. 27, 150; 2005 a. 226, 420; 2007 a. 97.

43.15 - ANNOT.

Cross Reference: See also s. PI 6.06, Wis. adm. code.