Library Structure Funding Victoria Rosch Deputy State Librarian
Library Structure & Funding Victoria Rosch Deputy State Librarian for Library Support Services New Jersey State Library and Patricia Tumulty Executive Director of the New Jersey Library Association & New Jersey Library Trustee Association
Establishment of Public Libraries • Municipal and joint municipal libraries are established by referendum (NJSA 40: 54 -2, municipal; NJSA 40: 54 -29. 6, joint municipal) • County library systems are established by referendum with two exceptions (NJSA 40: 33 -2, general, 12 county libraries; NJSA 40: 33 -5. 1, Cumberland; NJSA 40: 33 -15 Morris) • Association libraries are established according to the Nonprofit Corporation Act (NJSA 15 A: 1 -1) and become public by agreeing to accept public funds and serve the public (NJSA 40: 54 -35)
Municipal & Joint Municipal Library Board Membership • The mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality, and the superintendent of schools are ex officio members and vote • All appointments are for a term of 5 years, except in the case of appointments to fill vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term, in which case the appointment is for the unexpired term only (NJSA 40: 54 -10)
County Library Commission • There are generally five members • There may be up to seven members if there is (or was) a circumstance such that fewer than three of the five members are/were residents of municipalities supporting the county library system • At least 3 members of a five-member board and 4 members of a seven-member board must be residents of municipalities supporting the county library system (citizenship does not appear to be a requirement)
Four Types of Public Library Governance in New Jersey County 14 Joint 5 Association 45 Municipal 234
Population Served by Type Percentage of State Population Served by Governance Type 3, 296, 826 35% County Joint Association Municipal 5, 686, 036 60% 105, 722 1% 316, 972 3%
Mean Population Served by Each Governance Type 250, 000 235, 488 Population 200, 000 150, 000 100, 000 50, 000 24, 299 21, 144 7, 044 0 County Joint Governance Type Association Municipal
Types of Public Libraries in NJ LIBRARY TYPE LEGAL AUTHORITY N. J. S. A. 40: 54 -1, et seq. (All municipal libraries formed prior to this law are also covered by this law. ) FORMATION Board of trustees composed of Established by referendum. (1884 the mayor or the mayor's referendum required just for cities; alternate, the superintendent of 1905 referendum required for all); schools or the superintendent's trustees file incorporation papers. alternate, and five to seven citizens appointed by the mayor. MUNICIPAL N. J. S. A. 40: 54 -29. 3 to 29. 25; N. J. S. A. 40: 54 -1, et seq. (general municipal library law also applies to joint). JOINT N. J. S. A. 15 A et seq. (NJ Nonprofit Corporation Act); NJSA 40: 54 -35 permits municipality support. GOVERNING BOARD Governing bodies of two or more municipalities prepare a joint library agreement which is approved by every participating municipality (resolution), then form joint library by referendum; trustees file incorporation papers upon formation. LOCAL TAX FUNDING SERVICE AREA Serve municipality's residents. Local property taxes with a minimum Some serve residents of other level of 1/3 of a mill on each dollar of municipalities via shared services assessable property within the agreement/s. In Morris and municipality based on the equalized Cumberland counties, all valuation. municipalities are part of the county library system. Serve residents of member Trustees for each municipality Local property taxes with a minimum municipalities. Some serve include the mayor or the mayor’s level of 1/3 of a mill on each dollar of residents of other municipalities alternate, the superintendent of assessable property within the via shared services agreement/s. schools or the superintendent's municipalities based on the In Morris County, all alternate, and three citizens equalized valuation of all participants. municipalities are part of the appointed by the mayor of each Portion paid is determined by county library system. participating municipality. contract. Cumberland has no joint libraries. 2013 234 5 Area served by county library in 12 counties with county library; Trustees file incorporation papers; Most (35) association libraries No less than 3 trustees selected municipality/ies if in a county incorporation renewed annually. receive services paid for through the by association members; terms without a county library; In Morris May also file for tax-exempt status county library dedicated tax. May according to bylaws. and Cumberland counties, all (501(c)3). receive support from a municipality. municipalities are part of the county library system. ASSOCIATION 45 N. J. S. A. 40: 33 -1 et seq. Thirteen of the fourteen county libraries established by referendum; Cumberland, by special legislation allowing establishment by resolution; Morris originally established by referendum and modified. COUNTY Questions about this document: Victoria Rosch, vrosch@njstatelib. org Freeholders appoints a five to 12 county libraries are supported by seven person county library all municipalities without municipal commission; Atlantic and Mercer under the authority of or joint libraries. Cumberland the county executive; Sussex and Morris are supported by all Morris operate as divisions of the municipalities in the county. 12 county library systems serve all municipalities in county without municipal or joint libraries. Cumberland Morris serve all municipalities in the county. 14 TOTAL Library Administrations 298
Powers of Municipal and Joint Library Boards • The board shall hold in trust and manage all property of the library (NJSA 40: 54 -12) • It may rent rooms (for the use of the library), construct buildings for the use of the library, purchase books, hire staff, fix their compensation, make rules and regulations for the government of the library, and do all things necessary for the maintenance of the free public library • If the municipality participates in the NJ Civil Service system, the library board registers as the appointing authority and appoints someone (usually the director) to act on its behalf
Powers of the County Library Commission • The county library commission shall organize by the election of a chairman, and shall adopt rules and regulations for the establishment and maintenance of the county library • It may hire staff, purchase such supplies and equipment and incur such expenses as it may deem necessary, accept gifts, devises, legacies and bequests of property, real and personal, and hold and use the property and income of the same in any manner, which is lawful and consistent with the purpose for which the commission is created • If the county participates in the NJ Civil Service system, the library board registers as the appointing authority and appoints someone (usually the director) to act on its behalf
Public Library Expenditures Public Library Expenditure $29, 534 7% $38, 789, 483 9% Personnel $12, 026, 673 3% Materials Electronic Access $42, 119, 182 9% Building Operation and Maintenance All Other $322, 110, 067 72%
General Local Government Agency Requirements • Funding may only be raised as permitted by law • Any funding, including gifts, must be spent according to the law • Anything purchased with government funds or received as a donation is government property and may only be disposed of according to law • Record retention, including electronic records, must be maintained according to law
Government Transparency Open Public Meetings Act (Sunshine Act) http: //hpcpsdi. rutgers. edu/NJHPG/downloads/Sunshine%20 Laws. pdf Open Public Records Act (OPRA) http: //www. nj. gov/grc Note: Association libraries do not have to comply with the requirements, but should as a “best practice” if they accept public funds.
Funding Process (in a perfect world) • Plan of service is developed and updated annually; include nonusers as well as users in research • Using the plan and input from staff, director develops the draft budget for the trustees’ budget committee • Budget committee reviews and presents to full board
Funding Process (in a perfect world) • Full board approves and delegates someone (often board president) to present to local government • For municipal and county libraries if tax dollars above the legislated minimum need to be raised to support the budget, local government approves total amount (not individual lines) • Depending on local custom, local government officials may act as consultants as the budget is built
Mean Local Funding Per Capita 2012 $80. 00 $69. 73 $70. 00 Funding Per Capita ($) $60. 00 $51. 15 $50. 00 $44. 01 $40. 00 $30. 00 $23. 76 $20. 00 $10. 00 $0. 00 County Joint Governance Type Association Municipal
Funding by Property Taxes • Minimum support for municipal and municipal joint libraries is 1/3 mill (about $33. 33 per $100, 000) on equalized evaluation (NJSA 40: 548); over half of the libraries are funded above this amount • Minimum support for county libraries is 1/15 mill (about $6. 66 per $100, 000) on the "apportionment valuation" (NJSA 40: 33 -9); all county libraries are funded above this amount • Association libraries are funded by the municipality at the municipality’s discretion
Other Funding & Support Sources • Fines, photocopy fees, interest • Grants, gifts • Friends group for ongoing support; foundation for large projects or endowment • National Endowment for the Humanities, NJ Historical Commission, National Endowment for the Arts (Big Reads), IMLS Sparks! Ignition, etc. • Interlocal services agreements may help expand service at reduced cost
Statewide Library Support • Summer Reading • BTOP grant for employment assistance training and equipment (ended June 30, 2013) • Library. Link NJ (grants, training and more) • New Jersey Library Association • Jersey. Cat Interlibrary Loan • Jersey. Clicks (full-text databases) • Jersey. Connect (Internet access, email and more) • Reference Referral Centers: NJSL, Newark Public Library, Rutgers, UMDNJ
Funding Sources 2012 Appropriation Balance Brought Forward 421, 758, 300 76. 69% 78, 645, 927 14. 30% Additional Municipal and County Services 24, 866, 971 4. 52% Operating Funding from Total Federal income other from State municipal Government gifts, fees, Government and county Revenue etc. Revenue taxing units 18, 759, 607 3. 41% 3, 623, 028 0. 66% 1, 504, 934 0. 27% 785, 548 0. 14%
Future?
District Library Concept • Developed to provide library service with a stable tax base to provide effective and efficient library service • Building/s controlled by the trustees; trustees have power to bond • Service area may be one municipality or many • Millage rates established by voters
Recently Enacted Legislation P. L. 2013, c. 56. States that a municipal public library established by referendum can only be dissolved by the voters through a referendum. Provides a parallel dissolution structure for municipal libraries as had been provided for county and joint libraries. P. L. 2011, c. 38. Provided a dedicated line on the property tax bill to fund municipal free public and joint public libraries thus removing library funding from the 2% cap. Parallels county library law.
Proposed Legislation-Support • A 1314 Creates the option to make a voluntary contribution for the support of local Libraries on gross income tax returns. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (District 20) and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle ( District 37. ) Passed the full Assembly on Feb. 27 by a vote of 74 -0 -0. It has been referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. • A 967/S 234 Makes a supplemental appropriation of $ 3 million for increased Per Capita Aid. A 967 is sponsored by Assemblymen Troy Singleton (D) District 7; Wayne De. Angelo (District 14), Thomas Giblin (District 34), Assemblywomen Shavonda Sumter ( District 35), Cleopatra Tucker (District 28), Linda Stender (District 22) and Celeste Riley (District 3), Assemblymen Patrick Diegnan (District 18), Craig Coughlin (District 19), Daniel Benson (District 14) Ralph Caputo (District 28) and Reed Gusciora ( District 15) as co-sponsors. S 234 is identical legislation and is sponsored by Senators Diane Allen( District 7) and Senator Anthony Bucco (District 25). NJLA is actively seeking additional sponsors for this legislation. These are the first bills in many years which are seeking to restore funding to the library state per capita aid program. • A 1396/S 967 enacts the "Reader Privacy Act" Sponsored by Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (District 35), Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (District 27) and Assemblyman Daniel Benson (District 14). Released from the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on Feb. 20 th. Awaiting a vote by the full Assembly S 967 companion legislation sponsored by Senators Nia Gill (District 34 ) and Peter Barnes (District 18)
Proposed Legislation-Oppose S 425 Would require municipal governing body approval of new municipal free public library capital projects. Sponsored by Senators Joseph Pennacchio and Stephen Sweeney
Advocacy/Action
Statements in Support of Libraries • • Orange Public Trenton Public Net Neutrality Budget Issues
Budget Cuts 2010
Website created for the public. Articles updated and 4 times a year a Newsletter is sent to our champions. About 15, 000 names on our mailing list from the Library Champions campaign.
Ilovenjlibraries. org Become a Library Champions are people who love their libraries and want to be in the know about issues that may affect them. Library Champions' email addresses will be entered into a distribution list. When important library issues arise, we will email Library Champions. The Champions can then take appropriate action such as phone calls, emails to legislators or simply talking up the library to their neighbors. Any information you provide on this form will only be used to send you occasional emails about library issues. We will not sell your personal information or use it for any other purposes. (* indicates required field)
How You Can Get Involved • Advocacy Week- April 13 -19 Build relationships with legislators • Three ways to participate: • Make a visit to NJ Legislators local offices • Engage legislators with emails through Capwiz • Share the love with a <3 Library Love Stories Video
Resources for Additional Information Victoria Rosch: vrosch@njstatelib. org; Michele Stricker: mstricker@njstatelib. org Pat Tumulty: ptumulty@njla. org Conferences and workshops presented by NJSL (www. njstatelib. org ), NJLA (www. njla. org) and Library. Link. NJ (http: //librarylinknj. org); United for Libraries (http: //www. ala. org/united/) • For analysis of pending legislation: http: //www. njla. org/advocacy • www. njstatelib. org ; www. njla. org; http: //www. njlibrarytrustees. org/; www. ala. org • •
NJSL’s Online Resources • Full text of laws covering each type of public library (Part 1), State Aid (Part 4), Library Employees (Part 5), Purchasing (Part 6) and more at http: //lss. njstatelib. org/library_law • Printable Statutes and Regulations covering the establishment, operation and funding grouped by type of library at http: //lss. njstatelib. org/director_resources • Library Director Resources at http: //lss. njstatelib. org/director_resources • Library Trustee Resources at http: //lss. njstatelib. org/trustees
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