Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-2-2-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 520-2-2-.02 - Definitions

(1) Public Library: A public library is a library established in accordance with the Code of Ala. 1975, for the purpose of providing free public library service to the population in its legal service area. Public libraries may or may not have BRANCHES (auxiliary service outlets with quarters separate from the central library, with no less than a basic collection of materials, a regular staffing level, and an established service schedule, but without a separate policy-making board of trustees). The following are types of public libraries:

(a)Municipal Public Library: A public library established and maintained by a city, town, or other municipality, whose policy-making board of trustees is appointed by the municipal authority.

(b)County Public Library: A public library established and maintained by a county for the use of the whole or a part of a county, whose policy-making board is appointed by the county commission.

(c)City-County Public Library: A public library established and maintained by joint contractual agreement or joint resolution between county and municipal governments, with a single policy-making board appointed in accordance with the agreements.

(d)District Library: A public library serving a taxing district which has been authorized by legislative action and created by majority vote of the residents of the district, whose policy-making board is elected in accordance with the provisions of the legislative action.

(2)Public Library System: An organization composed of PUBLIC LIBRARIES and formed for the purpose of providing library services within a framework of written contracts; a public library system may also have contracts with county commissions or municipal governments for the system to provide library services to county or municipal residents who would otherwise be unserved.

(3)System Headquarters: A site designated through contractual agreement to serve as administrative center for a PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. A system headquarters may serve any function established by contract.

(4)Legal Service Area: The legal service area of a library is the population within the boundaries of the geographic area the library is established to serve. A library may contract, in writing, to provide service to population outside its legal service area at the discretion of the library board of trustees of the affected areas. The following describe legal service areas of different types of libraries:

(a) The legal service area of a MUNICIPAL LIBRARY is the area within the municipality's corporate limits.

(b) The legal service area of a COUNTY LIBRARY is the area within the county's geographic borders.

(c) The legal service area of a CITY-COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY is all of the area within the corporate limits of participating municipalities and within the county's geographic borders.

(d) The legal service area of a PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM consists of the legal service areas of the public libraries belonging to the system and any additional areas(s) for which the system contracts to serve with the appropriate governing body.

(e) The legal service area of a DISTRICT LIBRARY is the area of the taxing district authorized by legislative action and approved by majority vote of the population within the district.

(5)State Aid: Funds appropriated by the legislature as a supplement to local funds designated for the provision of library service.

(a) State aid funds are distributed quarterly by the Alabama Public Library Service on a per capita basis for the respective legal service areas and any area served contractually; population figures used are the most recently certified Bureau of the Census population estimates.

(b) Where legal service areas overlap, as in the case where there is both a COUNTY LIBRARY and a MUNICIPAL LIBRARY serving the same population, state aid funds for that part of the population shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of an annually renewed written agreement between the library boards. In order for first quarter funds to be distributed on schedule, a current copy of the agreement must be on file at APLS by October 1. If no contract has been filed with APLS by the beginning of the second quarter, all state aid funds for the county population residing within the municipality will be divided equally between the COUNTY LIBRARY and the MUNICIPAL LIBRARY, with funds for first and second quarters available for distribution during the second quarter and with remaining funds distributed on the regular quarterly schedule.

(6) Non-Capital Funds: Non-capital funds are those funds appropriated for normal/routine operations. They do not include funds specifically designated for the acquisition of and/or improvement to real property (buildings, land, etc.).

Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-2-2-.02

Filed March 30, 1992. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 18, 2006; effective January 22, 2007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 21, 2009; effective October 26, 2009. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 13, 2011; effective November 17, 2011. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 16, 2012; effective June 20, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 03, December 28, 2018, eff. 1/24/2019.

Author: Nancy C. Pack, Director

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§41-8-(1-10).