New law improves public library operation and efficiency

Governor Jim Doyle recently signed legislation that will lower costs for library operations, improve organizational efficiency of services, and provide greater clarity in Wisconsin library laws. Senate Bill 273 was based on recommendations of State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster’s Task Force on Public Library Legislation and Funding. The task force, which included broad representation of the statewide public library community, as well as citizen and legislative members, conducted a comprehensive review of issues facing Wisconsin’s 387 public libraries and 17 library systems and made recommendations for statutory improvements.

“I want to thank Gov. Jim Doyle for signing this bill, and Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) and Representative Stephen Freese (R-Dodgeville) for their efforts in advancing legislation that will help our libraries better serve the citizens of Wisconsin,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “The bill that passed through both houses of the Legislature without amendment, represents long-term efforts by task force members and the library community.”

2005 Senate Bill 273 was designed to update and make technical changes relating to public libraries and public library systems. A second bill, SB 272, includes Task Force recommendations related to the organization and funding of public libraries and library systems. That bill was passed by both houses of the legislature and forwarded to the Governor.

Some of the provisions of Senate Bill 273 include changes in the funding relationship between counties and municipal or joint libraries, such as exclusion of any funding by the county for library capital expenses from the calculation of the levy rate required for municipal exemption from the county library levy; expansion of county board authority to appoint members to a municipal or joint library board (previously, only one or two additional members could be appointed; this bill provides that up to five additional members may be appointed, depending on the ratio of county funding to municipal funding of the public library); and clarification that a municipal or joint public library board entitled to a county payment for library services may direct the county to credit all or a portion of the payment to a county library service or library system for shared services.

Other changes to Chapter 43 relate to the library board’s operation and management of funds, including clarification that any amount spent for capital projects by a municipal, county, or joint public library will be excluded from the financial support level, or “maintenance of effort,” required for participation in a public library system; and regular wages or salary or other recurrent payments authorized by the library board may be paid by the appropriate municipal or county, official, provided that the specific payments be audited and approved by the library board at its next regular meeting. The change will allow library employees to be paid in a more timely fashion and allow regular bills to be paid without incurring late fees.

All of the changes established in Senate Bill 273 can be reviewed in 2005 Wisconsin Act 226: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act420.pdf.

Last updated on 6/12/2006