(a)  To qualify for state aid under § 29-6-2, a city or town shall:

(1)  Appropriate from local tax revenues an amount not less than the amount appropriated the previous year from local tax revenues and expended for library operating expenses. The appropriation would exclude any state funds received for public library services. Any funds received from the state shall not be used to supplant funds from local tax revenues;

(2)  In the case of a city or town having more than one free public library therein, submit or cause to be submitted to the office of library and information services a plan for the allotment or division of the proposed state aid among the free public libraries in the city or town. The plan shall be developed by agreement among the free public libraries of the city or town;

(3)  Submit or cause to be submitted to the office of library and information services evidence that free public libraries in the city or town meet standards of service as set forth in regulations to be made by the chief of library services pursuant to the provisions of chapter 3.1 of this title or that the regulations are inappropriate for that library;

(4)  Submit or cause to be submitted a plan describing how the public library or libraries plan to address one or more of the priorities established by the office of library and information services.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 29-6-3

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  The chief of library services upon application and for cause shown may authorize an annual grant-in-aid under § 29-6-2, or a portion thereof, to a city or town not fully meeting the requirements set forth in subsections (a)(1)-(a)(3).

(c)  Decisions as to the eligibility of cities and towns for grants-in-aid under this chapter, and the amounts of the grants-in-aid, shall be made by the chief of library services.

(d)  The chief of library services shall require a preservation plan from any public library which receives an appropriation from the state of Rhode Island which states the preservation needs and objectives of the library for the coming fiscal year. The plan shall include, but not be limited to: condition of materials, assessment of building and environmental controls, and preservation measures to be taken.

(e)  The chief of library services shall require a disaster preparedness plan from any public library which receives an appropriation from the state of Rhode Island which states the plan of action to be taken in the event of a natural or human made disaster. The plan shall be in accordance with a suggested plan published by the office. The plan shall be updated yearly.

History of Section.
P.L. 1989, ch. 196, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 6, art. 19, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 239, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 15, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 6, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 191, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 211, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 511, art. 2, § 26; P.L. 2021, ch. 282, § 2, effective July 9, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 283, § 2, effective July 9, 2021.