text:
Special meetings may be called at any time, as follows:

(a) A special meeting of a three-member board of library trustees may be called by two trustees, by written notices served upon each member at least 12 hours before the time specified for the meeting.

(b) A special meeting of a five-member board of library trustees may be called by three trustees, by written notices served upon each member at least 12 hours before the time specified for the meeting.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 354, Sec. 4.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Trustees


kind: section

code: EDC

text:
(a) For three-member boards, two members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(b) For five-member boards, three members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 354, Sec. 5.)

division: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

part: 11. LIBRARIES

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 8. Library Districts

article: 2. Trustees

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 8. Library Districts > 2. Trustees


text:
A proposal to increase the number of seats on the board of library trustees from three to five may be initiated in either of the following alternative ways:

(a) By a petition signed by registered voters residing within the library district equal in number to at least 5 percent of the total number of votes cast in the library district at the last preceding general state election at which a Governor was elected, and filed with the supervising board of supervisors of the library district.

(b) By a resolution adopted by the board of trustees and filed with the supervising board of supervisors.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 354, Sec. 6.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Trustees


text:
(a) The supervising board of supervisors, at its option, may conduct a public hearing on a petition or resolution filed pursuant to Section 19431. Notice of the hearing shall be published pursuant to Sections 6060 and 6061. At the hearing, any interested person shall be given an opportunity to present his or her views on the proposal. At the conclusion of the hearing, the supervising board of supervisors may increase the board of library trustees to a five member board.

(b) If the board of library trustees is increased from three to five members, the supervising board of supervisors shall appoint the two additional trustees from the district at large, and the trustees shall classify themselves by lot so that their terms shall expire as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 19423.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 354, Sec. 7.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Trustees


text: The board of library trustees shall make and enforce all rules, regulations, and bylaws necessary for the administration, government, and protection of the library under its management, and all property belonging to the district.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 8. Library Districts > 3. Powers


text: A district may destroy a record pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 60200) of Division 1 of Title 6 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 158, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall administer any trust declared or created for the library, and received by gift, devise, or bequest, and hold in trust or otherwise, property situated in this state or elsewhere, and where not otherwise provided, dispose of the property for the benefit of the library.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall prescribe the duties and powers of the librarian, secretary, and other officers and employees of the library, determine the number of and appoint all officers and employees, and fix their compensation. The officers and employees shall hold their offices and positions at the pleasure of the board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall purchase necessary books, journals, publications, and other personal property.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall purchase real property, and erect or rent and equip, such buildings or rooms, as in its judgment are necessary properly to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall require the Secretary of State and other state officials to furnish the library with copies of any and all reports, laws, and other publications of the state not otherwise disposed of by law.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall borrow books from, lend books to, and exchange books with other libraries, and may allow nonresidents of the district to borrow books upon such conditions as the board may prescribe.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall borrow money, give security therefor, purchase on contract, and do and perform any and all other acts and things necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall file, through the librarian, on or before the last day of August of each year, a report with the State Librarian at Sacramento giving the condition of its library and the number of volumes contained therein on the 30th day of June preceding. The report shall, in addition to other matters deemed expedient by the board of trustees or the district librarian, contain such statistical and other information as is deemed desirable by the State Librarian. For this purpose the State Librarian may send to the several district librarians instructions or question blanks so as to obtain the material for a comparative study of library conditions in the state.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall designate the hours during which the library shall be open for the use of the public.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 354, Sec. 8.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: Annually, at least 15 days before the first day of the month in which county taxes are levied, the board of library trustees of each library district shall furnish to the board of supervisors of the county in which the district or any part thereof is situated, an estimate in writing of the amount of money necessary for all purposes required under this chapter during the next ensuing fiscal year.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The tax shall be computed, entered upon the tax rolls, and collected in the same manner as county taxes are computed, entered, and collected. All money collected shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the particular library district fund and shall be paid out on the order of the district board, signed by the president and secretary.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: All money acquired by gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, for the purposes of the library, shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the library fund of the district, subject only to the order of the library trustees of the district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: If the payment into the treasury is inconsistent with the terms or conditions of any gift, devise, or bequest, the board of library trustees shall provide for the safety and preservation of the fund, and the application thereof to the use of the library, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the gift, devise, or bequest.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: Upon the receipt by the county auditor of an order of the library trustees of the district, he shall issue his warrant upon the county treasurer for the amount stated in the order.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: When any warrant is presented to the treasurer for payment and it is not paid for want of funds, the treasurer shall endorse thereon “not paid for want of funds” with the date of presentation and sign his name thereto, and from that time the warrant bears interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum until it is paid or until funds are available for its payment and the county treasurer gives notice to the warrant holder that funds are available for the payment. The giving of the notice is deemed complete upon deposit thereof in the United States mail in a sealed envelope addressed to the warrant holder at his address given by him at the time of presentation of the warrant to the treasurer, with postage thereon fully prepaid and registered.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: Every library established under this chapter shall be forever free to the inhabitants and nonresident taxpayers of the library district, subject always to such rules, regulations, and bylaws as may be made by the board of library trustees. For violation of any rule, regulation, or bylaw a person may be fined or excluded from the privileges of the library.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The title to all property acquired for the purposes of the library, when not inconsistent with the terms of its acquisition, or not otherwise designated, vests in the district in which the library is or is to be situated.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: Every library district shall be designated by the name and style of ____ Library District (using the name of the district) of ____ County (using the name of the county or counties in which the district is situated). In that name the trustees may sue and be sued, and may hold and convey property for the use and benefit of the district. A number shall not be used as a part of the designation of any library district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: The board of library trustees and the boards of trustees of neighboring library districts, or the governing bodies of neighboring cities, or boards of supervisors of counties in which public libraries are situated, may contract to lend the books of libraries created under this chapter to residents of the counties, neighboring cities, or library districts, upon a reasonable compensation to be paid by the counties, neighboring cities, or library districts.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: Anything in Sections 19100 to 19179, inclusive, to the contrary, notwithstanding, the property in any library district created under this chapter subsequent to the establishment of a county free library is subject to taxation for county free library purposes as though the library district had not been created. This section shall not apply to any adjustments in property tax allocations made pursuant to Section 19116.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 522, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative July 1, 1997, by Sec. 7 of Ch. 522.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Powers


text: All claims for money or damages against the district are governed by Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) and Part 4 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code except as provided therein, or by other statutes or regulations expressly applicable thereto.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Claims

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 8. Library Districts > 4. Claims


text: An election shall be held biennially in each library district for the election of one or more library trustees who shall hold office for four years beginning on the last Friday in November next succeeding his election. This election shall be held in the district on the same day as the school district election as specified in Section 5000 in the odd-numbered years. Trustees shall be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 5012.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1376.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Biennial Election of Trustees

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 8. Library Districts > 5. Biennial Election of Trustees


text: To be qualified to vote at any library district election a person shall be registered to vote in the library district, at least 29 days before the election.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Biennial Election of Trustees


text: If pursuant to Section 5327 a district election is not held, the board of supervisors of the county in which the district, or the largest part thereof in area, is situated shall at its next regular meeting appoint to the positions of trustee those persons nominated, and such persons shall qualify, take office, and serve exactly as if elected at a general district election. If no person has been nominated, the board of supervisors shall appoint any qualified voter of the district to the position.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 334.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Biennial Election of Trustees


text: Except as otherwise provided in this article, Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5300) of Part 4 of this division shall govern and control the conduct of elections pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 36.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Biennial Election of Trustees


text:
The board of trustees of any library district may, when in their judgment it is deemed advisable, and shall, upon a petition of 50 or more taxpayers and residents of the library district, call an election and submit to the electors of the district, the proposition of whether the bonds of the district will be issued and sold for the purpose of raising money for any or all of the following:

(a) The purchase of suitable lots.

(b) Procuring plans and specifications and erecting a suitable building.

(c) Furnishing and equipping the building and fencing and ornamenting the grounds, for the accommodation of the public library.

(d) Any or all of the purposes of this chapter.

(e) Liquidating any indebtedness incurred for the purposes.

(f) Refunding any outstanding valid indebtedness, evidenced by bonds or warrants of the district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 8. Library Districts > 6. Bonds


text: The bond election shall be called and conducted and the results thereof canvassed, returned, and declared in the manner provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5300) of Part 4 of this division.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: The board of trustees shall set forth in the resolution calling for a bond election the amount and denomination of the bonds, the rate of interest, and the number of years that all or any part of the bonds are to run.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text:
If it appears that two-thirds of the votes cast at the election were cast in favor of issuing the bonds, the board shall enter the fact upon its minutes and shall certify all the proceedings to the supervising board of supervisors. Thereupon the board of supervisors shall issue the bonds of the district, in the number and amount provided in the proceedings, and the district shall be named on the bonds. The bonds shall be paid out of the building fund of the district.

The money for the redemption of the bonds and the payment of interest thereon shall be raised by taxation upon the taxable property in the district.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1452, Sec. 127.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: The total amount of bonds issued shall not exceed 5 percent of the assessed value of the property of the district, prior to the 1980–81 fiscal year and shall not exceed 1.25 percent of the assessed value of the district beginning after the 1981–82 fiscal year, as shown by the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties in which the district is situated.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1208, Sec. 30.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: The supervising board of supervisors by an order entered upon its minutes shall prescribe the form of the bonds and of the interest coupons attached thereto, and shall fix the time when the whole or any part of the principal of the bonds shall be payable, which shall not be more than 40 years from the date thereof.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: The bonds shall not bear a greater amount of interest than 6 percent, to be payable annually or semiannually. The bonds shall be sold in the manner prescribed by the board of supervisors, but for not less than par, and the proceeds of the sale thereof shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the building fund of the library district, and shall be drawn out for the purposes for which the bonds were issued as other library money is drawn out.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: The board of supervisors of each county in which any part of the district is situated, at the time of making the levy of taxes for county purposes, shall levy a tax for that year upon the taxable property in the district, at the equalized assessed value thereof for that year, for the interest and redemption of the bonds. The tax shall not be less than sufficient to pay the interest of the bonds for that year, and such portion of the principal as is to become due during the year. In any event the tax shall be high enough to raise, annually, for the first half of the term the bonds are to run, a sufficient sum to pay the interest thereon, and during the balance of the term, high enough to pay the annual interest and to pay, annually, a proportion of the principal of the bonds equal to a sum produced by taking the whole amount of the bonds outstanding and dividing it by the number of years the bonds then have to run.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: All money levied, when collected, shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the library district, and shall be used for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds, and for no other purpose. The principal and interest on the bonds shall be paid by the county treasurer, upon the warrant of the county auditor, out of the fund provided therefor. The county auditor shall cancel and file with the county treasurer the bonds and coupons as rapidly as they are paid.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: Whenever any bonds issued under this article remain unsold for the period of six months after having been offered for sale in the manner prescribed by the supervising board of supervisors, the board of trustees of the library district for or on account of which the bonds were issued, or of any library district composed wholly or partly of territory which, at the time of holding the election authorizing the issuance of the bonds, was embraced within the district for or on account of which the bonds were issued, may petition the supervising board of supervisors to cause the unsold bonds to be withdrawn from the market and canceled.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: Upon receiving the petition, signed by a majority of the members of the board of trustees, the supervising board of supervisors shall fix a time for hearing the petition, which shall be not more than 30 days thereafter, and shall cause a notice, stating the time and place of hearing, and the object of the petition in general terms, to be published as provided in this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: At the time and place designated in the notice for hearing the petition, or at any subsequent time to which the hearing is postponed, the supervising board of supervisors shall hear any reasons that are submitted for or against the granting of the petition, and if they deem it for the best interests of the library district named in the petition that the unsold bonds be canceled, they shall make and enter an order in the minutes of their proceedings that the unsold bonds be canceled. Thereupon the bonds, and the vote by which they were authorized to be issued, shall cease to be of any validity whatever.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 6. Bonds


text: Any unincorporated town or village of this state may establish, equip, and maintain a public library for the dissemination of knowledge of the arts, sciences, and general literature, in accordance with this chapter. Any unincorporated town or village of this state may also establish, equip, and maintain a public museum in accordance with this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 988.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 1. Formation


text: Upon the application, by petition, of 50 or more taxpayers and residents of any unincorporated town or village to the board of supervisors in the county in which the town or village is located, for the formation of a library district, and setting forth the boundaries of the proposed district, the board of supervisors shall, within 10 days after receiving the petition, by resolution, order that an election be held in the proposed district for the determination of the question and shall conduct the election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1452, Sec. 128.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages

article: 1. Formation


text:
Within five days after the district formation election has been called, the legislative body which has called the election shall transmit, by registered mail, a written notification of the election call to the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the county or principal county in which the territory or major portion of the territory of the proposed district is located. Such written notice shall include the name and a description of the proposed district, and may be in the form of a certified copy of the resolution adopted by the legislative body calling the district formation election.

The executive officer, within five days after being notified that a district formation election has been called, shall submit to the commission, for its approval or modification, an impartial analysis of the proposed district formation.

The impartial analysis shall not exceed 500 words in length and shall include a specific description of the boundaries of the district proposed to be formed.

The local agency formation commission, within five days after the receipt of the executive officer’s analysis, shall approve or modify the analysis and submit it to the officials in charge of conducting the district formation election.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text:
The board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of such voters and associations of citizens, may file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation.

Arguments shall not exceed 300 words in length and shall be filed with the officials in charge of conducting the election not less than 54 days prior to the date of the district formation election.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text:
If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the election officials within the time prescribed, such election officials shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters.

In selecting the arguments, the election officials shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:

(a) The board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board.

(b) Individual voters or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of such voters and associations.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: The election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of this state, where applicable, without reference to form of ballot or manner of voting. The ballot shall contain the words “Shall the library district be established?” To the right of or below those words, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the proposal. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 303, Sec. 6. (AB 1512) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: The election officers shall report the result of the election to the board of supervisors within five days after the election.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: If a majority of the votes at the election is in favor of a library district, the board of supervisors shall by resolution, establish the library district, and shall appoint five trustees, who shall be qualified electors and residents within the limits of the district, to be known as a board of library trustees of the town or village for which they are appointed.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: Vacancies shall be filled by the board of supervisors by appointment for the unexpired term.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: If a majority of the votes cast is against a library district, the board of supervisors shall, by order, so declare, and no other proceedings shall be taken in relation thereto until the expiration of one year from the date of presentation of the petition.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: The fact of the presentation of the petition, and the order establishing the library district and making the appointment of the five library trustees, shall be entered in the minutes of the board of supervisors and shall be conclusive evidence of the due presentation of a proper petition, and that each of the petitioners was, at the time of signature and presentation of the petition, a taxpayer and resident of the proposed district, and of the fact and regularity of all prior proceedings of every kind and nature provided for by this article and of the existence and validity of the district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Formation


text: The board of library trustees shall meet at least once a month, at such time and place as it may fix by resolution.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 2. Powers


text: Special meetings may be called at any time by three trustees, by written notices served upon each member at least 12 hours before the time specified for the meeting.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: Three members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: At its first meeting held after the general district election the board shall organize by electing one of its number president, and another one of its number secretary. They shall serve as such for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board shall cause a proper record of its proceedings to be kept, and at the first meeting of the board of trustees, it shall immediately cause to be made out and filed with the State Librarian a certificate showing that the library has been established, with the date thereof, the names of the trustees, and the officers of the board chosen for the current fiscal year.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1452, Sec. 133.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall make and enforce all rules, regulations, and bylaws necessary for the administration, government, and protection of the library under its management, and all property belonging to it.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall administer any trust declared or created for the library, and receive by gift, devise, or bequest, and hold in trust or otherwise, property situated in this state or elsewhere, and where not otherwise provided, dispose of the property for the benefit of the library.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall prescribe the duties and powers of the librarian, secretary, and other officers and employees of the library, determine the number of and appoint all officers and employees, and fix their compensation. The officers and employees shall hold their offices and positions at the pleasure of the board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall purchase necessary books, journals, publications, and other personal property.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall also purchase such real property, and erect or rent and equip, such building or rooms, as in its judgment is necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees may request the appropriate state officials to furnish the library with copies of any and all reports, laws, and other publications of the state not otherwise disposed of by law.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall borrow books from, lend books to, and exchange books with other libraries. It shall allow nonresidents to borrow books upon such conditions as it may prescribe.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall do and perform any and all other acts and things necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall file, through the librarian, on or before the last day in the month of August of each year, a report with the State Librarian at Sacramento giving the condition of the library and the number of volumes contained therein on the 30th day of June preceding. The report shall, in addition to other matters deemed expedient by the board of trustees or the librarian, contain such statistical and other information as is deemed desirable by the State Librarian. For this purpose the State Librarian may send to the several district librarians instructions or question blanks so as to obtain the material for a comparative study of library conditions in the state.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees shall designate the hours during which the library is open for the use of the public. All public libraries established under this chapter shall be open for the use of the public during every day in the year except on such legal holidays as may be determined by the board of library trustees.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text:
In any library district formed under the provisions of this chapter, which maintains a public library, or which has petitioned for and been granted permission to establish, and intends to maintain a public library in accordance with this chapter, the board of library trustees shall furnish to the board of supervisors of the county in which the library district is situated, each and every year, on or before the first day of September, an estimate of the cost of any or all of the following:

(a) Leasing temporary quarters.

(b) Purchasing a suitable lot.

(c) Procuring plans and specifications and erecting a suitable building.

(d) Furnishing and equipping the building and fencing and ornamenting the grounds, for the accommodation of the public library.

(e) Conducting and maintaining the library for the ensuing fiscal year.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees may, when in its judgment it is deemed advisable, and upon the petition of 50 or more taxpayers residing within the library district shall, call an election and submit to the electors of the library district the question of whether the bonds of the library district shall be issued and sold for any or all the purposes of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The revenue derived from the tax, together with all money acquired by gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, for the purposes of the library, shall be paid into the county treasury, to the credit of the library fund of the district in which the tax is collected, subject only to the order of the library trustees of the district. If payment into the treasury is inconsistent with the terms or conditions of any gift, devise, or bequest, the board of library trustees shall provide for the safety and preservation of the fund, and the application thereof to the use of the library, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the gift, devise, or bequest.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: Upon the receipt by the county auditor of an order of the library trustees of the district he shall issue his warrant upon the county treasurer for the amount stated in the order.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: When any warrant is presented to the treasurer for payment and it is not paid for want of funds the treasurer shall endorse thereon “not paid for want of funds” with the date of presentation and sign his name thereto and from that time the warrant bears interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum until it is paid or until funds are available for its payment and the county treasurer gives notice to the warrant holder that funds are available for payment. The giving of the notice is deemed complete upon deposit thereof in the United States mail in a sealed envelope addressed to the warrant holder at his address given by him at the time of presentation of the warrant to the treasurer, with postage thereon fully prepaid and registered.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: Every library established under this chapter shall be forever free to the inhabitants and nonresident taxpayers of the library district, subject always to such rules, regulations, and bylaws as may be made by the board of library trustees. For any violation of the rules, regulations, or bylaws a person may be fined or excluded from the privileges of the library.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: Boards of library trustees and the boards of trustees of neighboring library districts, or the legislative bodies of neighboring municipalities, or boards of supervisors of the counties in which public libraries are situated, may contract to lend the books of the libraries to residents of the counties or neighboring municipalities, or library districts, upon a reasonable compensation to be paid by the counties, neighboring municipalities, or library districts.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The title to all property acquired for the purposes of the libraries, when not inconsistent with the terms of its acquisition, or not otherwise designated, vests in the district in which libraries are, or are to be situated.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: Every library district shall be designated by the name and style of ____ Library District, (using the name of the district), of ____ County, (using the name of the county in which the district is situated). In that name the trustees may sue and be sued, and may hold and convey property for the use and benefit of the district. A number shall not be used as a part of the designation of any library district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Powers


text: The board of library trustees may vote to establish a public museum in the library district and to constitute the board of library trustees as the board of museum trustees for the purposes of managing such museum in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 988.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall meet at least once a month, at such time and place as it may fix by resolution.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: Special meetings may be called at any time by three trustees, by written notices served upon each member at least 12 hours before the time specified for the meeting.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: Three members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: At its first meeting held after being constituted, the board shall organize by electing one of its number president, and another one of its number secretary. They shall serve as such for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board shall cause a proper record of its proceedings to be kept, and at the first meeting of the board of trustees, it shall immediately cause to be made out and filed with the Department of Education at Sacramento a certificate showing that the museum has been established, with the date thereof, the names of the trustees, and the officers of the board chosen for the current fiscal year.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall make and enforce all rules, regulations, and bylaws necessary for the administration, government, and protection of the museum under its management, and all property belonging to it.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text:
The board of museum trustees shall administer any trust declared or created for the museum, and receive by gift, devise, or bequest, and hold in trust or otherwise, property situated in this state or elsewhere, and where not otherwise provided, dispose of the property for the benefit of the museum.

Any funds from private sources which are used for the support of any public museum established pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in a special fund in the county treasury of the county in which the public museum is located. Such fund shall be under the control of and administered by the board of museum trustees.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall prescribe the duties and powers of the curator, secretary, and other officers and employees of the museum, determine the number of and appoint all officers and employees, and fix their compensation. The officers and employees shall hold their offices and positions at the pleasure of the board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall purchase necessary objects of artistic, scientific, or historical interest, and other personal property.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall also purchase such real property, and erect or rent and equip, such building or rooms, as in its judgment is necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall do and perform any and all other acts and things necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The board of museum trustees shall designate the hours during which the museum is open for the use of the public. All public museums established under this chapter shall be open for the use of the public during every day in the year except on legal holidays as may be determined by the board of museum trustees.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text:
In any library district formed under the provisions of this chapter, which maintains a public museum, in accordance with this chapter, the board of museum trustees shall furnish to the board of supervisors of the county in which the library district is situated, each and every year, on or before the first day of September, an estimate of the cost of any or all of the following:

(a) Leasing temporary quarters.

(b) Purchasing a suitable lot.

(c) Procuring plans and specifications and erecting a suitable building.

(d) Furnishing and equipping the building and fencing and ornamenting the grounds, for the accommodation of the public museum.

(e) Conducting and maintaining the museum for the ensuing fiscal year.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: The title to all property acquired for the purposes of the museum, when not inconsistent with the terms of its acquisition, or not otherwise designated, vests in the district in which museums are, or are to be situated.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: It is the intent of the Legislature that public museums established pursuant to this chapter shall be funded primarily by private funds. The board of supervisors of the county in which such a public museum is located is authorized, but not required, to allocate county funds for the support of such museum.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2.5. Museums


text: All claims for money or damages against the district are governed by Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) and Part 4 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code except as provided therein, or by other statutes or regulations expressly applicable thereto.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Claims

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 3. Claims


text:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code) shall govern and control the conduct of elections pursuant to this chapter. Elections shall be held biennially in the district on the same day as the school district election as specified in Section 5000 in the odd-numbered years.

(b) The trustees shall hold office for the term of four years beginning on the first Friday in December next succeeding their appointment or election.

(c) The members of the first board of library trustees appointed or elected in a district shall, at their first meeting, so classify themselves by lot that their terms shall expire: two on the first Friday in December of the first odd-numbered calendar year next succeeding their appointment or election, and three on the first Friday in December of the second succeeding odd-numbered calendar year.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 923, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 1995.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Biennial Election of Trustees

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 4. Biennial Election of Trustees


text: The number of library trustees for any library district established under the provisions of this chapter is five.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Biennial Election of Trustees


text: Every person who is registered to vote in the library district where the election is held at least 29 days before the election, may vote at the election.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Biennial Election of Trustees


text:
The board of trustees of any library district may, when in their judgment it is deemed advisable, and shall upon a petition of 50 or more taxpayers and residents of the library district, call an election and submit to the electors of the district the question of whether the bonds of the district shall be issued and sold for the purpose of raising money for any or all of the following:

(a) The purchase of suitable lots.

(b) Procuring plans and specifications and erecting a suitable building.

(c) Furnishing and equipping the building, and fencing and ornamenting the grounds, for the accommodation of the public library.

(d) Any or all of the purposes of this chapter.

(e) Liquidating any indebtedness incurred for the purposes.

(f) Refunding any outstanding valid indebtedness, evidenced by bonds or warrants of the district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 9. Library Districts and Museums in Unincorporated Towns and Villages > 5. Bonds


text: The election shall be called by posting notices, signed by the board, in three of the most public places in the district, for not less than 20 days before the election, and by publishing the notice not less than once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper published in the district if there is one, or if there is none, in a newspaper published in the county.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text:
The notice shall contain:

(a) Time and place of holding the election.

(b) The names of inspectors and judges to conduct the election.

(c) The hours during the day in which the polls will be open.

(d) The amount and denomination of the bonds, the rate of interest, and the number of years, not exceeding 40, the whole or any part of the bonds are to be run.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions relating to the election of trustees, insofar as they are applicable to the election for bonds.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: Voting shall be by ballot, without reference to the general election law in regard to form of ballot, or manner of voting. The ballots shall have printed on them the words “Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?” To the right or below the statement of the measure to be voted on, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the measure. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 303, Sec. 7. (AB 1512) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: On the seventh day after the election, at 8 o'clock p.m., the returns having been made to the board of trustees, the board shall meet and canvass the returns, and if it appears that more than one-half of the votes cast at the election are in favor of issuing the bonds, then the board shall cause an entry of the fact to be made upon its minutes and shall certify to the board of supervisors, all the proceedings had in the premises. Thereupon the board of supervisors shall issue the bonds of the district, to the number and amount provided in the proceedings, payable out of the building fund of the district, naming the district.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The money shall be raised by taxation upon the taxable property in the district, for the redemption of the bonds and the payment of the interest thereon.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The total amount of bonds issued shall not exceed 5 percent of the taxable property of the district, as shown by the last equalized assessment book of the county.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The board of supervisors by an order entered upon its minutes shall prescribe the form of the bonds and of the interest coupons attached thereto, and shall fix the time when the whole or any part of the principal of the bonds shall be payable, which shall not be more than 40 years from the date thereof.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The bonds shall not bear a greater amount of interest than 6 percent, to be payable annually or semiannually. The bonds shall be sold in the manner prescribed by the board of supervisors, but for not less than par, and the proceeds of the sale thereof shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the building fund of the library district, and shall be drawn out for the purposes for which the bonds were issued as other library moneys are drawn out.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: The board of supervisors, at the time of making the levy of taxes for county purposes, shall levy a tax for that year upon the taxable property in the district, at the equalized assessed value thereof for that year, for the interest and redemption of the bonds. The tax shall not be less than sufficient to pay the interest of the bonds for that year, and such portion of the principal as is to become due during the year. In any event the tax shall be high enough to raise, annually, for the first half of the term the bonds have to run, a sufficient sum to pay the interest thereon, and during the balance of the term, high enough to pay the annual interest and to pay, annually, a proportion of the principal of the bonds equal to a sum produced by taking the whole amount of the bonds outstanding and dividing it by the number of years the bonds then have to run.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: All money levied, when collected, shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the library district, and shall be used for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds, and for no other purpose. The principal and interest on the bonds shall be paid by the county treasurer, upon the warrant of the county auditor, out of the fund provided therefor. The county auditor shall cancel and file with the county treasurer the bonds and coupons as rapidly as they are paid.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: Whenever any bonds issued under this article remain unsold for the period of six months after having been offered for sale in the manner prescribed by the board of supervisors, the board of trustees of the library district for or on account of which the bonds were issued, or of any library district composed wholly or partly of territory which, at the time of holding the election authorizing the issuance of the bonds, was embraced within the district for or on account of which the bonds were issued, may petition the board of supervisors to cause the unsold bonds to be withdrawn from market and canceled.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: Upon receiving the petition, signed by a majority of the members of the board of trustees, the supervisors shall fix a time for hearing the petition, which shall be not more than 30 days thereafter, and shall cause a notice, stating the time and place of hearing, and the object of the petition in general terms, to be published for 10 days prior to the day of hearing, in some newspaper published in the library district, if there is one, and if there is no newspaper published in the library district, then in a newspaper published at the county seat of the county in which the library district or part thereof is situated.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: At the time and place designated in the notice for hearing the petition, or at any subsequent time to which the hearing is postponed, the supervisors shall hear any reasons that are submitted for or against the granting of the petition, and if they deem it for the best interests of the library district that the unsold bonds be canceled, they shall make and enter an order in the minutes of their proceedings that the unsold bonds be canceled. Thereupon the bonds, and the vote by which they were authorized to be issued, shall cease to be of any validity whatever.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Bonds


text: This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Freedom to Read Act.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 941, Sec. 1. (AB 1825) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 10. California Freedom to Read Act

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 10. California Freedom to Read Act


text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Libraries are essential for information, education, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.

(b) Libraries provide access to books that offer teachable moments for readers of all ages and expand our understanding of people with different backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs.

(c) A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged solely because of personal characteristics, age, background, or views.

(d) Removing and banning books from public libraries are dangerous acts of government censorship and erode our country’s commitment to freedom of expression and the right to receive information.

(e) Librarians are professionals trained to not impose their own thoughts and opinions on which ideas are right, but to make knowledge and ideas available so that people have the freedom to choose what to read.

(f) Librarians and library staff receive extensive professional training to develop and curate collections to meet the broad and diverse interests of their communities, which include, but are not limited to, literary value and developmental appropriateness of material.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
(a) (1) Every public library jurisdiction that directly receives any state funding, including, but not limited to, state funding pursuant to this part, shall establish, adopt, and maintain a written and publicly accessible collection development policy for its public libraries by January 1, 2026, and shall submit that collection development policy to the State Librarian. The State Librarian or their designee may provide technical assistance to public libraries in developing their collection development policy. The collection development policy, at a minimum, shall do all of the following:

(A) Establish a process for community members to share their concerns regarding library materials and to request that library materials be reconsidered for inclusion in the library’s collection.

(B) Guide the selection and deselection of library materials.

(C) Acknowledge that the public library’s collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respect both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs.

(D) Establish that the public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.

(E) Acknowledge that library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.

(F) Acknowledge the right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences.

(2) A librarian, library media specialist, other employee, or contractor at a public library shall not be subject to termination, demotion, discipline, or retaliation for either of the following:

(A) Refusing to remove a library material before it has been reviewed in accordance with the public library’s process for the reconsideration of library materials established pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1).

(B) Making displays, acquisitions, or programming decisions that the employee or contractor believes, in good faith, are in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(b) (1) The governing board or body of a public library, or any body or commission designated to review the procurement, retention, or circulation of, or access to, library materials, shall not proscribe or prohibit the circulation or procurement of, or access to, any library materials in a public library because of the topic addressed by the materials or because of the views, ideas, or opinions contained in those materials.

(2) (A) Library materials in public libraries shall not be excluded, and access to library materials shall not be limited, solely on the bases of any of the following:

(i) The race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, political affiliation, or any other characteristic listed in subdivision (a) of Section 12940 of the Government Code, or the socioeconomic status of a subject of the library materials, an author of the library materials, the source of the library materials, or the perceived or intended audience for the library materials.

(ii) The library materials contain inclusive and diverse perspectives.

(iii) The library materials may include sexual content, unless that content qualifies as obscene under United States Supreme Court precedent.

(B) This paragraph does not apply to library materials excluded, or for which access is limited, pursuant to a library maintenance and deaccession policy.

(3) The governing board or body of a public library, or any body or commission designated to review the procurement, retention, or circulation of, or access to, library materials, shall not create policies or procedures that limit or restrict access to library materials offered by the public library unless the policies or procedures are adopted to preserve the safety or security of the library materials, are time, place, and manner restrictions not based on the content of materials, or are programs that provide for the effective management of the library and its resources to preserve access for all library users.

(c) A person’s right to use a public library and its resources shall not be denied or abridged solely because of personal characteristics, age, background, or views.

(d) All people, regardless of personal characteristics, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in the materials they borrow from libraries.

(e) This section applies to a public library, as defined in Section 18015, including any public library operated on a contractual basis, or by a city, including a general law or charter city, county, special district, or joint powers authority, except that it does not apply to any school library, as defined in Section 18710, or any library operated by the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school.

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Library materials” includes, but is not limited to, books, periodicals and serials, audio materials, audiovisual materials, instructional materials, maps, databases, government documents, records, photographs, and all other similar materials, whether in tangible or electronic form. “Library materials” does not include hardware, tools, instruments, computers, appliances, or other items that are not for the primary purpose of conveying ideas or information.

(2) “Public library jurisdiction” means a county, city and county, city, or any district that is authorized by law to provide public library services and that operates a public library described in subdivision (e).

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: The board of supervisors of any county may authorize the county recorder to deposit with any free public library maintained at the county seat, or with the State Library, such newspaper files, or portions thereof, as may be in the custody of the recorder by virtue of Chapter 110 of the Statutes of 1862, relating to the purchase and preservation of newspapers, or by virtue of any other act.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 10.5. Miscellaneous Provisions

article: 1. Deposit of Newspapers in Libraries

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 10.5. Miscellaneous Provisions > 1. Deposit of Newspapers in Libraries


text: Before making the deposit, the board of supervisors shall obtain from the board of trustees or authorities in charge of the free public library, or the State Librarian, as the case may be, an agreement that it will properly preserve and care for the newspaper files, and make them accessible to the public.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 172.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Deposit of Newspapers in Libraries


text: The board of supervisors of any county may authorize the boards of trustees or other authorities in charge of any free public library with which newspaper files have been deposited in accordance with Section 19900 to deposit the newspaper files with the State Library.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. Deposit of Newspapers in Libraries


text:
Any person who maliciously cuts, tears, defaces, breaks, or injures any book, map, chart, picture, engraving, statue, coin, model, apparatus, or other work of literature, art, mechanics, or object of curiosity, deposited in any public library, gallery, museum, collection, fair, or exhibition, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The parent or guardian of a minor who willfully and maliciously commits any act within the scope of this section shall be liable for all damages so caused by the minor.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Offenses Against Libraries

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 10.5. Miscellaneous Provisions > 2. Offenses Against Libraries


text:
Any person who willfully detains any book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, manuscript, or other property belonging to any public or incorporated library, reading room, museum, or other educational institution, for 30 days after notice in writing to return the article or property, given after the expiration of the time for which by the rules of the institution the article or property may be kept, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The parent or guardian of a minor who willfully and maliciously commits any act within the scope of this section shall be liable for all damages so caused by the minor.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Offenses Against Libraries


text: This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 49, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 85 at the November 8, 1988, election.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 11. California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988 > 1. General Provisions


text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The public library is a supplement to the formal system of free public education, a source of information and inspiration to persons of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and economic statuses, and a resource for continuing education and reeducation beyond the years of formal education, and therefore deserves adequate financial support from government at all levels.

(b) It is in the interest of the people and of the state that there be a general diffusion of information and knowledge through the continued operation of free public libraries. This diffusion is a matter of general concern inasmuch as it is the duty of the state to provide encouragement to the voluntary lifelong learning of the people of the state.

(c) Many existing public library facilities are not safe, efficient, or accessible for use, adequate for the size of the communities they serve, or otherwise capable of providing the public library services needed by the communities they serve.

(d) Many communities that are populous enough to require a public library facility do not have one.

(e) Local public library authorities do not have sufficient funds to construct or rehabilitate necessary public library facilities.

(f) Funding to meet the need for public library facilities, which is beyond the ability of local government to supply, is most appropriately met by a partnership of state and local governments.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 11. California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Committee” means the California Library Construction and Renovation Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 19972.

(b) “Fund” means the California Library Construction and Restoration Fund created pursuant to Section 19955.

(c) “Board” means the California Library Construction and Renovation Board. The board includes the State Librarian, the Treasurer, the Director of Finance, the Assembly Member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senator appointed by the Senate Rules Committee.

Legislative members of the board shall meet with, and participate in, the work of the board to the extent that their participation is not incompatible with their duties as Members of the Legislature. For the purposes of this chapter, Members of the Legislature who are members of the board shall constitute a joint legislative committee on the subject matter of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the California Library Construction and Renovation Fund, which is hereby created. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the fund shall be continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 11. California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988 > 2. California Library Construction and Renovation Program


text: All moneys deposited in the fund shall be available for grants to any city, county, city and county, or district that is empowered at the time of the project application to own and maintain a facility for the acquisition, construction, remodeling, or rehabilitation of facilities for public library services.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. California Library Construction and Renovation Program


text:
The grant funds authorized pursuant to Section 19956 and the matching funds provided pursuant to Section 19962 shall be used by the recipient for any of the following purposes:

(a) Acquisition or construction of new facilities or additions to existing facilities.

(b) Acquisition of land necessary for purposes of subdivision (a).

(c) Remodeling of existing facilities for energy conservation purposes.

(d) Remodeling of existing facilities to provide access for the disabled.

(e) Rehabilitation of existing facilities to bring them into compliance with current health and safety requirements for public facilities.

(f) Procurement and installation of shelving fastened to the structure, and built-in equipment required to make a facility fully operable.

(g) Payment of fees charged by architects, engineers, and other design professionals whose services are required to plan and execute a project authorized pursuant to this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
(a) An applicant for a grant for the acquisition, construction, remodeling, or rehabilitation of public library facilities under this chapter, as opposed to an application for a grant to acquire land pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 19957, shall be eligible to apply for that grant if that applicant has an order issued by a court for possession of property in an eminent domain action pursuant to Section 1255.410 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(b) The terms “purchase of land” or “acquisition of land,” as used in this chapter, or in any rule, regulation, or policy adopted by the state librarian pursuant to Section 19960, shall include, but shall not be limited to, the acquisition of land by eminent domain and the eligible cost of acquisition of land by eminent domain shall be the fair market value of the property as defined by Sections 1263.310 to 1263.330, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure. However, the eligible cost of the land for a library project’s site acquired by eminent domain, if title to the land will not be transferred until after the grant application is submitted, shall be limited to the appraised value of the land.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 45, Sec. 1. Effective June 3, 1991.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
No grant funds authorized pursuant to Section 19956 or matching funds provided pursuant to Section 19962 shall be used by a recipient for any of the following purposes:

(a) Books and other library materials.

(b) Administration costs of the project, including, but not limited to, the costs of all of the following:

(1) Preparation of the grant application.

(2) Procurement of matching funds.

(3) Conducting an election for obtaining voter approval of the project.

(4) Plan checking and code compliance inspections.

(c) Interest or other carrying charges for financing the project, including, but not limited to, costs of loans or lease-purchase agreements in excess of the direct costs of any of the authorized purposes specified in Section 19957.

(d) Any ongoing operating expenses for the facility, its personnel, supplies, or any other library operations.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: All construction contracts for projects funded in part through grants awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be awarded through competitive bidding pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 20100) of the Public Contract Code.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: This chapter shall be administered by the State Librarian, who shall adopt rules, regulations, and policies for the implementation of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
A city, county, city and county, or district may apply to the State Librarian for a grant pursuant to this chapter, as follows:

(a) Each application shall be for a project for a purpose authorized by Section 19957.

(b) The applicant shall request not less than thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) per project.

(c) No application shall be submitted for a project for which construction bids already have been advertised.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
(a) Each grant recipient shall provide matching funds from any available source in an amount equal to 35 percent of the costs of the project. The remaining 65 percent of the costs of the project shall be provided through allocations from the fund.

(b) Qualifying matching funds shall be cash expenditures in the categories specified in Section 19957 which are made no earlier than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), in-kind expenditures shall not qualify as matching funds.

(c) Land donated or otherwise acquired for use as a site for the facility, including, but not limited to, land purchased more than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian, may be credited towards the 35 percent matching funds requirement at its appraised value as of the date of the application.

(d) Cash expenditures not to exceed 10 percent for furnishings required to make the facility fully operable may be credited towards the 35 percent matching funds requirement. The recipient shall certify to the board that these furnishings have an estimated useful life of not less than 10 years.

(e) Architect fees for plans and drawings for library renovation and new construction, including plans and drawings purchased more than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian, may be credited towards the 35 percent matching funds requirement.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: An amount not to exceed 1 percent of the cost of construction of the project may be used for appropriate works of art to enhance the facility.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
(a) The estimated costs of a project for which an application is submitted shall be consistent with normal public construction costs in the applicant’s area.

(b) An applicant wishing to construct a project with costs which exceed normal public construction costs in the applicant’s area may apply for a grant in an amount not to exceed 65 percent of the normal costs if the applicant certifies that it is capable of financing the remainder of the project costs from other sources.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: Once an application has been approved by the board and included in the State Librarian’s request to the committee, the amount of funding to be provided to the applicant shall not be increased. Any actual changes in project costs shall be the full responsibility of the applicant. In the event that the amount of funding which is provided is greater than the cost of the project, the applicant shall return that portion of the funding which exceeds the cost of the project to the State Librarian.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
In reviewing applications, the board shall consider all of the following factors:

(a) Needs of urban and rural areas.

(b) Projected population growth.

(c) Changing concepts of public library service.

(d) Distance of the proposed project from other existing and proposed facilities.

(e) Age and condition of the facility.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text:
(a) A facility, or the part thereof, acquired, constructed, remodeled, or rehabilitated with grants received pursuant to this chapter shall be dedicated to public library direct service use for a period of not less than 20 years following completion of the project, or the useful life of the building, whichever is longer.

(b) If the facility, or part thereof, acquired, constructed, remodeled, or rehabilitated with grants received pursuant to this chapter ceases to be used for public library direct service prior to the expiration of the period specified in subdivision (a), the board shall be entitled to recover from the grant recipient or the recipient’s successor in the maintenance of the facility, an amount which bears the same ratio to the value of the facility, or the appropriate part thereof, at the time it ceased to be used from public library direct service as the amount of the grant bore to the cost of the facility or appropriate part thereof. For purposes of this subdivision, the value of the facility, or the appropriate part thereof, shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the parties, or through an action brought for that purpose in the superior court.

(c) The board may release the grant recipient or the recipient’s successor in the maintenance of the facility from its obligation under subdivision (a), and waive the requirements of subdivision (b), if the board determines that so doing would not diminish the quality of public library service in the community served by the facility.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 16724 of the Government Code, moneys recovered pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be deposited in the fund, and shall be available for the purpose of awarding grants for other projects.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS


text: Bonds in the total amount of seventy-two million four hundred five thousand dollars ($72,405,000) (exclusive of refunding bonds), or so much thereof as is necessary, may be issued and sold to provide a fund to be used for carrying out the purposes expressed in this chapter and to be used to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds shall, when sold, be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of both principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 39, Sec. 2. (SB 1018) Effective June 27, 2012. Note: This section was added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 49, and approved in Prop. 85 on Nov. 8, 1988.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 11. California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988 > 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: The bonds authorized by this chapter shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and all of the provisions of that law apply to the bonds and to this chapter and are hereby incorporated in this chapter as though set forth in full in this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text:
(a) Solely for the purpose of authorizing the issuance and sale, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law, of the bonds authorized by this chapter, the California Library Construction and Renovation Finance Committee is hereby created. For purposes of this chapter, the California Library Construction and Renovation Finance Committee is the “committee” as that term is used in the State General Obligation Bond Law. The committee consists of the Treasurer, the State Librarian, the Director of Finance, or their designated representatives. The Treasurer shall serve as chairperson of the committee. A majority of the committee may act for the committee.

(b) For purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law, the California Library Construction and Renovation Board is designated the “board.”

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: The committee shall determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue bonds authorized pursuant to this chapter in order to carry out the actions specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 19955), and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds each year, and it is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty in regard to the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act which is necessary to collect that additional sum.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text:
Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this chapter, an amount that will equal the total of the following:

(a) The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter, as the principal and interest become due and payable.

(b) The sum which is necessary to carry out the provisions of Section 19976, appropriated without regard to fiscal years.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: For the purposes of carrying out this chapter, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount or amounts not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds which have been authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the fund. Any money made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, with interest at the rate earned by the money in the Pooled Money Investment Account during the time the money was withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to this section from money received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: Notwithstanding any other provision of this bond act, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this bond act that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes under designated conditions, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the bond proceeds invested and the investment earnings on those proceeds, and may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law, or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds, as may be required or desirable under federal law in order to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 652, Sec. 6.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: The board may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account, in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purposes of carrying out this chapter. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds which the committee has by resolution authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The board shall execute any documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated by the board in accordance with this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: Any bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter may be refunded by the issuance of refunding bonds in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Approval by the electors of the state for the issuance of bonds shall include the approval of the issuance of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued or any previously issued refunding bonds.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: All money deposited in the fund which is derived from premium and accrued interest on bonds sold shall be reserved in the fund and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, inasmuch as the proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this chapter are not “proceeds of taxes” as that term is used in Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 96. Effective January 1, 2007. Note: This section was added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 49, and approved in Prop. 85 on Nov. 8, 1988.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: An amount not to exceed 1 percent of the fund may be used by the State Librarian for costs of administering this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. Fiscal Provisions


text: This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 14 at the March 7, 2000, election.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 12. California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 > 1. General Provisions


text:
The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) Reading and literacy skills are fundamental to success in our economy and our society.

(b) The Legislature and Governor have made enormous strides in improving the quality of reading instruction in public schools.

(c) Public libraries are an important resource to further California’s reading and literacy goals both in conjunction with the public schools and for the adult population.

(d) The construction and renovation of public library facilities is necessary to expand access to reading and literacy programs in California’s public education system and to expand access to public library services for all residents of California.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 12. California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Committee” means the California Library Construction and Renovation Finance Committee established pursuant to Section 19972.

(b) “Fund” means the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Fund.

(c) “Board” means the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Board. This board is comprised of the State Librarian, the Treasurer, the Director of Finance, an Assembly Member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, a Senator appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and a member appointed by the Governor.

Legislative members of the board shall meet with, and participate in, the work of the board to the extent that their participation is not incompatible with their duties as Members of the Legislature. For the purposes of this chapter, Members of the Legislature who are members of the board shall constitute a joint legislative committee on the subject matter of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Fund, which is hereby established.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 11. LIBRARIES > 12. California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 > 2. Program Provisions


text: All moneys deposited in the fund, except as provided in Section 20011, are continuously appropriated to the State Librarian, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, and shall be available for grants to any city, county, city and county, or district that is authorized at the time of the project application to own and maintain a public library facility for the purposes set forth in Section 19989.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
The grant funds authorized pursuant to Section 19988, and the matching funds provided pursuant to Section 19995, shall be used by the recipient for any of the following purposes:

(a) Acquisition or construction of new facilities or additions to existing public library facilities.

(b) Acquisition of land necessary for the purposes of subdivision (a).

(c) Remodeling or rehabilitation of existing public library facilities or of other facilities for the purpose of their conversion to public library facilities. All remodeling and rehabilitation projects funded with grants authorized pursuant to this chapter shall include any necessary upgrading of electrical and telecommunications systems to accommodate Internet and similar computer technology.

(d) Procurement or installation, or both, of furnishings and equipment required to make a facility fully operable, if the procurement or installation is part of a construction or remodeling project funded pursuant to this section.

(e) Payment of fees charged by architects, engineers, and other professionals, whose services are required to plan or execute a project authorized pursuant to this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
Any grant funds authorized pursuant to Section 19988, or matching funds provided pursuant to Section 19995, may not be used by a recipient for any of the following purposes:

(a) Books and other library materials.

(b) Administrative costs of the project, including, but not limited to, the costs of any of the following:

(1) Preparation of the grant application.

(2) Procurement of matching funds.

(3) Conduct of an election for obtaining voter approval of the project.

(c) Interest or other carrying charges for financing the project, including, but not limited to, costs of loans or lease-purchase agreements in excess of the direct costs of any of the authorized purposes specified in Section 19989.

(d) Any ongoing operating expenses for the facility, its personnel, supplies, or any other library operations.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text: All construction contracts for projects funded in part through grants awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be awarded through competitive bidding pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 20100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text: This chapter shall be administered by the State Librarian. The board shall adopt rules, regulations, and policies for the implementation of this chapter.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
A city, county, city and county, or district may apply to the State Librarian for a grant pursuant to this chapter, as follows:

(a) Each application shall be for a project for a purpose authorized by Section 19989.

(b) An application may not be submitted for a project for which construction bids already have been advertised.

(c) The applicant shall request not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per project.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
(a) The State Librarian shall consider applications for construction of new public library facilities submitted pursuant to Section 19993 in the following priority order:

(1) First priority shall be given to joint use projects in which the agency that operates the library and one or more school districts have a cooperative agreement.

(2) Second priority shall be given to all other public library projects.

(b) The State Librarian shall consider applications for remodeling or rehabilitation of existing public library facilities pursuant to Section 19993 in the following priority order:

(1) First priority shall be given to public library projects in the attendance areas of public schools that are determined, pursuant to regulations adopted by the board, to have inadequate infrastructure to support access to computers and other educational technology.

(2) Second priority shall be given to all other projects.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
(a) Each grant recipient shall provide matching funds from any available source in an amount equal to 35 percent of the costs of the project. The remaining 65 percent of the costs of the project, up to a maximum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) per project, shall be provided through allocations from the fund.

(b) Qualifying matching funds shall be cash expenditures in the categories specified in Section 19989 which are made not earlier than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), in-kind expenditures do not qualify as matching funds.

(c) Land donated or otherwise acquired for use as a site for the facility, including, but not limited to, land purchased more than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian, may be credited towards the 35 percent matching funds requirement at its appraised value as of the date of the application. This subdivision shall not apply to land acquired with funds authorized pursuant to Part 68 (commencing with Section 100400).

(d) Architect fees for plans and drawings for library renovation and new construction, including, but not limited to, plans and drawings purchased more than three years prior to the submission of the application to the State Librarian, may be credited towards the 35 percent matching funds requirement.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
(a) The estimated costs of a project for which an application is submitted shall be consistent with normal public construction costs in the applicant’s area.

(b) An applicant wishing to construct a project having costs that exceed normal public construction costs in the area may apply for a grant in an amount not to exceed 65 percent of the normal costs up to a maximum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) per project if the applicant certifies that it is capable of financing the remainder of the project costs from other sources.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text: Once an application has been approved by the board and included in the State Librarian’s request to the committee, the amount of the funding to be provided to the applicant may not be increased. Any actual changes in project costs are the full responsibility of the applicant. If the amount of funding that is provided is greater than the cost of the project, the applicant shall return that portion of the funding that exceeds the cost of the project to the fund. If an applicant has been awarded funding by the board, but chooses not to proceed with the project, the applicant shall return all of the funding to the fund.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions


text:
(a) In reviewing applications, as part of establishing the priorities set forth in Section 19994 the board shall consider all of the following factors:

(1) Needs of urban and rural areas.

(2) Population growth.

(3) Age and condition of the existing library facility.

(4) The degree to which the existing library facility is inadequate in meeting the needs of the residents in the library service area and the degree to which the proposed project responds to the needs of those residents.

(5) The degree to which the library’s plan of service integrates appropriate electronic technologies into the proposed project.

(6) The degree to which the proposed site is appropriate for the proposed project and its intended use.

(7) The financial capacity of the local agency submitting the application to open and maintain operation of the proposed library for applications for the construction of new public libraries.

(b) If, after an application has been submitted, material changes occur that would alter the evaluation of an application, the State Librarian may accept an additional written statement from the applicant for consideration by the board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Program Provisions