I can understand why it might be a little confusing, the regulations covering this requirement changed a few years back.
In 2009, after the required regulatory process, including comments from the library community, 605 CMR 4.01(5) was changed as follows:
- the calculation of the requirement–multiply your community’s municipal appropriation to the library by your percentage requirement (based on the population). This is the requirement for the current year’s expenditure’s for materials for library patrons to use. Thus, for Fy2012, multiply the FY2012 municipal appropriation by the required percentage and that is the target dollar amount that must be expended by June 30, 2012 for materials.
- the population groupings for the materials expenditure and the hours open requirements were made consistent. Thus the group 2,000 to 4,999 was added. The percentage requirement for that group is 19.5%.
- language was added, “All sources of income to the library’s operating budget may be used to meet the materials expenditure requirement.” 605 CMR 4.01(5)
It is important to remember that the Board of Library Commissioners do not have statutory authority to grant waivers of the materials expenditure requirement. There is however an administrative Accommodation Policy that is reviewed annually by the Board. This policy has been in place since 2003 and allows a library to be certified in the State Aid program while meeting the materials expenditure requirement at either a 80% or 90% level. If the accommodation policy is used, the library receives a reduced state aid award.
All materials that are intended for patron use can be counted towards the materials expenditure requirement. This includes that part of a Network membership that goes for e-content.
As always, Ned Richards and I are available to answer your questions about the State Aid program.
98 North Washington Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
tel: 617-725-1860 x 222
1-800-952-7403 (in state)
fax: 617-725-0140
This post was written by dcarty on July 5, 2011
Posted under Materials Expenditure Requirement, Municipal Appropriation Requirement, State Aid to Public Libraries
