1. (a) To qualify for a public library assistance grant, a library must

   1. (1) provide, at a minimum, the following services:

      1. (A) a circulating collection of library books and materials that the library purchases and maintains;
      2. (B) interlibrary loans;
      3. (C) reference services;
      4. (D) children's programs;

   2. (2) keep each library facility for which a grant application is made open to provide free library services to all residents of that facility's legal service area on a regularly scheduled basis for at least 48 weeks per year and three days per week; additionally, the library must keep each library facility open for a minimum number of hours per week, as follows:

      1. (A) for a separately administered library facility that is not a branch outlet as described in (B) of this paragraph, and that serves

         1. (i) under 750 individuals, 10 hours per week;
         2. (ii) 750 - 1,500 individuals, 15 hours per week;
         3. (iii) 1,501 - 3,000 individuals, 25 hours per week;
         4. (iv) 3,001 - 10,000 individuals, 40 hours per week;
         5. (v) over 10,000 individuals, 50 hours per week;

      2. (B) for a branch outlet of a public library system that the director determines to be easily accessible by road to the system's main library, and that serves

         1. (i) under 1,000 individuals, 15 hours per week;
         2. (ii) 1,000 - 4,999 individuals, 20 hours per week;
         3. (iii) 5,000 or more individuals, 25 hours per week;
      3. (C) five hours per week during evening and weekend hours; and
      4. (D) for a combined public and school library, 10 hours per week outside regular school hours;

   3. (3) adopt and maintain policies that include

      1. (A) a statement of mission, goals, and objectives; and
      2. (B) a written collection development policy, providing for the selection, evaluation, and weeding of materials and reconsideration of materials;

   4. (4) provide trained paid or volunteer staff on duty at each facility during all hours of operation of the facility, including a designated library director who

      1. (A) completes every two years at least one continuing education program approved by the state librarian;
      2. (B) if the library is in a municipality with a population of 3,000 to 5,999, has a bachelor's degree and library management experience or training; and
      3. (C) if the library is in a municipality with a population of 6,000 or greater, has a master's degree in library or information science;
   5. (5) if administered by a nonprofit corporation, hold public meetings of the board of directors on at least a quarterly basis;
   6. (6) provide matching funds as required under AS 14.56.330 and 4 AAC 57.063;
   7. (7) maintain an accurate accounting of the library's budget and expenditure of money; and
   8. (8) annually submit to the division, on or before September 1, a complete public library annual report and public library assistance grant report on forms provided by the state library.

2. (b) The director shall grant a waiver of application of one or more of the requirements of this section, as requested in writing by an applicant, if the director determines that

   1. (1) the applicant has shown good cause for the waiver; and
   2. (2) the waiver is consistent with the requirements of AS 14.56.300 - 14.56.340 and AS 29.35.125.

(Eff. 4/2/99, Register 149)

Authority: AS 14.07.060, AS 14.56.020, AS 14.56.310, AS 14.56.340