1 CCR 301-22
2490-R-70.00 Definition and Mission.
70.01 Definition of RLSS. Regional Library Service Systems are organizations of publicly supported libraries within a designated geographic area established to develop and coordinate cooperative services. Systems provide continuing education, consulting, technical assistance, and professional support for all publicly supported libraries and the Colorado library community.
70.02 Mission of RLSS. Regional Library Service Systems encourage, promote, and aid System members by providing leadership in developing library and media services. Systems work cooperatively and in collaboration with other Systems, the State Library, library communities, and other organizations to meet the information needs of Colorado residents now and in the future.
70.03 Geographic Area. All geographic areas of Colorado are currently included in a Regional Library Service System. The geographic area of a Regional Library Service System will be based on the effective and efficient coordination and utilization of library resources. Changes in System boundaries are made by the State Board of Education, upon recommendation of the State Librarian or designee, after consultation with the boards of the impacted Systems. 2490-R-71.00 System Membership.
71.01 Types of Members
71.01 (a) Public Libraries. Any public library legally established as defined by Section 24-90-103, C.R.S., and its subsequent amendments or revisions may elect to participate in a System.
71.01 (b) School Districts. Any school district organized and existing pursuant to Section 22-30- 103, C.R.S., may elect to participate in a System.
71.01 (c) Academic Libraries. Any state university, college, or community college as defined by Section 23-2-102, C.R.S., may elect to participate in a System.
71.01 (d) Special Libraries and Cooperatives. Any publicly supported special library or cooperative providing library services may elect to participate in a System.
71.02 Associates. A System Board may extend non-voting associate status as defined by individual System bylaws.
2490-R-72.00 System Governance
72.01 Membership Council
72.01 (a) The Membership Council will consist of one voting representative from each System member. A council representative will be specifically empowered by the System member to represent it.
72.01 (b) Membership Council will elect from its members a Governing Board which is representative of at least three of the four types of members.
72.02 Governing Boards. The governing body of each Regional Library Service System will be called the Governing Board, pursuant to Section 24-90-115, C.R.S. The Governing Board will have the right to exercise all powers vested in a public library board of trustees pursuant to Section 24-90-109, C.R.S. except that such a Governing Board shall not be empowered to hold or acquire title to land or buildings 24-90-115, C.R.S.
72.03 Staff
72.03 (a) The Governing Board will employ the director of the Regional Library Service System in compliance with applicable state and federal equal employment opportunity laws. The director must hold a graduate degree from an American Library Association accredited school, or a masters degree in educational media or educational technology from a National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited institution of higher education.
72.03 (b) The Governing Board of a Regional Library Service System, upon the recommendation of the director, will employ such other staff as may be necessary in compliance with applicable state and federal equal employment opportunity laws.
72.03 (c) The Governing Board will adopt personnel policies which may include staff selection, resignation and dismissal procedures, leave policies, job descriptions, employee benefits, and personnel performance evaluations.
2490-R-73.00 Long Range Plan and Annual Plan
73.01 Long Range Plan
73.01 (a) A Long Range Plan shall be submitted every three years. The first Long Range Plan shall be submitted 90 days prior to the 1997 fiscal year by each governing board to the Colorado State Librarian or designee for approval.
73.01 (b) The Long Range Plan shall include, but not be limited to:
73.01 (c) Each System's Long Range Plan shall show how the System goals and objectives relate to applicable sections of the State's Long Range Plan for libraries.
73.02 Annual Plan
73.02 (a) Each System is required to have an Annual Plan. The Annual Plan will be submitted by the Governing Board for approval to the Colorado State Librarian or designee no later than 90 days prior to the beginning of the System's next fiscal year.
73.02 (b) The Annual Plan for each System's fiscal year will include:
2490-R-74.00 Funding, Reporting, and Fiscal Year
74.01 Funding
74.01 (a) Funds appropriated by the Colorado General Assembly for Regional Library Service Systems will be allocated by the Colorado State Librarian, or designee, and approved by the State Board of Education. Elements for allocation may include, but need not be limited to: basic administrative costs, other factors related to System service areas, and the State's Long Range Plan for libraries.
74.01 (b) Each System will receive 90% of its total annual state funding upon receipt and approval of that System's next fiscal year Annual Plan by the Colorado State Librarian, or designee.
74.01 (c) Each System will receive 10% of its total annual state funding upon receipt and approval of that System's Annual Report for the previous fiscal year required in Rule 2490-R-74.02 (b) by the Colorado State Librarian or designee.
74.01 (d) These regulations will not be construed in such a way as to restrict or hamper the Governing Board in obtaining or accepting private financial support, supplementary public funding, or grants from any agency, public or private, or entering into remunerative contracts or agreements in accord with the System Annual or Long Range Plan.
74.02 Reporting
74.02 (a) The Governing Board will have the System's financial records audited annually in accordance with generally accepted auditing principles. The written audit shall be submitted to the Colorado State Librarian, or designee, no more than six months after the close of the System's fiscal year.
74.02 (b) The Governing Board will submit an Annual Report providing statistical and narrative information requested by the Colorado State Librarian, or designee. The Annual Report will include a report of activities related to goals and objectives in the System's Annual Plan, progress toward accomplishments of the System's Long Range Plan and sources of income of System activities. This document is to be submitted to the Colorado State Librarian or designee no later than 90 days after the close of the System's fiscal year.
74.03 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Systems will be determined by the Colorado State Librarian, or designee.
2490-R-75.00 System Establishment 75.01 Establishment of a new Regional Library Service System requires the submission of an organizational plan to the Colorado State Librarian or designee for approval by the State Board of Education. The organizational plan will include, but not be limited to:
75.01 (a) A copy of proposed bylaws.
75.01 (b) Description of structure.
75.01 (c) Evidence of the endorsement of participating libraries.
75.01 (d) Hiring of System director and designation of System headquarters.
75.01 (e) Procedures permitting membership of all types of publicly supported libraries.
75.01 (f) Procedures for a library to inform a System that it wishes to become a member or withdraw from membership.
75.01 (g) Needs assessment for System area.
75.01 (h) A statement of long-range goals and objectives of the System.
2490-R-76.00 Dissolution and Mergers 76.01 In the event a System Membership Council decides that the need for a Regional Library Service System ceases to exist, the Governing Board thereof may, by a two-thirds vote of its System members, declare its intent to dissolve the organization and file with the Colorado State Librarian, or designee, a plan for effecting such dissolution, which will be carried out upon approval by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 24-90-115, C.R.S.
76.02 In the event of a reconfiguration of one or more Systems, a plan for disposition of assets and liabilities must be submitted to the State Librarian, or designee, along with the organization plan for reconfiguation and must be approved by the State Board of Education. 2490-R-77.00 Local Autonomy.
The organization or operation of a Regional Library Service System will not be construed to infringe upon the autonomy of any Board of Trustees of a public library or the Governing Board of any publicly supported library. Section 24-90-115, C.R.S.
2490-R-78.00 Purpose of Revision/Effective Date 78.01 Purpose. These rules are enacted pursuant to the authority found in Section 24-90-105, C.R.S. (1) (1) (I); 24-90-105 (2) (c) C.R.S.; 24-90-115 (1) (b) C.R.S. The reason for the amendments adopted by the Board on December 8, 1994 is: 1) To update portions of the present rules which are out-of-date and no longer relevant, 2) To promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in the operation of Regional Library Service Systems, 3) To clarify and strengthen the reporting and accountability of the Regional Library Service Systems, 4) And to coordinate System activity towards the improvement of library service for the state's libraries and the residents of Colorado.
78.02 These rules become effective on October 3, 1995.