§9338. District library center aid.

(a) Eligibility.--Any library designated by the State Librarian to serve as a district library center shall qualify for an additional amount of State aid under this section.

(b) Allocation method.--The following shall apply:

(1) The amount of aid to be paid to each district library center shall be determined by multiplying the annual per capita rate set by the department by the number of persons residing in the district.

(2) No district library center shall receive less than $200,000.

(c) Standards.--A district library center shall meet the following standards to qualify for aid under this section:

(1) A district library center shall implement a program of service to local libraries through an agreement negotiated by representatives from the district library center, local libraries, library systems and the State Library. The program shall be implemented in accordance with district library center rules and regulations issued by the State Librarian.

(2) As part of the negotiated agreement, the district library center shall provide leadership, coordination and consultation to local libraries in the following areas:

(i) Continuing education for library staff.

(ii) Library services to youth.

(iii) Library services to special populations, including, but not limited to, individuals with disabilities, homebound individuals, the elderly and individuals who are deficient in basic literacy skills.

(iv) Information technology and library automation.

(v) Orientation and training for boards of directors of local libraries, library systems and district library centers.

(d) Countywide cooperative plan.--If there is no county library or library system in a county of the second through eighth class, the district library center shall coordinate the countywide plan for services described in section 9337(e) (relating to county coordination aid).

Notation

Cross References.  Section 9338 is referred to in sections 9302, 9333 of this title.