BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 331
AUTHOR: Liu
AMENDED: April 1, 2013
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 3, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Lenin Del Castillo
SUBJECT : California Library Services Act.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the statewide delivery network and
resource sharing under the California Library Services Act
(CLSA) by allowing funding requests from libraries to
include high-speed broadband capacity upgrades and allow
the California State Library (CSL) to enter into a
cooperative agreement with a high-speed broadband network
to provide internet services to all public libraries
throughout the state.
BACKGROUND
The CLSA was enacted in 1977 and designed to enhance equal
access to library materials for all Californians. It funds
several programs which encourage interlibrary cooperation
and participation among local public libraries throughout
the state. The CLSA is administered by the California
State Library under the direction of the California Library
Services Board, which consists of thirteen members-nine of
which are appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate, and
two by the Assembly. The programs within the CLSA include:
1) Systems Reference program: The Systems Reference
Program supports coordinated reference services
provided through eight CLSA Cooperative Library
Systems. These services include basic and
interlibrary references to local libraries and
underserved populations and training to local
libraries. The purpose of the program is to provide
services at the local level and cost effective back up
resources for libraries.
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2) Transactions Based Reimbursement: The Transactions
Based Reimbursement program provides access to library
materials by efficiently facilitating interlibrary
loans of materials among participating public
libraries. Individuals can borrow materials from
anywhere in the system, directly or indirectly through
their local library. The state provides reimbursement
for the handling cost incurred when a library loans
materials to another library or to a resident of
another library's jurisdiction. However, funding for
this program is subject to an appropriation in the
annual budget act and if funding is insufficient to
fully fund all transactions,
the reimbursement rates are prorated. The Budget Act
of 2012 includes $1.9 million for this program, which
will be unlikely to cover the full cost of
transactions.
ANALYSIS
This bill expands the statewide delivery network and
resource sharing under the California Library Services Act
(CLSA) by allowing funding requests from libraries to
include high-speed broadband capacity upgrades and allow
the California State Library (CSL) to enter into a
cooperative agreement with a high-speed broadband network
to provide internet services to all public libraries
throughout the state.
More specifically, this bill:
1) Allows funding requests from cooperative library
systems to include grant assistance for broadband
capacity upgrades and the electronic delivery of
library materials and information, to the extent that
funds are available,
2) Allows the CSL to enter into a cooperative agreement
with a high-speed broadband network to provide
internet services to all public libraries throughout
the state.
3) Requires the California Library Services Board to
develop formulas for the equitable allocation of state
funds associated with a library system's participation
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in the statewide broadband network and costs
pertaining to broadband capacity upgrades.
4) Makes technical, clarifying amendments related to the
California Library Services Board's requirement to
establish and maintain a statewide communications and
delivery network among cooperative library systems.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to information provided
by the author's office, there are provisions of the
CLSA that have become outdated or irrelevant for the
operation of modern library systems. The CLSA was
designed to help public libraries and cooperative
public library systems provide coordinated information
services, support communication and delivery among
libraries, and provide reimbursement for interlibrary
loans of materials and direct loans to non-resident
borrowers. Library supporters have recently been
looking for ways to expand the use of broadband
digital connections between libraries and schools.
The increased use of internet services at libraries,
expanded distribution of ebooks and digital portable
reader devices, and other technological changes have
expanded beyond the original definitions and terms
used in the CLSA. This bill would increase
opportunities for digital broadband connections for
public libraries by allowing the CSL to enter into an
agreement with a statewide high-speed broadband
network for the purpose of providing an infrastructure
"backbone" of broadband services. The California
State Library (CSL) has indicated it has been in
discussions with the Corporation for Education Network
Initiatives for California to join their statewide
network.
2) Lack of funding priority mechanism . It is unclear
whether funding requests for broadband upgrades would
be prioritized over the transactions based
reimbursements for library loans and other allowable
expenditures currently funded under the California
Library Services Act (CLSA). Absent language that
specifies any funding priorities, staff assumes that
the CSL and the California Library Services Board
would have the discretion to decide what is funded.
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Since the amount of funds provided in the annual
budget in recent years has only covered a small
fraction of eligible CLSA program costs, this bill
could have an unintended consequence of further
diluting one of the CLSA's primary functions of
encouraging the sharing of materials among libraries.
3) Fiscal effect . According to the California Library
Association, this bill would result in General Fund
cost pressure of $4.25 million of which approximately
$2 million would be for one-time activities.
4) Prior related legislation . SB 1044 (Liu), Chapter
219, Statutes of 2012, aligned statute with the
current needs and practices of California's public
library systems by repealing the Library of California
Act and amending various sections of the CLSA. These
changes streamlined existing library system operations
and removed statutory references that are outdated.
SUPPORT
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
Employees
California Library Association
OPPOSITION
None on file.