Res 21-86 RESOLUTION NO. 21-86
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DELRAY
BEACH REQUESTING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT
LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR ACCESS BY INDEPENDENT FREE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO STATE LIBRARY GRANT FUNDING SOURCES.
WHEREAS, the present provisions of Chapter 257, Florida
Statutes do not provide for access by local independent free public
libraries to State Library operating grants and instead solely assist
County designated single administrative units and cities of 200,000 or
more population; and,
WHEREAS, the Delray Beach Library is an independent facility
supported by the City of Delray Beach, which provides free public
library services to persons residing within the City and also provides
certain services to persons residing outside of the City; and,
WHEREAS, the Delray Beach Library meets public library service
needs which are not directly met by Palm Beach County, yet is denied
access to State funded sources of library operating grants; and,
WHEREAS, the existing situation under Chapter 257 is threatened
to be yet worsened by House Bill 765 proposed by Representative Bell,
which would enact a 2% tax on the initial sale of written materials and
certain audio tapes to produce grant fund revenues for distribution to
County designated library systems, while denying access to such revenues
by independent libraries, and in fact even imposes the 2% tax on books
purchased by libraries; and,
WHEREAS, the amendment proposed by House Bill 765 imposes new
inequities upon independent libraries; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide independent libraries fair
and reasonable access to the State funding sources provided for County
library systems, either by direct grants to independent libraries or via
a right to join in County applications for such State grants or a right
to enter into interlocal agreements for the purpose of sharing the State
grant proceeds with such County systems,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the State Legislature is hereby requested to
amend Chapter 257, Florida Statutes, to provide for publicly funded
independent libraries to have access to library funding sources provided
by the State to County designated library systems.
Section 2. That the Legislature recognize the important role
played by independent libraries and declare a policy to promote, assist
and facilitate the growth of independent libraries, rather than to
ignore or attempt to destroy said libraries.
Section 3. That the Legislature declare the policy of the
State to be to encourage the establishment and development of free
public library services throughout the State by providing grants to
Cities, Districts, and Counties that maintain free public libraries and
that such grants not be limited solely to County designated exclusive
library units.
Section 4. That the Legislature provide that the sale of
materials to free public libraries, whether independent or County
designated, be exempt from any new privilege tax on such sale.
Section 5. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and
directed to furnish a copy of this Resolution to local members of the
State Legislature, the State Librarian, the Secretary of State and any
other entity or individual requesting same.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on this the 8th day
of April , 1986.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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