The department shall provide the grants and aid specified in this section from any available state, federal, or other funds.
It shall provide regional library basic system support aid to regional public library systems which meet the requirements of section 134.34, to assist those systems in providing basic system services.
It may provide special project grants to assist innovative and experimental library programs including, but not limited to, special services for American Indians and the Spanish-speaking, delivery of library materials to homebound persons, other extensions of library services to persons without access to libraries and projects to strengthen and improve library services.
It may provide grants for interlibrary exchange of books, periodicals, resource material, reference information and the expenses incident to the sharing of library resources and materials, including planning, development and operating grants to multicounty, multitype library systems.
It may provide grants for the improvement of library services at welfare and corrections institutions and for library service for the blind and physically disabled.
It may provide grants for construction or remodeling of library facilities from any state and federal funds specifically appropriated for this purpose.
(a) The commissioner shall promulgate rules consistent with sections 134.32 to 134.355 governing:
(1) applications for these grants and aid;
(2) computation formulas for determining the amounts of establishment grants and regional library basic system support aid; and
(3) eligibility criteria for grants and aid.
(b) To the extent allowed under federal law, a construction grant applicant, in addition to the points received under Minnesota Rules, part 3530.2632, shall receive an additional five points if the construction grant is for a project combining public library services and school district library services at a single location.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes