SF 1320

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to libraries; authorizing a program to 
  1.3             improve the skills of public library staff; 
  1.4             appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [RE-TOOLING INSTRUCTION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY 
  1.7   STAFF.] 
  1.8      In order to ensure that citizens throughout Minnesota have 
  1.9   maximum access to resources now available through technological 
  1.10  innovations, including the Internet, massive datasets in 
  1.11  electronic format, high speed data communication systems, and 
  1.12  formerly distant arts and cultural resources, the commissioner 
  1.13  of children, families, and learning shall facilitate the design 
  1.14  and implementation of a program to upgrade the skills of public 
  1.15  library staff throughout the state.  Not later than June 30, 
  1.16  1999, the commissioner shall complete at least six major 
  1.17  elements in a program to upgrade public library staff skills and 
  1.18  capabilities.  The commissioner may conduct or contract for:  
  1.19     (1) the preparation and development of a curriculum for 
  1.20  public library staff skill building; 
  1.21     (2) a pilot project to determine the benefits and 
  1.22  instructional costs for public library staff skill building; 
  1.23     (3) the teaching of courses or workshops for existing 
  1.24  public library staff; 
  1.25     (4) implementation of a reliable system for tracking course 
  2.1   and workshop attendance, including provisions for appropriate 
  2.2   certification of attendees, and for making recognition of staff 
  2.3   achievements portable from one public library system to another; 
  2.4   and 
  2.5      (5) a pilot project to evaluate cost-effective alternative 
  2.6   distant learning technologies and methodologies. 
  2.7      Sec. 2.  [REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.] 
  2.8      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
  2.9   conduct or contract for a report to the legislature, to be 
  2.10  delivered not later than February 15, 2000, concerning the costs 
  2.11  and accomplishments of the project under section 1 and providing 
  2.12  recommendations for additional measures to provide excellent 
  2.13  information services to the citizens of Minnesota. 
  2.14     Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.15     $325,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, is 
  2.16  appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  2.17  children, families, and learning for purposes of the re-tooling 
  2.18  instruction for public library staff program under section 1 and 
  2.19  the report required under section 2.  Of this appropriation, not 
  2.20  more than $16,000 is available to the department for 
  2.21  administrative and support costs directly related to 
  2.22  implementing and monitoring the program and report required 
  2.23  under sections 1 and 2.