Requirements For Establishment Of A New Public Library Within The

TENNESSEE REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM. In order for a public library to be approved for inclusion within the Tennessee Regional Library System, an application must be submitted to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. (1) The public library must also meet all of the following requirements: (a) The entity requesting inclusion must be recognized by resolution as a public library by the city or county requesting support from the Tennessee Regional Library System; (b) A minimum of 51% of the library operating expense must be comprised of public funds from a city and/or county; PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES CHAPTER 1360-12-01 (c) The library budget must provide a minimum of 20 hours per week for paid staff; (d) The library must be located in a county currently served by the regional library system; (e) A governing library board must be appointed in accordance with T.C.A. §§ 10-3-101 and 10-3-103. (f) The library must be open a minimum of 20 hours per week; (g) The library must hold and/or own a circulating, cataloged collection; (h) Basic library services must be free to the community, including but not limited to circulation of materials, reference services, programming, and public access to technology. (2) The governmental entity requesting that the public library be included in the Tennessee Regional Library System must approve and an Authorized Signatory must sign both a Public Library Service Agreement and a Maintenance of Effort Agreement. The Public Library Board of Trustees will be responsible for satisfying the terms of these agreements. (3) The following documentation must accompany the application submitted to the Tennessee State Library and Archives: (a) A certified copy of the city or county resolution recognizing the entity as a public library in accordance with T.C.A. § 10-3-101; (b) A copy of the entity’s line-item budget; (c) A list of weekly hours of operation; (d) Documentation of the number of materials in the entity’s collection; (e) Signed Public Library Service Agreement; (f) Signed Public Library Maintenance of Effort Agreement; (g) Official library Board Appointment Form, which includes their service terms.