If you will be updating your county library plan, it is recommended that the plan address the issue of library usage data collection. For more information on the issues involved in library usage data collection, see Appendix A of the DPI publication Planning for Countywide Library Service . By statute, a county clerk may now have access, upon request, to all books and records used to determine both the annual library material loans to county residents who do not maintain a public library and the total annual library material loans. The identity of individuals using the library, however, is protected under Wisconsin Statutes s. 43.30. Counties are free to fund at a higher level.
Counties are also free to include capital costs in their funding formulas.
In addition, counties must meet maintenance of effort requirements to retain system membership. As long as this minimum level is met, the county can distribute funds according to any formula specified in the county library plan. Our county library funding formula uses nonresident usage statistics for the twelve month period ending June 30, rather than for the prior calendar year. Your county must fund and be able to demonstrate it is funding each library at a level of at least the statutory formula amount which is based on the prior calendar year s nonresident usage statistics. As long as this minimum level is met, the county can distribute funds according to any formula specified in the county library plan.