Virginia Administrative Code
Title 17 - LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Agency 15 - LIBRARY BOARD
Chapter 90 - REQUIREMENTS WHICH MUST BE MET BY LIBRARIES SERVING A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 5,000 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE STATE GRANTS-IN-AID
Section 17VAC15-90-20 - Qualifications

1. Be organized under the appropriate section of the Code of Virginia.

2. Submit to the State Library Board:

Charter, resolutions, or other legal papers under which they are organized.

A copy of the by-laws of the board of trustees, a list of trustees, revised as changes occur.

A five-year plan, adopted by the governing body of the library (trustees, or equivalent) for the development of library service in the area (areas) served. In order to receive continuing grants, any revisions in this plan must be submitted annually.

A written statement of policy covering such items as: service, personnel, and maintenance of book collections and other materials.

Statistical and financial reports including statements of progress of the plan as requested.

3. All libraries shall meet the following minimum requirements:

Give at least 20 hours of public service per week.

Provide adequate staff, with at least one paid employee working 20 hours a week while library is open.

Have a collection of currently useful books of at least 5,000 volumes.

Provide a minimum of 1,750 square feet of space.

Be located on a site which is conveniently situated for service to the greatest number of people in the area.

Add at least 200 currently useful books per year.

Expend annually at least $3,000 per year in local funds, 2/3 of which must be from taxation or endowment. Local operating expenditures for any library, or library system, shall not fall below that of the previous year. The amount of any undesignated balance at the end of the fiscal year which exceeds 10% of the library's total budget will be subtracted from the grant which is based on that year's expenditures.

Provide an author, subject and title catalog.

Provide a telephone.

It is strongly recommended that libraries in this category look toward joining larger units of service in order to meet recommended state standards.