and Other Issues Related to County Library Funding
On April 20, 1998, Governor Thompson signed SB 269, making official the most significant revision of Wisconsin library law in more than a decade. The bill was introduced by the Joint Legislative Council and developed largely through the work of the Special Committee on Public Libraries. The final bill as amended became law on July 1, 1998, as Act 150. The provisions in the law that will probably have the greatest widespread impact are those that relate to county library planning and funding. See the links below for information about the new county planning and funding requirements, as well as information about other 1998 changes in Wisconsin library law.
In May 2006, Governor Doyle signed SB 272, which became law on June 3, 2006, as Act 420. Among other changes the bill extends county library funding requirements to libraries in adjacent counties.
- Summary of the provisions of Act 150
- Summary of Act 420 in Word format
- Frequently Asked Questions About the County Library Planning Statutes
- Outline of a Sample County Library Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions About the County Library Funding required in Act 150
- Frequently Asked Questions About the County Library Funding to Adjacent Counties (Act 420)
- Guidelines for Collection of Public Library Nonresident Usage Statistics
- 2013 County Library Tax Exemption Calculation guide A guide for cities, towns, or villages that apply for exemption from the county library tax under s. 43.64.
Walter Burkhalter
Division for Libraries and Technology
Public Library Development
125 S. Webster St., PO Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841
(608) 266-7270; fax: (608) 267-9207
walter.burkhalter@dpi.wi.gov