Section 18-15-3 - Rural library development program. - New Mexico Statutes

18-15-3. Rural library development program.

A.     The division shall establish a rural library development program that provides grants-in-aid to: 

(1)     improve existing rural libraries' collections and services and provide resources to plan and establish new rural libraries; 

(2)     improve access to library materials and technology for rural citizens;  

(3)     connect rural libraries to communications networks, such as wire New Mexico and national lambdarail; 

(4)     provide professional development to librarians and other library staff in rural libraries; and 

(5)     provide support for rural libraries to participate in the New Mexico group catalog and the New Mexico library portal, a statewide resource-sharing network.  

B.     Municipalities and counties may apply for rural library development grants-in-aid to improve or connect a rural library and provide training and supplemental salaries not to exceed forty percent of compensation for a period not to exceed three years to rural librarians.  A grant-in-aid may be awarded for qualifying rural libraries based on an application process developed by the division.  

C.     The division shall establish by rule the application and grant process to distribute available money equitably across the state.  Priority shall be given to rural libraries that are: 

(1)     located more than twenty miles from a municipality with a population of greater than fifty thousand as determined by the latest federal decennial census; and 

(2)     being connected to wire New Mexico and national lambdarail.