Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer

Colburn co-sponsors library bill
April 9, 2006
Star Democrat

ANNAPOLIS — Marylanders can look forward to many improvements to their local public libraries under a bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, according to a news release from Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Mid-Shore.

Senate Bill 709 was sponsored by Senate President Mike Miller Jr. and co-sponsored by 14 senators, including Colburn. The bill would establish a state grant program for public library capital projects. The bill passed the Senate 45-0 on March 27, and it cleared the House Ways and Means Committee.

“A library is a place where people can always go to find books that can become friends and teachers, and provide unlimited knowledge,” said Colburn. “Lifelong learning is important to each and every citizen and it’s important to the livelihood of our community. People from every walk of life use our libraries. Our public libraries even serve our pre-schoolers. Senate Bill 709 will allow for the expansion and improvements of our Maryland libraries.”

Colburn said the Maryland Department of Education’s Division of Library Development and Services provides statewide leadership and guidance for planning and coordinating development of library information and service under the current law. As proposed in SB 709, the grant program would be consistent with the mission of the State Board of Education.

Under the bill, a county library could apply to the division of library development and services for a grant before July 15 each year. As a part of that process, the bill requires a county library to include a countywide library plan, including a mission statement, needs statement, multi-year goals and objectives, as well as a master plan describing the proposed capital project, approved by the appropriate political subdivision.

The county or municipality would be required to match the grant awarded by the state. The state grant cannot pay for more than 50 percent of the total project cost, and it can’t be less than $20,000. The division will be required to consider public need and urgency under this bill; the need for additional funding; geographic diversity; the estimated timeliness of completion; and viability of matching funds.

As provided by SB 709, each county library is limited to three grant applications a year and will require the state board of education to forward a list of the projects to the State Department of Budget and Management by Nov. 1 each year.

The bill requires the governor to budget $5 million a year to the grant program. The department of budget and management will determine the specific funding mechanism, while the grant program provides the funding for the capital projects and improvements.