Article 4. Local Public Library Services of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 11. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 4.

Any public library or combination of public libraries may submit proposals to the state board for Special Services Programs within the service area. Applications shall identify the needs of the target service group, assess the capacity of the applicant library or libraries to respond to those needs, and shall identify the activities and timelines necessary to achieve those objectives. Funds may be expended for the development of collections to meet the needs of the underserved, together with the employment or retraining of staff necessary to properly utilize the collections, and to provide appropriate services to the underserved.

Any California public library may participate in universal borrowing. Public libraries participating in universal borrowing may not exclude the residents of any jurisdiction maintaining a public library. Public libraries that incur a net imbalance shall be reimbursed for the handling costs of the net loans according to the allocation formula developed pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 18724. Reimbursement shall be incurred only for imbalances between:
  (a) System member libraries and independent public libraries.
  (b) Independent public libraries with each other.
  (c) Member libraries of one system with member libraries of other systems.

If two or more public library jurisdictions wish to consolidate their libraries into a single library agency, an establishment grant in the annual maximum amount of twenty-thousand dollars ($20,000) shall be made to the newly consolidated library jurisdiction for each of two years, provided that notice of such consolidation is filed with the State Librarian within one year after the consolidation.