Section 19951 Of Article 1. General Provisions From California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 11. >> Chapter 11. >> Article 1.
19951
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The public library is a supplement to the formal system of
free public education, a source of information and inspiration to
persons of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and economic statuses, and
a resource for continuing education and reeducation beyond the years
of formal education, and therefore deserves adequate financial
support from government at all levels.
(b) It is in the interest of the people and of the state that
there be a general diffusion of information and knowledge through the
continued operation of free public libraries. This diffusion is a
matter of general concern inasmuch as it is the duty of the state to
provide encouragement to the voluntary lifelong learning of the
people of the state.
(c) Many existing public library facilities are not safe,
efficient, or accessible for use, adequate for the size of the
communities they serve, or otherwise capable of providing the public
library services needed by the communities they serve.
(d) Many communities that are populous enough to require a public
library facility do not have one.
(e) Local public library authorities do not have sufficient funds
to construct or rehabilitate necessary public library facilities.
(f) Funding to meet the need for public library facilities, which
is beyond the ability of local government to supply, is most
appropriately met by a partnership of state and local governments.