43.09(2)(2) Public library systems. The division, by rule, may promulgate necessary standards for public library systems. If promulgated, such rules shall be consistent with s. 43.15 and shall be established in accordance with ch. 227, except that the division shall hold a public hearing prior to adoption of any proposed rule. In addition to the notice required under s. 227.17, the division shall endeavor to notify each public library of such public hearings.

43.11(1)(1) Creation. Any county board may appoint a county library planning committee under this section. If a county board, in a county where all public library service is administered or coordinated by an existing county library board or where there is a single-county public library system board, determines to appoint a committee under this section, the existing library board may serve as the county library planning committee. The county board shall notify the division immediately upon appointment of the committee.

43.11(3)(a)(a) The committee may prepare a new plan for the organization of a county or multicounty system, revise an existing plan or change the boundaries of a public library system. It shall conduct public hearings concerning these plans, revisions and changes to which representatives of all libraries in the county shall be invited.

43.11(3)(b)(b) The committee’s final report, including a new plan, revisions to an existing plan or changes to the boundaries of a public library system and copies of any written agreements necessary to implement the proposal, shall be filed with the county board and submitted to the division. Plans for multicounty systems shall include a method for allocating system board membership among the member counties.

43.11(3)(c)(c) The plan of library service for a county, whether for a single county or a multicounty system, shall provide for library services to residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library under this chapter. The services shall include full access to public libraries participating in the public library system and the plan shall provide for reimbursement for that access. Services may include books-by-mail service, bookmobile service, the establishment of additional libraries or other services deemed appropriate by the committee. Services may be provided by contracting with existing public libraries in the county or in adjacent counties or with the public library system or by creating a county library organization under this chapter. The plan of library service for a county may provide for improving public library service countywide and in municipalities that have libraries. The plan shall specify the method and level of funding to be provided by the county to implement the services described in the plan, including the reimbursement of public libraries for access by residents of those municipalities in the county not maintaining a public library.

43.11(3)(d)(d) The plan of library services for a county may include minimum standards of operation for public libraries in the county. The county shall hold a public hearing on any standards proposed under this paragraph. The standards shall take effect if they are approved by the county and the public library boards of at least 50 percent of the participating municipalities in the county that contain, according to the most recent estimate prepared under s. 16.96, at least 80 percent of the population of participating municipalities in the county.

43.11(3)(e)(e) The plan of library services for a county may require that a municipality located in whole or in part within the county that operates a public library compensate another municipality located in whole or in part within the county that operates a public library whenever the latter public library provides library services to residents of the municipality that operates the former public library. The plan’s compensation for each loan may not exceed the actual cost of the loan, as defined by the department by rule.

43.12(1)(a)(a) By March 1 of each year, each of the following payments of not less than the minimum amount calculated under par. (b) shall be made:

43.12(1)(a)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., by a county that does not maintain a consolidated public library for the county under s. 43.57 and that contains residents who are not residents of a municipality that maintains a public library under s. 43.52 or 43.53, to each public library in the county and to each public library in an adjacent county, other than a county with a population of at least 750,000 or a county that maintains a consolidated public library for the county.

43.12(1)(a)2.2. If the adjacent county maintains a consolidated public library and provides the notice under sub. (1m), by a county that does not maintain a consolidated public library for the county under s. 43.57 and that contains residents who are not residents of a municipality that maintains a public library under s. 43.52 or 43.53, to the consolidated public library for the adjacent county providing the notice under sub. (1m).

43.12(1)(a)3.3. If a county maintains a consolidated public library and provides a notice under sub. (1m), by that county to each public library in an adjacent county, other than a county with a population of at least 750,000, that provides a statement to the county under sub. (2).

43.12(1)(b)(b) The minimum amount under par. (a) shall be calculated to equal 70 percent of the amount computed by multiplying the number of loans of material made by the library during the prior calendar year, for par. (a) 1. or 3., to residents of the county who are not residents of a municipality that maintains a public library under s. 43.52 or 43.53, or, for par. (a) 2., to residents of the county who are not residents of a municipality that contains a branch of the consolidated library, as reported under sub. (2), by the amount that results from dividing the total operational expenditures of the library during the calendar year for which the number of loans are reported, not including capital expenditures or expenditures of federal funds, by the total number of loans of material made by the public library during the calendar year for which the loans are reported.

43.12(1)(c)(c) The library board of the public library entitled to a payment under this subsection may direct the county to credit all or a portion of the payment to a county library service or library system for shared services.

43.12(2)(2) By July 1 of each year, each public library lying in whole or in part in a county shall provide a statement to the county clerk of that county and to the county clerk of each adjacent county, other than a county with a population of at least 750,000, that reports all of the following:

43.12(2)(a)(a) The number of loans of material made by that library during the prior calendar year to residents of the county, or adjacent county, who are not residents of a municipality that maintains a public library under s. 43.52 or 43.53.

43.12(2)(b)(b) If the library is in a county that is adjacent to a county with a consolidated library system, the number of loans of material made by that library during the prior calendar year to residents of the adjacent county who are not residents of a municipality that contains a branch of the consolidated library.

43.12(2)(c)(c) The total number of loans of material made by that library during the previous calendar year.

43.12(3)(3) A county may enter into an agreement with its participating municipalities or with a public library system to pay no less than the amounts determined under sub. (1) to the public library system for distribution to the public libraries that participate in that system.

43.12(6)(6) The county library board or, if no county library board exists, the county itself, shall either distribute the aid provided by the county to the public libraries, as provided in the plan prepared under s. 43.11, or shall transfer the aid for distribution to the public library system in which it participates.