Relating to public libraries, including eligibility requirements for state assistance and oversight by city councils

This bill relates to public libraries, including eligibility requirements for state assistance and oversight by city councils. Current law requires public libraries to meet certain requirements to receive state assistance through the enrich Iowa program. The bill adds the requirement that eligible public libraries enforce age-appropriate policies that prohibit minors from accessing materials deemed inappropriate for minors and allow parents access to monitor their child’s borrowing activity. The bill defines “age-appropriate” as topics and messages suitable to particular ages based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age. 1. The bill requires an eligible library to submit an annual report to the department of administrative services providing proof of age-appropriate policies as prescribed by the department. The bill provides for state library accreditation standards for libraries. The bill prohibits any public funds from being used for a library that is in violation of the age-appropriate standards described in the bill.7 (confidential records), library records that, by themselves or when examined with other public records, would reveal the identity of the library patron checking out or requesting an item or information from the library shall be kept confidential unless otherwise allowed by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information. However, library records may be released to a criminal or juvenile justice agency only pursuant to an investigation of a particular person or organization suspected of committing a known crime and only upon a judicial determination that a rational connection exists between the requested release of information and a legitimate end and that the need for the information is cogent and compelling. The bill provides for the release of library records to the parent or guardian of a library patron who is a minor child upon the request of the parent or guardian. Under current law, a city library board of trustees functions to oversee public libraries. The library board of trustees may accept and control the expenditure of all gifts, devises, and bequests to the library. Any proposal to change the composition, manner of selection, or charge of the library board, or to replace it with an alternative form of administrative agency, is subject to the approval of the voters of the city. If a majority of those voting approves the proposal, the city may proceed as proposed. If a majority of those voting does not approve the proposal, the same or a similar proposal may not be submitted to the voters of the city for at least four years from the date of the election at which the proposal was defeated. Effective July 1, 2026, the administrative, financial, oversight, and policy authority of any city library board of trustees is transferred to the governing body of the jurisdiction in which the library is located. The bill specifies that upon transfer, any library board of trustees shall be reconstituted or redesigned as an advisory board, serving solely in an advisory capacity to the city council. The advisory board may provide recommendations on library services, programs, budgeting priorities, and long-range planning, and may submit reports to the city council as requested. The bill instructs the board to review all library materials to determine if the materials are age-appropriate. The board shall establish the procedure for a citizen residing in the library’s service area to challenge the board’s determination that an item is age-appropriate. If a hearing is held, the board must allow three minutes of public comment for each person wishing to speak. If the library board determines that the item is age-appropriate, the city council shall vote to affirm or reverse that decision. The governing body with control of a library shall not allow children to have physical access or the ability to borrow materials that are not age-appropriate. Any gifts, devises, or bequests made to the library shall be accepted, held, and expended under the authority of the city council on and after July 1, 2026.5. The governing body may determine the composition, method of appointment, and duties of any advisory library board established under its authority. The bill specifies that the library director shall not serve as the chair of the advisory board and shall not appoint any advisory board member.