TO:

FROM:

DATE:

RE:

Jane Van De Hey, Winnebago County Executive Agriculture and Extension Education Committee

John Nichols, Winnefox Library System

July 12, 2001

Wis Stats 43.12 Compliance Statistics

Section 43.12 (2) is a new section of the Wisconsin Statutes and it requires that "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 that report the number of loans of material made by that library during the prior calendar year to residents of the county who are not residents of a municipality that maintains a public library under s. 43.52 or 43.53 and the total number of loans of material made by that library during the previous calendar year."

This provision, along with others establishing minimum mandates, were enacted as part of Act 150 to address problems that primarily exist in the northern and western parts of the state. The levels of support and cooperation between the county and municipalities for adequate sharing of costs for library services in Winnebago County has not been a problem for many years.

The following table provides the statistics to the County Clerk that 43.12 requires:

Since compensation for non-resident library services is addressed within this Agreement and Plan of Service, it is not necessary for the County Clerk to do anything with these numbers except file them. The Clerk will receive their information once approved by the Committee.

While Appleton Public Library would be legally entitled to request payment for their circulation to Winnebago County rural residents this year, they will not. Our discussions have determined that the issues of reciprocity and fairness involving Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties, Neenah, Menasha and Appleton are more complex than at first thought and will take further discussions between our three respective Systems. I believe that the good will on all sides will result in fair and reasonable solutions for all parties.