8A.209  Enrich Iowa program.
  1.  An enrich Iowa program is established in the department to provide direct state assistance to public libraries, to support the open access and interlibrary loan programs, to provide public libraries with an incentive to improve library services that are in compliance with performance measures, and to reduce inequities among communities in the delivery of library services based on performance measures adopted by rule by the department. The department shall adopt rules governing the allocation of moneys appropriated by the general assembly for purposes of this section to provide direct state assistance to eligible public libraries. A public library is eligible for moneys under this subchapter if it is in compliance with the department’s performance measures.
  2.  The amount of direct state assistance distributed to each eligible public library shall be based on the following:
  a.  The level of compliance by the eligible public library with the performance measures adopted by the commission as provided in this section.
  b.  The number of people residing within an eligible library’s geographic service area for whom the library provides services.
  c.  The amount of other funding the eligible public library received in the previous fiscal year for providing services to rural residents and to contracting communities.
  3.  Moneys received by a public library pursuant to this section shall supplement, not supplant, any other funding received by the library.
  4.  For purposes of this section, “eligible public library” means a public library that meets all of the following requirements:
  a.  Submits to the department all of the following:
  (1)  The report provided for under section 8A.202, subsection 1, paragraph “g”.
  (2)  An application and accreditation report, in a format approved by the department, that provides evidence of the library’s compliance with at least one level of the standards established in accordance with section 8A.202, subsection 1, paragraph “j”.
  (3)  Any other application or report the department deems necessary for the implementation of the enrich Iowa program.
  b.  Participates in the library resource and information sharing programs established by the state library.
  c.  Is a public library established by city ordinance or a library district as provided in chapter 336.
  5.  Each eligible public library shall maintain a separate listing within its budget for payments received and expenditures made pursuant to this section, and shall annually submit this listing to the department.
  6.  By January 15, annually, the department shall submit a program evaluation report to the general assembly and the governor detailing the uses and the impacts of funds allocated under this section.
  7.  A public library that receives funds in accordance with this section shall have an internet use policy in place, which may or may not include internet filtering. The library shall submit a report describing the library’s internet use efforts to the department.
  8.  A public library that receives funds in accordance with this section shall provide open access, the reciprocal borrowing program, as a service to its patrons, at a reimbursement rate determined by the state library.
  9.  Funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall not be used by the department for administrative purposes.
2006 Acts, ch 1180, §16
C2007, §256.57
2007 Acts, ch 126, §46 – 48; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1376, 1382
C2024, §8A.209
2024 Acts, ch 1170, §126; 2025 Acts, ch 79, §5
Referred to in §8A.202
Subsection 1 amended