A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the aid to state LIBRARIES fund.
Whereas, every citizen of North Carolina is served by one of North Carolina's 80 public library systems; and
Whereas, in 2014, every public library provided a Summer Reading Program, serving over half a million participants and circulating 6.2 million books; and
Whereas, the public libraries are the only source of free Internet access in 70% of North Carolina's communities; and
Whereas, in 2014, there were almost 7.7 million users of free Internet in the State's public libraries; and
Whereas, in 2014, the public libraries performed over 400,000 one-on-one help sessions to those seeking jobs; and
Whereas, as the demand for services provided by public libraries has not decreased, State funding has decreased by 38% on a per capita basis since 2000; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Resources the sum of two million five hundred fifty‑seven thousand fourteen dollars ($2,557,014) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year for the Aid to State Libraries Fund to assist the State's public libraries.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.