Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19100. Section 19100.
The boards of supervisors of the several counties may establish and maintain, within their respective counties, county free libraries pursuant to this chapter.
ARTICLE 1. Establishment [19100. - 19116.]
Cal. Education Code - EDC 1.
in effectCal. Education Code - EDC § 19101. Section 19101.
The board of supervisors of any county may establish at the county seat or elsewhere in the county, a county free library for that part of the county lying outside of cities maintaining free public libraries, and outside of library districts maintaining district libraries, and for all such additional portions of the county as may elect to become a part of, or to participate in, the county free library system as provided in this chapter.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19102. Section 19102.
At least once a week for two successive weeks prior to taking any action, the board of supervisors shall publish, in a newspaper designated by it and published in the county, notice of the contemplated action, giving the date of the meeting at which the action is proposed to be taken.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19103. Section 19103.
After the establishment of a county free library, the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of any city in the county maintaining a free public library, or the board of trustees of any library district maintaining a district library, may notify the board of supervisors that the city or library district desires to become a part of the county free library system. Thereafter the city or library district shall be a part of the system and its inhabitants shall be entitled to the benefits of the county free library, and the property within the city or library district shall be liable to taxes levied for county free library purposes.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19104. Section 19104.
(a)
The board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district may, on or before January 1 of any year, notify the county board of supervisors that the city or library district no longer desires to be a part of the county free library system. The notice shall be accompanied by a statement complying with the requirements of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 54900) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code. The clerk of the board of supervisors shall file the statement with the county assessor and the State Board of Equalization. Thereafter the city or library district shall cease to participate in the benefits of the county free library system, and the property situated
in the city or library district shall not be liable for taxes for county free library purposes.
(b)
If the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district intends to withdraw from the county free library system and operate the city’s or the district’s library or libraries with a private contractor that will employ library staff to achieve cost savings, the requirements of Section 19104.5 shall apply, unless the library or libraries are funded only by the proceeds of a special tax imposed by the city or library district pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 50075) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19104.5. Section 19104.5.
(a)
The board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district in which a withdrawal from the county free library system becomes effective on or after January 1, 2012, shall comply with all of the following requirements before entering into a contract to operate the city’s or the district’s library or libraries with a private contractor that will employ library staff to achieve cost savings:
(1)
At least once a week for four consecutive weeks before taking any action, the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of the city or the board of trustees of the library district shall publish, in a newspaper designated by it and circulated throughout the city or library district, notice of
the contemplated action, giving the date and place of the meeting at which the contemplated action is proposed to be taken.
(2)
The board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district shall clearly demonstrate that the contract will result in actual overall cost savings to the city or library district for the duration of the entire contract as compared with the city’s or library district’s actual costs of providing the same services, provided that, in comparing costs, all of the following occur:
(A)
The city’s or library district’s additional cost of providing the same services as proposed by the contract shall be included. These additional costs shall include the salaries and benefits of additional staff that would be needed and the cost of additional space, equipment, and materials needed to perform the necessary
functions of the library.
(B)
The city’s or library district’s indirect overhead costs shall not be included unless those costs can be attributed solely to the function in question and would not exist if that function was not performed by the city or library district. For purposes of this subparagraph, “indirect overhead costs” means the pro rata share of existing administrative salaries and benefits, rent, equipment costs, utilities, and materials.
(C)
The cost of a contractor providing a service for any continuing city or library district costs that would be directly associated with the contracted function shall be included. Continuing city or library district costs shall include, but not be limited to, costs for inspection, supervision, and monitoring.
(3)
The contract shall not be approved solely on the basis
that savings will result from lower contractor pay rates or benefits. Contracts shall be eligible for approval if the contractor’s wages are at the industry’s level and do not undercut city or library district pay rates.
(4)
The contract shall not cause an existing city or library district employee to incur a loss of his or her employment or employment seniority, a reduction in wages, benefits, or hours, or an involuntary transfer to a new location requiring a change in residence.
(5)
The contract shall be awarded through a publicized, competitive bidding process.
(6)
The contract shall include specific provisions pertaining to the qualifications of the staff that will perform the work under the contract, as well as assurances that the contractor’s hiring practices meet applicable nondiscrimination standards.
(7)
The contract shall provide that it may be terminated at any time by the city or library district without penalty if there is a material breach of the contract and notice is provided within 30 days of termination.
(8)
If the contract is for library services in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) annually, all of the following shall occur:
(A)
The city or library district shall require the contractor to disclose all of the following information as part of its bid, application, or answer to a request for proposal:
(i)
A description of all charges, claims, or complaints filed against the contractor with any federal, state, or local administrative agency during the prior 10 years.
(ii)
A description of all civil complaints filed against the contractor in any state or federal court during the prior 10 years.
(iii)
A description of all state or federal criminal complaints or indictments filed against the contractor, or any of its officers, directors, or managers, at any time.
(iv)
A description of any debarments of the contractor by any public agency or licensing body at any time.
(B)
The city or library district shall include in the contract specific, measurable performance standards and provisions for a performance audit by the city or library district, or an independent auditor approved by the city or library district, to determine whether the performance standards are being met and whether the contractor is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The city or library
district shall not renew or extend the contract before receiving and considering the audit report.
(C)
The contract shall include provisions for an audit by the city or library district, or an independent auditor approved by the city or library district, to determine whether and to what extent the anticipated cost savings have actually been realized. The city or library district shall not renew or extend the contract before receiving and considering the audit report.
(9)
The term of the contract shall not be more than five years from the date on which the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district approves the contract.
(b)
This section does not preclude a city, library district, or local government from adopting more restrictive rules
regarding the contracting of public services.
(c)
This section shall not apply to contracts between a city or library district and a nonprofit organization if both of the following requirements are met:
(1)
The nonprofit organization shall not be a parent or subsidiary of a for-profit entity.
(2)
The contract shall prohibit the nonprofit organization from subcontracting the obligation to operate the library or libraries and to employ and supervise library staff.
(d)
This section shall not apply to a library or libraries that are funded only by the proceeds of a special tax imposed by the city or library district pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 50075) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government
Code.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19105. Section 19105.
If the notice is given after January 1st of any year, the property situated in the city or library district shall be liable to taxes for county free library purposes during the immediately succeeding year, and the notice shall not be effective until the next succeeding year, and library service shall be rendered in the city or library district during the year for which taxes are levied for library purposes in the city or library district.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19106. Section 19106.
Before any board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of any city, or the board of trustees of any library district gives notice that the city or library district desires to become a part of the county free library system, or gives notice of withdrawal from the system, the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of the city or the board of trustees of the library district shall publish at least once a week for two successive weeks prior to the giving of either notice, in a newspaper designated by the board of trustees, common council, or other legislative body of the city or the board of library trustees of the library district, and circulating throughout the city or library district, notice of the contemplated action, giving the date and the place of the meeting at which the contemplated action is proposed to be taken.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19107. Section 19107.
The board of supervisors of any county in which a county free library has been established may enter into contracts with any city maintaining a free public library, and any such city, through its board of trustees or other legislative body, may enter into contracts with the county to secure to the residents of the city the same privileges of the county free library as are granted to, or enjoyed by, the residents of the county outside of the city, or such privileges as are agreed upon in the contract, upon such consideration named in the contract as is agreed upon, to be paid into the county free library fund. Thereupon the residents of the city shall have the same privileges with regard to the county free library as the residents of the county outside of the city, or such privileges as are agreed upon by the contract.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19108. Section 19108.
The board of supervisors of any county in which a county free library has been established may enter into a contract with the board of supervisors of any other county to secure to the residents of the other county such privileges of the county free library as are agreed upon by the contract and upon such considerations as are agreed upon in the contract to be paid into the county free library fund. Thereupon the inhabitants of the other county shall have such privileges of the county free library as are agreed upon by the contract.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19109. Section 19109.
The board of supervisors of any county may enter into a contract with the board of supervisors of another county in which a county free library has been established, and may levy a library tax, for the purpose of carrying out the contract.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19110. Section 19110.
The board of supervisors of any county may contract with the board of supervisors of any other county or two or more other counties to provide for the services of a single qualified librarian to serve simultaneously as the county librarian of each county.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19111. Section 19111.
The making of the contract shall not bar the board of supervisors of the county during the continuance of the contract from establishing a county free library under the provisions of this chapter if none is already established. Upon the establishment of any county free library, the contract may be terminated upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the parties thereto, or may continue for the term thereof.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19112. Section 19112.
Instead of establishing a separate county free library, the board of supervisors may enter into a contract with the board of library trustees or other authority in charge of the free public library of any city and the board of library trustees, or other authority in charge of the free public library, may make such a contract. The contract may provide that the free public library of the city shall assume the functions of a county free library within the county with which the contract is made, including cities in the county. The board of supervisors may agree to pay annually into the library fund of the city such sum as may be agreed upon. Either party to the contract may terminate the contract by giving six months’ notice of intention to do so.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19113. Section 19113.
After a county free library has been established, it may be disestablished in the same manner as it was established. At least once a week for two successive weeks prior to taking any action, the board of supervisors shall publish, in a newspaper designated by them, and published in the county, notice of the contemplated action, giving therein the date of the meeting at which the contemplated action is proposed to be taken.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19114. Section 19114.
Whenever any of the territory being served by a county free library is annexed to, or otherwise included within, any municipal corporation not served by the county free library, the board of supervisors of the county shall order the county free library to continue to serve the territory annexed to, or otherwise included within the municipality, until the end of the fiscal year or years for which a tax has been levied upon the property of the annexed territory for the support of the county free library.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19115. Section 19115.
The board of supervisors may establish a reasonable fee to be collected from persons who desire to participate in the services and benefits of the county free library and who are not residents of the territory in the county which is liable for taxes for county free library purposes. In establishing the fee, the board may also prescribe such regulations or limitations applicable to the use of the county free library by such persons as may reasonably be necessary.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19116. Section 19116.
(a)
(1)
Sections 19104 and 19105 are not applicable to the withdrawal of a city or library district from the county free library system in Los Angeles County or Riverside County. The legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district, whose jurisdiction is within the County of Los Angeles or the County of Riverside, may notify the board of supervisors for Los Angeles County or Riverside County, as appropriate, that the city or library district no longer desires to be a part of the county free library system. The notice shall state whether the city or library district intends to acquire property pursuant to subdivision (c). The board of supervisors shall transmit a copy of the notice to the Los Angeles County Assessor or Riverside County Assessor, as appropriate, the Los Angeles County
Auditor or Riverside County Auditor, as appropriate, and the State Board of Equalization.
(2)
The legislative body of a city or the board of trustees of a library district in which a withdrawal from the county free library system in Los Angeles County or Riverside County becomes effective on or after January 1, 2012, shall comply with the requirements of Section 19104.5 before entering into a contract to operate the city’s or the district’s library or libraries with a private contractor that will employ library staff to achieve cost savings, unless the library or libraries are funded only by the proceeds of a special tax imposed by the city or library district pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 50075) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
(b)
When a city or library district files a notice pursuant to subdivision (a), it shall remain a member of the county free library system until July 1 of the base year or the date on which property is transferred pursuant to subdivision (c), whichever date is later. Upon ceasing to be a member of the county free library system, the city or library district shall not participate in any benefits of the county free library system, and shall assume the responsibility for the provision of library services within its jurisdiction. Unless otherwise agreed by July 1 of the base year in writing by the
Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County or the Board of Supervisors of Riverside County, as appropriate, and the withdrawing city or library district, an amount of property tax revenue equal to the property tax revenues allocated to the county free library pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 96) of Chapter 6 of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code in the fiscal year before the base year and that were derived from property situated within the boundaries of the withdrawing entity shall be allocated to and used to maintain library services by the withdrawing entity in the base year and, adjusted forward, in each fiscal year thereafter at the same time allocations are made pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 96) of Chapter 6 of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. This subdivision shall not apply to property tax revenues that have been pledged to repay bonded indebtedness of the county free library system.
(c)
If there are one or more county library facilities within the territorial boundaries of the withdrawing entity at the time the withdrawing entity provides notice pursuant to subdivision (a), the
withdrawing entity shall have the right to acquire any or all of those facilities from the county and the county shall, no later than July 1 of the base year, transfer to the withdrawing entity each facility to be acquired and the personal property therein related to the provision of library services. If the facility or personal property was purchased with bond proceeds or other forms of indebtedness, acquisition shall only take place if the withdrawing entity assumes any remaining indebtedness and in no way impairs the repayment thereof. If the withdrawing entity opts not to acquire any facilities or personal property, the county at its discretion may dispose of the facilities or personal property or convert the use of those facilities or personal property, including transferring collections and other personal property to other sites and converting facilities to other purposes. If the withdrawing entity opts to acquire any facilities or personal property, the acquisition prices shall be as follows unless
otherwise provided for by statute or contract:
(1)
Each county library facility which, for purposes of this section, shall include the real property upon which the facility is located and any fixtures therein and shall not include computer systems and software, shall be transferred for the lesser of:
(A)
No cost, if the facility was donated to the county by the withdrawing entity.
(B)
The price paid to the withdrawing entity by the county for the facility, if the county bought the facility from the withdrawing entity. However, if the county constructed capital improvements to the facility after it was bought from the withdrawing entity, the county’s total out-of-pocket costs for the capital improvement excluding any costs for routine repairs, restoration, or maintenance, shall be added to the price.
(C)
The fair market value of the facility. However, if any portion of the facility was donated to the county by the withdrawing entity or if any moneys were donated by the withdrawing entity toward the county’s construction or acquisition of the facility or any portion thereof, the value of the donation shall be subtracted from the fair market value.
(2)
Any personal property within the facility related to the provision of library services, including books and resource materials, computer systems and software, furniture, and furnishings, shall be transferred for the lesser of:
(A)
No cost, if the property was donated to the county by the withdrawing entity.
(B)
The fair market value of the personal property. However, on or before the March 1 preceding the
July 1 of the base year, the county librarian may designate collections of resource books and materials that are unique in, and integral to, the county free library system to be special collections. The special collections shall be acquired by the withdrawing entity only upon mutually agreeable terms and conditions.
(d)
If a facility transferred pursuant to subdivision (c) serves residents of surrounding jurisdictions, the board of supervisors governing the county free library system may require, as a condition of transferring the facility, that the library services provided by the withdrawing entity to its residents also be available on the same basis to the residents of the surrounding jurisdictions. However, if the withdrawing entity contributes to the provision of library services from other city funds, or through taxes, assessments, or fees of its residents, the withdrawing entity may provide additional services to its residents. If the
requirement to provide regional services is imposed and, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the county and the withdrawing entity by July 1 of the base year, an amount of property tax revenues equal to the property tax revenues derived from property situated in the surrounding jurisdictions that were, in the fiscal year before the base year, allocated to the county free library system pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 96) of Chapter 6 of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be allocated to and used to maintain library services by the withdrawing entity in the base year and, adjusted forward, in each fiscal year thereafter at the same time other allocations are made pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 96) of Chapter 6 of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. This subdivision shall not apply to property tax revenues that have been pledged to repay bonded indebtedness. If a surrounding jurisdiction subsequently provides notice of its intent
to withdraw from the county free library system pursuant to subdivision (a), on the date the surrounding jurisdiction ceases to participate in the benefits of the county free library system pursuant to subdivision (b), the withdrawing entity shall no longer be required to make library services available to the residents of the surrounding jurisdiction and property tax revenues derived from property situated in the surrounding jurisdiction shall no longer be allocated to the withdrawing entity pursuant to this subdivision.
(e)
For purposes of this section, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1)
“Base year” means the fiscal year commencing on the July 1 following the December 2 following the date of the notice given pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section.
(2)
“Fair market value” means:
(A)
Any value agreed upon by the withdrawing entity and the county.
(B)
If no agreement as to value is reached by the March 1 preceding the July 1 of the base year, the value assigned by an appraiser agreed upon by the withdrawing entity and the county.
(C)
If no agreement as to the appointment of an appraiser is reached pursuant to subparagraph (B) by the April 1 preceding the July 1 of the base year, the value assigned by an appraiser agreed upon between the withdrawing entity’s appraiser and the county’s appraiser.
(D)
If no agreement as to the appointment of an appraiser is reached pursuant to subparagraph (C) by the May 1 preceding the July 1 of the base year, the value assigned by a state-certified appraiser designated by the withdrawing entity. The
designated appraiser shall provide the appraisal in writing to the county no later than the June 1 preceding the July 1 of the base year.
(E)
The withdrawing entity shall reimburse the county for any appraisal costs the county incurs in determining the fair market value pursuant to this section.
(3)
“Surrounding jurisdictions” means cities and library districts that are adjacent to the withdrawing entity and tax rate areas in unincorporated areas of the county that are wholly or partially within the withdrawing entity’s sphere of influence, that are within the county free library system, and that have no facility within their territorial boundaries providing library services at the time the withdrawing entity provides notice pursuant to subdivision (a).
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026