§ 65-4-202. Creation by resolution, ordinance or petition - Multicounty library systems - Termination.

A rural single county library system may be created by resolution or ordinance approved by the board of county commissioners or by the governing bodies of all cities or towns of two thousand (2,000) or more according to the most recent federal decennial census within the proposed district, or by the county seat town if no city or town within the county has a population of at least two thousand (2,000), subject to approval by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.  The resolution and ordinances shall specify the type of system to be created, the county to be serviced, organization of the governing board of the system, and proposed financing including agreement to call for a vote of the people as necessary for special tax levies.  The resolution shall constitute application for approval by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board when submitted to the Board.

Upon approval of the proposed system by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board, the county, city and town governing bodies may proceed with appointment of the system board and financing.

The system board may request demonstration library services by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries before approval of special tax levies and may request a grant of funds for interim services before collection of special tax levies by the people of the district.

A rural single county library system may be proposed upon resolution or ordinance of the city and town governing bodies as provided in this section or upon presentation of petitions to the board of county commissioners of the county signed by not less than ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors of each county voting in the last general election requesting a vote on library funding.  Upon receipt of such petitions, the board of county commissioners shall call a countywide vote on the proposed system funding.  Upon approval of the proposed ad valorem levy in a countywide vote, the board of county commissioners shall submit application for approval of the system to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.  The application shall specify the type of system to be created, the county to be served, organization of the governing board of the system including a list of board members and their terms, and the financing arrangement including the record of the vote of the people for special tax levies.

The board of county commissioners and the governing boards of cities and towns involved in creating the system and the governing board of the library system are authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with each other, other library systems, special libraries, school and college libraries, district boards of education, and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries as necessary to effect the purposes of this act.

A rural single county system may be joined with another county or counties to form a multicounty library system upon action of the board of county commissioners.  A multicounty system formed between a county having a rural single county system and other counties may be formed only upon compliance with the procedures for establishment of a multicounty library system set forth in the Oklahoma Statutes.

A rural single county library system created under the provisions of this act may be terminated only by majority vote of qualified electors voting in an election called by petitions signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors voting in the last preceding general election in the county.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 165, § 5, emerg. eff. May 2, 1995.