DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, ARTS, AND LIBRARIES  
LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN  
STATE AID RULES  
(By authority conferred on the department of history, arts, and libraries by section 10a of  
1982 PA 540, MCL 397.20a)  
PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS  
R 397.01 Purpose and applicability.  
Rule 1. (1) The purpose of these rules is to prescribe eligibility requirements for public  
libraries and cooperative libraries to receive state aid funds.  
(2) These rules apply to and establish responsibilities of the department of history, arts,  
and libraries and library of Michigan when administering state aid monies.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.02 Definitions; A to E.  
Rule 2. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Accredited institution" means an educational institution recognized by a regional  
accrediting body and is a qualified institution, as defined by section 2 of 2005 PA 100,  
MCL 390.1602.  
(b) "Act" means the state aid to public libraries act, 1977 PA 89, MCL 397.551 to 397.576.  
(c) "Certification" or "certificate" means and pertains to the minimum educational and  
experience requirements applicable to public library employees and directors and  
cooperative library directors.  
(d) "Department" means the department of history, arts, and libraries.  
(e) "Director" means the public library or cooperative library's chief administrative  
officer.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.03 Definitions; F to M.  
Rule 3. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Full time employment" means working a minimum of 35 hours a week.  
(b) "Jurisdictional service area" means the area that is within a public library's legal  
boundaries wherein the electors are authorized to vote on a library millage and may be  
eligible to be library board members.  
(c) "Lawfully established" means library establishment by a public or local act, city  
charter, or ordinance, or special act of the legislature and excludes any type of library that  
has been established in a fashion unrecognized by the department.  
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(d) "Legal service area population" means the total population residing within an area  
designated for and served by a public library, including the jurisdictional area and any  
contractual service area.  
(e) "Library class" means the size criteria number, 1 to 6, based on population served.  
(f) "Library of Michigan" means the library of Michigan created by the library of  
Michigan act, 1982 PA 540, MCL 397.11 to 397.24.  
(g) "Library service" means all library services that are offered by a public library.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.04 Definitions; N to Z.  
Rule 4. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Participating library" means a public library that has joined a cooperative library.  
(b) "Personnel" or "employee" or "staff" means any person who is employed by or is an  
agent of a public library or a cooperative library.  
(c) "Population" means the number of persons residing within a specific geographic area  
according to the last official federal census or special federal census.  
(d) "Reasonable fee" means an amount of money not more than the amount of money that  
a resident within a library's jurisdictional service area pays annually through any millage,  
local appropriation, or other local support furnished for library service.  
(e) "State librarian" means the person appointed by the governor to serve as the state  
librarian.  
(f) "Substantial modification" means any change to a cooperative library plan of service  
that involves a change in public library membership which would require a change in the  
legal boundaries of a cooperative library as originally approved by the department.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.05 Inclusion of definitions.  
Rule 5. A definition that is used in the act has the same meaning when used in these rules.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 2. APPLICATION FOR STATE AID  
R 397.21 Application process for state aid.  
Rule 21. (1) Applications for state aid shall be submitted as follows:  
(a) Each applicant for state aid shall submit an application for state aid by electronic  
means. This submission shall be filed annually with the department between October 1  
and not later than February 1.  
(b) After the application for state aid is electronically submitted to the department, an  
authorized representative of the applicant shall sign an original signature page and mail  
it to the department postmarked not later than February 5.  
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(2) The department shall not approve any application for state aid submitted after the  
dates specified within subdivisions (a) and (b) of subrule (1) of this rule.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.22 Contract area populations.  
Rule 22. State aid for a public library furnishing library service under a library service  
contract shall be calculated as follows:  
(a) A public library's state aid service population shall include a contract area population  
if the library has served the contract area for 6 months or longer during the library's state  
aid reporting year.  
(b) If 2 or more public libraries have each served the same contract area for less than 6  
months during their respective reporting years, the library with the greatest time of service  
to the contract area within its reporting year shall include the contract area in its legal  
service area population.  
(c) If 2 public libraries have served the same contract area for the same length of time but  
for less than 6 months during the reporting year, the public library whose contract was in  
force the nearest to October 1 of the year of state aid distribution shall include the contract  
area in its legal service area population.  
(d) If a contract area is served by only 1 public library for less than 6 months in its  
reporting year and no other public library furnished service during the same reporting year,  
the public library shall include the contract area in the calculation of its legal service area  
population.  
(e) A public library may require a contracting municipality to pay a reasonable fee based  
on the contracting municipality's population in addition to state aid funds and penal fine  
monies that may be paid as library service contract consideration.  
(f) If a public library has contracted with a municipality for the provision of library service  
and the total local support for the legal service area population is less than the minimum  
local support requirement mandate in section 5(a) of the act, MCL 397.555(a), each  
governmental unit comprising the legal service area population may be treated as a  
separate unit and each unit shall meet the minimum support requirement prescribed in  
section 5(a) of the act, MCL 397.555(a).  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES  
R 397.31 General requirements for public libraries.  
Rule 31. (1) To be eligible for state aid under section 16(2) of the act, MCL 397.566(2),  
and in addition to the state aid eligibility requirements prescribed by the act and by R  
397.41 to R 397.46, a public library shall meet all of the following:  
(a) A public library shall be lawfully established under state law and local action or special  
act of the legislature.  
(b) A public library shall provide library service to its legal service area population.  
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(c) A public library shall employ the requisite number of paid certified persons for every  
hour the library is required to be open, subject to the following exceptions:  
(i) The personnel requirements do not apply with respect to personnel with valid  
certificates who were employed by a public library as of October 1, 2009. When a person  
employed as of October 1, 2009 leaves the position, the position shall be filled in  
compliance with the minimum requirements for the library to remain eligible for state aid.  
(ii) A public library that does not comply with personnel requirements due to a change in  
class level following the application of a decennial census is eligible for state aid if the  
personnel continue to present valid certificates and were employed before the library  
received notification of the change in class level. When a person employed before the  
change in class level leaves the position, the position shall be filled in accordance with the  
personnel requirements in order for the library to remain eligible for state aid.  
(d) The minimum hours of accessibility requirements prescribed by R 397.41 to R 397.46  
shall be maintained for not less than 9 months during the 12-month operating period and  
as follows:  
(i) Accessible hours shall include evening hours or weekend hours, or both.  
(ii) If a public library has more than 1 branch and if the hours for the main library building  
and each established branch library are different, the unduplicated hours may be added  
together to satisfy the minimum open hours requirement.  
(2) A public library that shifts to a higher class level because of a change in its legal  
service area population shall meet the higher level of standard for accessibility and  
personnel not later than the beginning of its next reporting year after the library has  
received notice from the department of the change of library class.  
(3) A public library is eligible for state aid under section 16(4) of the act, MCL 397.566,  
if it complies with these rules and is a participating member of a cooperative library for not  
less than 30 days prior to September 30 of the reporting year.  
(4) A public library is eligible for state aid under section 16(5) of the act, MCL 397.566,  
if it meets county reimbursable salary requirements as required by the act.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 4. PUBLIC LIBRARY REQUIREMENTS BASED ON CLASS SIZE  
R 397.41 Class 1 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 41. (1) A class 1 public library serves a population of 3,999 or less.  
(2) A class 1 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 15 hours per week.  
(3) A class 1 public library shall employ a director possessing at least a level 4 certificate.  
The director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment. This subrule does not apply to a director who has completed beginning  
director training prior to his or her appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 1 public library shall employ a director at least 15 hours per week.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
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R 397.42 Class 2 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 42. (1) A class 2 public library serves a population of 4,000 to 6,999.  
(2) A class 2 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 20 hours per week.  
(3) A class 2 public library shall employ a director possessing at least a level 4 certificate.  
The director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment. This subrule does not apply to a director who has completed beginning  
director training prior to his or her appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 2 public library shall employ a director at least 20 hours per week.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.43 Class 3 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 43. (1) A class 3 public library serves a population of 7,000 to 11,999.  
(2) A class 3 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 30 hours per week.  
(3) A class 3 public library shall employ a director possessing at least a level 3 certificate.  
The director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment. This subrule does not apply to a director who has completed beginning  
director training prior to his or her appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 3 public library shall employ a director at least 30 hours per week.  
(5) A class 3 public library shall employ at least 1 staff person, excluding a director, who  
possesses at least a level 4 certificate.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.44 Class 4 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 44. (1) A class 4 public library serves a population of 12,000 to 25,999.  
(2) A class 4 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 40 hours per week.  
(3) A class 4 public library shall employ a director possessing at least a level 2 certificate.  
The director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment and complete advanced director training within 2 years of initial appointment.  
This subrule does not apply to directors that have completed beginning director and  
advanced director training prior to their appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 4 public library shall employ a director at least 35 hours per week.  
(5) A class 4 public library shall employ at least 1 staff person, excluding the director,  
who possesses at least a level 4 certificate.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.45 Class 5 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 45. (1) A class 5 public library serves a population of 26,000 to 49,999.  
(2) A class 5 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 50 hours per week.  
(3) A class 5 public library shall employ a director possessing a level 1 certificate. The  
director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment and complete advanced director training within 2 years of initial appointment.  
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This subrule does not apply to directors that have completed beginning director and  
advanced director training prior to their appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 5 public library shall employ a director at least 35 hours per week.  
(5) A class 5 public library shall employ at least 1 staff person, excluding the director,  
who possesses at least a level 3 certificate per 20,000 population served.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.46 Class 6 public library; eligibility.  
Rule 46. (1) A class 6 public library serves a population of 50,000 or more.  
(2) A class 6 public library shall be accessible for a minimum of 55 hours per week.  
(3) A class 6 public library shall employ a director possessing a level 1 certificate. The  
director shall complete beginning director training within 1 year of initial directorship  
appointment and complete advanced director training within 2 years of initial appointment.  
This subrule does not apply to directors that have completed beginning director and  
advanced director training prior to their appointment as a director.  
(4) A class 6 public library shall employ a director at least 35 hours per week.  
(5) A class 6 public library shall employ at least 1 staff person, excluding the director,  
who possesses at least a level 3 certificate per 20,000 population served.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 5. SCHOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY REQUIREMENTS  
R 397.51 Additional requirements for school public libraries.  
Rule 51. In addition to the requirements prescribed in parts 3 and 4 of these rules, a school  
district public library shall meet all of the following:  
(a) The board of education shall appoint a library board, commission, or committee  
charged with making recommendations for the development of public library services and  
may ascribe any powers and duties necessary for implementation.  
(b) The board of education shall budget separate funds for the public library program,  
exclusive of funds for school library service and report expenditures to the department.  
(c) Penal fines, library millage proceeds, money donated to or collected by the school  
public library, payments of state aid to the school public library, and the interest on  
these funds shall be used for public library service only.  
(d) Library funds described in subdivision (c) of this subrule, shall be kept in accordance  
with section 1215 of 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1215 and section 20 of the act, MCL 397.570.  
(e) The library shall not be used regularly as a classroom or study hall.  
(f) Public library service shall be maintained 12 months a year.  
(g) During the months the school is in operation, the library shall be open at least 10 hours  
per week outside the schedule of school hours.  
(h) The library shall acquire materials suited to the needs of its legal service area  
population.  
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(i) A sign shall be placed outside of the building where the library is located announcing  
the name of the public library and the weekly hours of operation when the library is  
available for the use of its legal service area population.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 6. COOPERATIVE LIBRARY REQUIREMENTS  
R 397.61 Cooperative library eligibility requirements.  
Rule 61. (1) To be eligible for state aid under section 13 of the act, MCL 397.563, a  
cooperative library shall meet the all of the following:  
(a) A cooperative library shall be lawfully established as provided under the act.  
(b) A cooperative library shall submit a cooperative plan as provided by R 397.62.  
(c) The cooperative library shall employ a director for at least 6 months during the  
reporting year possessing all of the following:  
(i) A level 1 professional certificate as described in R 397.81.  
(ii) At least 2 years of full time professional administrative experience.  
(iii) Completion of advanced director training within 1 year of appointment.  
(d) The cooperative library shall file with the department verification of current fidelity  
bond coverage. The verification shall be submitted with the original signature page of the  
annual application for state aid.  
(2) The final annual state aid payment may be distributed to a cooperative library upon  
completion of all of the following:  
(a) The cooperative library files with the department a copy of an annual financial audit  
completed within 12 months following the close of the fiscal year.  
(b) If the annual financial audit report disclosed a deficit or other material deficiency,  
the cooperative library shall submit a corrective action plan for review and approval by the  
department.  
(c) If a deficit is disclosed, the corrective action plan shall include a deficit elimination  
plan and proof that the plan was filed with the department of treasury, as required by  
section 21 of 1971 PA 140, MCL 141.921.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.62 Cooperative library plan.  
Rule 62. (1) A cooperative library shall submit a cooperative plan as prescribed by section  
9 of the act, MCL 397.559. The plan shall include all of the following:  
(a) A description of the basic services offered by the cooperative library, as approved by  
the department.  
(b) A description of the cooperative library services offered by a participating library and  
furnished to members of the cooperative library.  
(c) A description of the cooperative library services furnished by a contracting third party  
to members of the cooperative library.  
(d) A specification of services that shall be paid for by members.  
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(e) The budget approval process to be utilized by the cooperative library.  
(f) The process for cooperative member withdrawal.  
(2) When substantially modifying a cooperative library plan a cooperative library board  
shall do all of the following:  
(a) Give notice to participating libraries describing the proposed substantial modification.  
(b) Give notice to participating libraries of submission of the substantial modification to  
the department.  
(c) Submit notice of each substantial modification to the department within 60 days after  
adoption.  
(3) A cooperative library plan may include a provision authorizing a cooperative advisory  
council in addition to the cooperative governing board.  
(4) Upon receipt of the plan of service or a substantial modification to a plan of service  
the department shall do the following within 30 days of the date of receipt:  
(a) Approve the plan of service or a substantial modification to the plan of service and  
furnish the approval in writing.  
(b) Deny the plan of service or the substantial modification to the plan of service and  
furnish the reasons for denial in writing.  
(5) If the department does not respond to the cooperative library within 30 days of receipt  
of a plan of service or a substantial modification to a plan of service, the plan of service or  
substantial modification to the plan of service is deemed approved.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 7. APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION  
R 397.71 Certification application and renewal.  
Rule 71. (1) A candidate seeking professional certification shall submit an application and  
credentials to the department for evaluation and approval. Proof of educational credentials  
may be made by submission of a sealed, certified transcript from a college or university  
or a statement from an authorized official of the accredited institution granting the credits.  
(2) A certification level of 2 to 4 may be upgraded if an individual completes the  
requirements to achieve the next certification level as described in R 397.81 to R 397.84.  
To request a change in certification level an applicant shall complete the following:  
(a) Contact the department in writing describing the reason for requesting the change in  
certification level and to verify the name on the existing record.  
(b) Complete and submit an upgrade request form.  
(c) Submit a sealed and certified transcript to the department that demonstrates that the  
requisite degree has been obtained.  
(3) Professional experience for level 1 certification shall be documented through  
completion and submission of an upgrade request form and by letters from current or  
previous employers verifying the job title or responsibilities assigned the individual and  
documenting the hours worked following receipt of the master of library science degree or  
its equivalent. The employer shall mail each verification letter to the department.  
(4) An aggrieved applicant may appeal a certification decision as specified in R 397.92.  
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History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.72 Certification revocation.  
Rule 72. In accordance with the support and parenting time enforcement act, the  
department shall revoke a certificate upon receipt of a court order to revoke. The  
department shall give notice of revocation to the employing library on record.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 8. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION  
R 397.81 Level 1 certification.  
Rule 81. The library of Michigan shall grant a level 1 professional certificate to a person  
possessing all of the following qualifications:  
(a) A master's degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American  
library association.  
(b) Four years of full-time employment, or an equivalent time period, consisting of paid  
professional library work experience in a library approved by the department following the  
completion of educational requirements.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.82 Level 2 certification.  
Rule 82. The library of Michigan shall grant a level 2 professional certificate to a person  
possessing a master's degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the  
American library association.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.83 Level 3 certification.  
Rule 83. The library of Michigan shall grant a level 3 professional certificate to a person  
possessing all of the following qualifications:  
(a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.  
(b) Completion of the beginning workshop offered by the library of Michigan.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.84 Level 4 certification.  
Rule 84. The library of Michigan shall grant a level 4 professional certificate to a person  
possessing all of the following qualifications:  
(a) A high school diploma or its equivalent.  
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(b) Completion of the beginning workshop offered by the library of Michigan.  
(c) One year of full-time employment or its equivalent consisting of library work  
experience following the completion of educational requirements.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.85 Certification revisions.  
Rule 85. Upon promulgation of these rules an individual possessing a professional  
certification level of either 4 or 5 shall be recognized by the department as possessing a  
level 3 professional certification. An individual possessing a professional certification level  
of either 6 or 7 shall be recognized by the department as possessing a level 4 professional  
certification.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
PART 9. WAIVER AND APPEAL  
R 397.91 Waiver of state aid eligibility requirements.  
Rule 91. (1) The department, through the department director, may grant a limited waiver  
to a cooperative library or public library for a particular eligibility requirement prescribed  
by these rules for the receipt of state aid funds, if the public library or cooperative library  
requests the waiver in writing and the public library board or cooperative board shows that  
the failure to meet a requirement was not a continuing violation but a temporary condition.  
The department director may delegate the authority to the state librarian to grant waivers  
in writing.  
(2) The department may consider waiver in cases where the failure to comply with an  
eligibility requirement prescribed by these rules is due to unforeseen circumstances beyond  
the requester's control.  
(3) The department shall not grant a waiver unless the applicant submits an action plan  
for compliance before the end of the next reporting year.  
(4) The department shall issue a written decision concerning each waiver request within  
30 days of receiving the request.  
(5) The department's decision is binding.  
(6) A separate waiver request is required for each state aid filing year.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
R 397.92 Professional certification review.  
Rule 92. (1) A person may request a review of a denial of her or his application for  
professional certification submitted under these rules. A person who requests a review shall  
follow the procedures prescribed in this rule.  
(2) To file a review under this rule, a requestor shall submit a written request that  
specifically states the word "review" and states the reasons for reversal of the denial. For  
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the requestor's review to be considered, the requestor shall file his or her review request  
within 60 days of the requestor's receipt of the decision subject to review. The request  
for review shall be addressed to the Chief Appeals Officer, Michigan Department of  
History, Arts, and Libraries, 702 W. Kalamazoo, P.O. Box 30738, Lansing, MI 48909-  
8238. All information, records, and other materials that the requestor wants to be  
considered shall accompany the written request for review.  
(3) The chief appeals officer shall contact the library of Michigan and obtain a copy of  
the library of Michigan's official file on the application at issue. The officer shall not  
conduct a hearing, but shall consider all of the following:  
(a) The library of Michigan's file.  
(b) All written submissions from the requestor.  
(c) The standards for professional certification contained within part 8 of these rules.  
(d) Any other available information.  
(4) Within 60 days, the chief appeals officer shall prepare a written decision and shall  
furnish a copy of the decision to the requestor and the library of Michigan. A review  
constitutes an administrative review of the denial and is not conducted as a contested case  
proceeding.  
(5) When considering the review, the chief appeals officer shall assess alleged errors in  
professional judgment and other alleged prejudicial errors of fact or law. The officer may  
base a decision in whole or in part on matters or factors not addressed in the action subject  
to review. When rendering a decision, the officer may do 1 of the following:  
(a) Reverse the denial.  
(b) Affirm the denial.  
(e) Resubmit the matter to the library of Michigan for further consideration.  
(6) The decision of the chief appeals officer is the final decision on the review. A person  
may not be deemed to have exhausted his or her administrative remedies with respect to  
the certifications governed by these rules until the officer has issued a final administrative  
decision under these rules.  
History: 2009 AACS.  
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;