State Aid to Public Libraries

State Aid Certification – Eligibility

• Missouri public libraries with a voted tax of at least $.10 per $100 assessed valuation are eligible to receive State Aid.
• A municipal library without a direct voted tax but with city support equivalent to $.10 per $100 assessed valuation is also eligible for State Aid.
• The latest levied tax rate must not be lower than the tax rate on December 31, 1946 or the date of establishment of the public library.
• No State Aid grant shall be affected because of a mandated rollback in the rate of levy that is required by the provisions of section RSMo 137.073.  (see RSMo 181.060.2 which refers to the allowable reduction in the rate of levy if required by the Hancock Amendment)
• Please see RSMo 181.060 for further statutory language regarding the state aid requirements.

State Aid Certification – Process

In order to be certified, the following three (3) forms must be completed and submitted to the Missouri State Library:

1. State Aid Application—Must be postmarked by June 30, 2008.
2. List of Trustees—Must be postmarked by June 30, 2008. Please complete and return this form even if your library does not qualify for, or participate in, the State Aid program. The addresses are used for informational mailings to trustees.
3. Statistical Report—Completion of the Statistical Report is also a required part of the State Aid certification process. The annual statistical data survey must be completed by mid fall 2008. Data you submitted in the previous year qualified your library for the current year. Data you submit in 2008 will qualify your library for 2009.

These forms must be completed and returned to the Missouri State Library or your library will NOT qualify for State Aid. We recommend certified mail or any other means that will give you proof of date sent. Faxed copies will not be accepted.

Mailing address:

State Aid Application
Missouri State Library
600 West Main Street
PO Box 387
Jefferson City , MO 65102-0387

State Aid Web Forms

Helpful hints:

• We recommend that you printout and refer to the instruction sheets applicable to your type of library. See the Guide to Forms table below to determine the form you will need.
• If you wish to refer to a particular statute, search for it at http://www.moga.mo.gov/.
• If you have questions or experience difficulty using this site, please call 1-800-325-0131.

Using the Adobe PDF fillable forms for State Aid Application

• Choose the correct instructions and forms, depending on the type of library.
• Printout both blank forms and fill them in offline,

OR

• Complete both forms, State Aid Application and List of Trustees, using the online Adobe fillable forms.
• Print out the completed forms.
• Have the State Aid Application form notarized.
• Mail both forms to the address on the Application form.

PLEASE NOTE!
The PDF documents are set up as fillable forms to allow users to complete them electronically. However, because these forms require original signatures, you must return them by mail rather than by e-mail.

Also, be aware that if you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader software, i.e., the version that can be downloaded at no cost from the Adobe Acrobat Web site, you will not be able to type answers on a form and then save the form with your additions. The document will revert to a blank version when closed. Unless you have the higher grade of Adobe software, which lets you create forms and save forms with the additions typed in, you will need to fill out the form completely and print a hard copy before you close the document.

To fill out the form electronically, move your mouse to the area that needs to be filled in and click the left button on your mouse. You can move from box to box and line to line by using the tab key or pointing your mouse each time to the box you want to complete next. Unfortunately, using the enter key does not work well for moving around PDF forms. If a box does not allow you to click to type, note that it could be a box where a signature, rather than type, is required.

Guide to Forms:
Type of Library	Instruction form: Application	Application form	Instruction form: Trustee	Trustee form
City Budget Supported Municipal Library Districts (library supported with funds from the city's budget)	1	4	8	9
Municipal Voted Tax Supported Library Districts (library supported by a voted property tax)	2	7	8	9
Consolidated Library Districts	2	5	8	10
City-County Library Districts	2	6	8	11
County Library Districts	2	6	8	12
Regional Library Districts - (select form needed for each district).	2	4 , 6 , 7 and/or	8	9 , 11 , 12, and/or 13