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92_HB1785gms
STATE OF ILLINOIS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
SPRINGFIELD, 62706
GEORGE H. RYAN
GOVERNOR
July 26, 2001
To the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly
Today I am signing House Bill 1785, which amends the
Illinois Local Library Act and the Public Library District
Act of 1991. It requires a person residing outside of a
public library service area to apply for a non-resident card
at the library closest to the person's principal residence.
It also provides that non-resident library cards may be used
at all of the participating public libraries in the regional
library system. Now, a non-resident card may be used only at
the library where the card was issued.
In Illinois, there are more than 1 million people in
unincorporated and rural areas who do not belong to or are a
part of a library district. There have been a variety of
efforts over the years to expand access to those not in a
library district. This legislation does not provide the
answers to all of the problems facing our public libraries
today. It does, however, move the State of Illinois toward
more equitable access to our public libraries. It is my hope
that one day all Illinois residents will be part of a library
district.
The Illinois Local Library Act provides that the Illinois
State Library shall establish the formula by which local
libraries determine the costs that will be assessed to
nonresidents for the use of libraries in Illinois. House Bill
1785 will necessitate that this formula be modified. It is my
desire that the Illinois State Library work closely with
local libraries in modifying these rules to ensure that all
interested parties' concerns are addressed.
Sincerely,
s/GEORGE H. RYAN
Governor