13 Tex. Admin. Code § 1.76 - [Effective 9/1/2025] Quantitative Standards for Accreditation of a Library

(a) A public library must meet the quantitative standards for accreditation in this section, in addition to the other requirements in this subchapter.

(b) A public library must have at least one library collection item per capita or expend at least 15 percent of the library's local expenditures on library collection items. If the library serves 25,000 persons or less, the library must maintain a collection of at least 7,500 library collection items.

(c) A public library must ensure at least 5 percent of its library collection items were published or created in the last five years.

(d) A public library must be open for service not less than 40 hours per week, except that a public library that serves 25,000 persons or less must be open for not less than 20 hours per week.

(e) A public library must employ a library director for at least 40 hours per week, except that a public library that serves 25,000 persons or less must employ a library director for at least 20 hours per week.

(f) A library director for a library serving a population of 100,001 or more must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education annually. A library director for a library serving a population of 100,000 or less must complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education annually. A library director must maintain documentation of attendance, duration, and relevance of each continuing education credit claimed.

(g) A library must have local expenditures as follows:

(1) A library serving a population of 200,001 persons or more must have local expenditures equaling at least $13.50 per capita in local fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028; at least $13.91 in local fiscal years 2029, 2030, 2031; and at least $14.32 per capita in local fiscal years 2032, 2033, 2034;

(2) A library serving a population of 100,001 - 200,000 persons must have local expenditures equaling at least $10.50 per capita in local fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028; at least $10.82 in local fiscal years 2029, 2030, 2031; and at least $11.14 per capita in local fiscal years 2032, 2033, 2034;

(3) A library serving a population of 25,001 - 100,000 persons must have local expenditures equaling at least $7.50 per capita in local fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028; at least $7.73 in local fiscal years 2029, 2030, 2031; and at least $7.96 per capita in local fiscal years 2032, 2033, 2034; and

(4) A library serving a population of 25,000 or less must have local expenditures equaling at least $5.50 per capita in local fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028; at least $5.67 in local fiscal years 2029, 2030, 2031; and at least $5.83 per capita in local fiscal years 2032, 2033, 2034.

(h) A library must employ full-time equivalent professional librarians as follows:

(1) A library serving a population of 200,001 persons or more must employ at least six full-time equivalent professional librarians with one additional full-time equivalent professional librarian for every 50,000 persons above 200,000;

(2) A library serving a population of 100,001 - 200,000 persons must employ at least four full-time equivalent professional librarians, with one additional full-time equivalent professional librarian for every 50,000 persons above 100,000;

(3) A library serving a population of 25,001 - 100,000 persons must employ at least one full-time equivalent professional librarian, with one additional full-time equivalent professional librarian for every 50,000 persons above 50,000; and

(4) A library serving a population of 25,000 or less is not required to have a professional librarian on staff.

Notes

13 Tex. Admin. Code § 1.76

Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 50, Number 19, May 9, 2025, TexReg 2765, eff. 9/1/2025