Required Library Policies and State Aid Grant Information

Each of the 164 principal public libraries in the state that meets the eligibility requirements may apply for and receive an annual state aid grant. A principal public library is one which has been so designated by the local municipal governing board. A municipality may have more than one public library but may designate only one library as its principal public library. This is outlined in the State Statute 11-24b.

In order to be eligible to receive a state grant, the library must:

• Be a principal public library
• Have a Collection Development and Maintenance policy, Library Display and Program policy, and Material Review and Reconsideration policy, along with board minutes approving these policies on file at the Connecticut State Library
• Complete the Annual Report for each fiscal year due October 1st

The formula for determining grant amounts is included in the state statutes. It provides for a base grant of $1,200 to each library, plus additional amounts for equalization based on town AENGLC (Adjusted Equalized Net Grand List Per Capita) rankings and for incentive based on each town's per capita library expenditures.  If the funding available is less than $1,200 per library, the funds will be divided evenly between all eligible libraries.  Libraries officially serving more than one municipality will receive payment for each municipality served.

Key Dates

By August 1 - The State Library provides each public library with an Annual Statistical Report.
By October 1 - Reports must be completed by libraries.

By November 1 - All Library policies must be approved by the State Library

By December 1 - All Library Board minutes approving all library policies must be sent to the State Library
By December 15 - Requests for ineligibility waiver are due.
By April 30 - Libraries should receive state aid payments.
By October 31st of following year, libraries will be required to report how they spent the funds.

Grant Expenditure Statutory Requirements

State aid funds must be used for general library purposes, which is defined in the state statutes as all functions of a public library, including the purchase of land or the construction, alteration or remodeling of buildings. In addition, state aid funds must be expended within two years of receipt, unless a library has received authority to carry over funds beyond the two year limit. For municipal libraries that need to make this known to their town or city may use the Memo to Municipal Fiscal Officers (PDF available below).

Expenditure Report

Principal public libraries who receive an SB2 Grant payment must report how this money was expended using the link below. This will be done each year and the expenditure report will reflect how the payment received 18 months prior was expended. The payment may be used for general library purposes. No portion of the SB2 Grant payment shall revert to the general fund of the town.

SB2 Grant Expenditure Report Form - report on how funds were expended that were received in April 2024. This form must be filled out by 4pm on Friday October 31st 2025.

This page is maintained by staff from the
Connecticut State Library | Division of Library Development | Contact Us