Consolidated county libraries and county library services
Wis. Stat. § 43.57
in effect(1) Consolidated county libraries.
(a) A county board may establish and maintain a consolidated public library for the county, and may for such purpose adopt, take over and acquire any libraries already established, by consent of the authorities controlling those libraries.
(b) If it is consistent with the terms thereof, a gift, bequest or endowment to a public library becoming a part of a consolidated county library may be taken over by the county library board. The county library board shall maintain the gift, bequest or endowment for the benefit of the library to which it was given.
(c) A consolidated county library may become part of a federated multicounty system organized under s. 43.19.
(d) A consolidated county library may contract with library organizations within this state or in adjacent states to provide or receive library services.
(2) Joint libraries. A county board may authorize the formation of a joint library under s. 43.53 and may participate in a joint library board under s. 43.54.
(2m) Tribal college-county joint libraries.
(a) A county board may enter into an agreement with a tribal college to maintain a public library for the county.
(b) An agreement under par. (a) shall require all of the following:
1. That the tribal college annually provide to the county board an accounting of the expenditure of any appropriations received from the county.
2. Except as provided in this subdivision, that the tribal college make the library free for the use of the inhabitants of the county. The tribal college may prescribe reasonable regulations for the use of the library so as to render the use of the library most beneficial to the greatest number of persons. The tribal college may exclude from the use of the library all persons who willfully violate the regulations.
(c) Sections 43.52 to 43.54 do not apply to a tribal college-county joint library under this subsection.
(3) County library services. A county board may establish and maintain a county library service to serve the residents of the county who do not live in municipalities that have established libraries under s. 43.52 or 43.53 or to improve the library services of municipal libraries established under s. 43.52 or 43.53. The county library service may operate a library or library service program or may contract with library organizations within this state or in adjacent states for services.
(4) Board appointment.
(a) In a county with a consolidated county library under sub. (1), the county board chairperson shall, with the approval of the county board, appoint a 7-member or 9-member county library board.
(b) In a county operating a county library service under sub. (3), the county board chairperson shall, with the approval of the county board, appoint a 7-member library board.
(bm)
1. In a county with a tribal college-county joint library under sub. (2m), there shall be a 3-member county library board. One member shall be appointed by the tribal college, one member shall be appointed by the American Indian tribe or band that controls the college, and one member shall be appointed by the county board.
2. A board under this paragraph shall have any powers provided in the agreement under sub. (2m), shall advise the library on any matter related to library service, and shall, within 60 days of the conclusion of the fiscal year of the county, provide the report under s. 43.58 (6) to the county and the division.
(c) Boards appointed under pars. (a) and (b) shall include at least one school district administrator of a school district located in whole or in part in the county, or that school district administrator’s designee, and one or 2 county board supervisors. Boards appointed under par. (b) shall include, in addition, representatives of existing library boards under s. 43.54 and persons residing in municipalities not served by libraries.
(d) Boards appointed under pars. (a) and (b) have the powers and duties of a library board under s. 43.58.
(5) Terms of office, compensation, officers, duties.
(a)
1. Upon the initial establishment of a board under sub. (4) (a) or (b), the members shall be divided as nearly as practicable in 3 equal groups to serve for 2-, 3- and 4-year terms, respectively, following their appointment. Thereafter, terms shall be for 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as regular appointments are made.
2. Upon the initial establishment of a board under sub. (4) (bm), the member appointed by the county board shall serve for a 2-year term, the member appointed by the American Indian tribe or band shall serve for a 3-year term, and the member appointed by the tribal college shall serve for a 4-year term. Thereafter, terms shall be for 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as regular appointments are made.
(b) No compensation shall be paid to the members of a board under sub. (4) (a) to (bm) for their services, except as follows:
1. Members may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties if so authorized by the board.
2. Members may receive per diem, mileage and other necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties if so authorized by the board and the county board.
(c) A majority of the membership of a board under sub. (4) (a) to (bm) constitutes a quorum, but any such board may, by resolution, provide that 3 or more members constitute a quorum.
(d) As soon as practicable after the first appointments, at a date and place fixed by the appointing officer, and annually thereafter within 30 days after the beginning of terms, the members of the board shall organize by the election, from among their number, of a president and such other officers as they deem necessary.
(e) Section 43.52 (2) applies to consolidated county libraries and county library services.
(f) A library organized under this section may participate in a public library system subject to s. 43.15.
(6) Gifts and grants. Any county may receive, by bequest or gift, property for the purpose of establishing a public library for the county and may enter into an agreement to maintain a public library in consideration thereof, and shall be bound to faithfully perform such agreement. In such case the library board appointed under sub. (4) or, in the absence of a library board, the county board may properly administer the same.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/43.57Fetched: 10/7/2026