278 Iowa Public Libraries to Receive Money for Music CDs

Approximately $48,000 left over at the conclusion of a long-running legal case will directly benefit Iowa music lovers in 278 Iowa community libraries.  The payments are going to libraries that signed up to receive allotments of CDs in 2004.

A letter to Iowa's 278 eligible libraries will be mailed in the next few days, along with a check.

The cash is a final disbursement resulting from the multi-state lawsuit settlement by the Iowa Attorney General's Office (and all states) with major music distributors and major retail chains that sold pre-recorded CDs.

The Court has required that funds be used to support music lending libraries in adding to their music CD collections.  Libraries that accept the cash must follow these conditions:

1)  The payment will not supplant any other funding received by the library.

2)  The funds will be used to purchase as many CD music titles as the amount of funds permits   and the titles will be added to the library's lending collection.

3)  The funds will be spent within three months following receipt, and a record of the expenditures will be provided if requested by the State Library or the Attorney General's Office.

If you have questions, please contact Steve Cox, State Library, at (515) 281-8947, 1-800-248-4483 or steve.cox@lib.state.ia.us.

For more information on the CD distribution to libraries in 2004, go to the Iowa Attorney General's Web site and look under "past news releases" for 8-30-04.