Minnesota has two types of city government authority, statutory and home rule charter. The type of city government determines how public library services are administered and governed.
Statutory Cities derive many of their powers from M.S. 412. Most cities in Minnesota are incorporated as statutory cities. They operate public library services under the authority of M.S. 134.07, M.S. 134.08, or M.S. 134.20. In any statutory city and in any city with a population of 100,000 or fewer, the governing body may levy an annual property tax for public library service.
Home Rule Charter Cities obtain their powers from a home rule charter which defines the specific powers of elected officials and appointed staff. The charter is, in effect, a local constitution. These cities can exercise any powers outlined by their locally adopted charters as long as they do not conflict with state laws. They operate public library services as outlined in the charter. Nothing in M.S. 134.08 through M.S. 134.15 limits any power or duty with respect to libraries conferred by a city charter. If a city charter does not address matters provided for in M.S. 134, the provisions of the statute apply.