Library cooperatives; legislative intent.

It is the intent of the Legislature to meet the educational and informational needs of the residents of this state by encouraging and assuring cooperation among libraries of all types for the development of library services. It is the further intent of the Legislature to foster cooperative programs to meet the needs of state residents which cannot be met independently by local libraries; to build upon the strength of local libraries and to augment their resources with regional and statewide services; to maintain local autonomy and to make cooperation in regional or statewide activities voluntary; and to recognize programs of cooperation undertaken by libraries and provide for state financial assistance to encourage library cooperative development.