An Act To Update the Laws Governing the Regional Library Systems
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§5-D is enacted to read:
| Culture | Maine Library Advisory Council | Not Authorized | 27 MRSA §114-A |
Sec. 2. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§2, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §101, is amended to read:
Sec. 3. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1977, c. 125, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 4. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§5, as repealed and replaced by PL 1981, c. 464, §29, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is amended to read:
Sec. 7. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is repealed.
Sec. 8. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§9-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 9. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is amended to read:
Sec. 10. 27 MRSA §111, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 349, §57, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
The term of each appointed member is 3 years or until a successor is appointed and qualified. A member may not serve more than 2 successive terms. In the case of a vacancy other than the expiration of a term, the appointment of a successor must be made in like manner for the balance of the term.
In addition to the 15 appointed members, the directors of the area reference and resource centers shall serve as permanent, nonvoting ex officio members of the Maine Library Commission.
The commission shall meet at least 4 times a year. It shall elect a chair and vice-chair for terms of 2 years and frame and modify bylaws for its internal organization and operation.
The State Librarian shall serve as secretary to the commission. The members of the commission are compensated according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.
Sec. 11. 27 MRSA §112, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §27, is further amended to read:
Sec. 12. 27 MRSA §113, as repealed and replaced by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §29, is amended to read:
§ 113. Library regions
The Maine Library Commission shall divide the State into as many districts regions as the commission determines are required and shall establish or modify the geographical boundaries of each district region.
Sec. 13. 27 MRSA §114, as amended by PL 1981, c. 464, §30, is repealed.
Sec. 14. 27 MRSA §114-A is enacted to read:
§ 114-A. Maine Library Advisory Council
There is created the Maine Library Advisory Council, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 5-D and referred to in this section as "the council."
Sec. 15. 27 MRSA §115, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §§30 and 31, is further amended to read:
§ 115. Area reference and resource centers
Each district shall library region must be affiliated with an area reference and resource center which shall be designated by the Maine Library Commission State Librarian.
Sec. 16. 27 MRSA §116, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is amended to read:
Sec. 17. 27 MRSA §117, as amended by PL 2013, c. 82, §10, is further amended to read:
§ 117. Maine State Library consultants or specialists
Staff of the Maine State Library holding the position of consultant or specialist shall provide consulting or specialist services to libraries in all library regions. The State Librarian, with the advice of the district council Maine Library Advisory Council, shall appoint a staff member , or contract with an area reference and resource center, to provide district consultant services holding the position of consultant or specialist to serve as a primary point of contact or liaison to one or more districts library regions.
Sec. 18. 27 MRSA §118, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §32, is further amended to read:
§ 118. School libraries
Any school library or media center in a community with no public library service, or serving communities with no public libraries, which that agrees to offer service as a public library , is entitled to all the benefits accruing to a public library with the approval of the State Librarian.
Sec. 19. Transition. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 27, section 111, subsection 1, members of the Maine Library Commission serving on the commission immediately prior to the effective date of this Act continue to serve as members of the commission for the terms for which they were appointed until the Governor appoints their successors.
summary
This bill makes administrative updates to the laws governing regional library systems. It promotes cooperation between library systems by replacing library districts with library regions, consolidating the district councils by establishing the Maine Library Advisory Council to serve as an advisory body to the library regions and directing staff of the Maine State Library holding the position of consultant or specialist to provide services to library regions as appointed by the State Librarian. The bill also revises the membership and terms of the Maine Library Commission.