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An Act To Update the Laws Governing the Regional Library Systems
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§5-D  is enacted to read:
 
5-D.    
Sec. 2. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§2, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §101, is amended to read:
 
2. Area reference and resource center.   "Area reference and resource center" means a large public, school or academic library designated by the State Librarian and receiving state aid for the purposes of making its resources and services available without charge to all residents of the districtwithin a library region, of providing supplementary library services to local libraries within the districtlibrary region and of coordinating the services of all local libraries within the districtlibrary region that by contract become part of the library districtregion.
Sec. 3. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1977, c. 125, §1, is further amended to read:
 
4. Maine State Library consultant or specialist.   "DistrictMaine State Library consultant or specialist" means onean individual who acts as a general library consultant or specialist to one or more districtslibrary regions.
Sec. 4. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§5, as repealed and replaced by PL 1981, c. 464, §29, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is repealed.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:
 
7. Library region.   "Library districtregion" or "region" means a defined geographic area consisting of local libraries. Libraries from multiple regions may be joined cooperatively to an area reference and resource center and a research center. Local libraries within the districtlibrary region may also be joined cooperatively with other types of libraries.
Sec. 7. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is repealed.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:
 
9-A.  Maine Library Advisory Council.     "Maine Library Advisory Council" means an advisory body representing a constituency of participating libraries from all geographical library regions, as described in section 114-A.
Sec. 9. 27 MRSA §110, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is amended to read:
 
11. Regional library system.   "Regional library system" means a network of library districtsregions interrelated by formal or informal contract, for the purpose of organizing library resources and services for research, information and recreation to improve statewide library service and to serve collectively the entire population of the State.
Sec. 10. 27 MRSA §111, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 349, §57, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
1.  Maine Library Commission.     There is created the Maine Library Commission, as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 7-E, which consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor. The commission membership must be broadly representative of the State's libraries and ensure geographic diversity and broad individual experiences and consist of the following:
 
A.  Two members representing public libraries;
 
B.  Two members representing kindergarten to grade 12 libraries;
 
C.  One member representing a large university library;
 
D.  One member representing a small college or community college library;
 
E.  One member representing a special or institution library;
 
F.  One member representing persons with disabilities;
 
G.  One member serving as a trustee for a library in the State;
 
H.  One member of the Maine Library Advisory Council pursuant to section 114-A, subsection 1;
 
I.  One member representing underserved and rural communities;
 
J.  One member representing a Native American community; and
 
K.  Three at-large members.
 
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:
 
2. Policies.   Establish the policies and operations of the Maine State Library and the State's library program including minimum standards of library service, the apportionment of state aid to libraries, the designation of library districtsregions and their boundaries, the endorsement of the designation of area reference and resource centers and the designation of research centers after full consideration of the advice of the district councilState Librarian;
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 districtsregions as the commission determines are required and shall establish or modify the geographical boundaries of each districtregion.
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."
 
1.  Membership.     The council consists of one member from each established library region appointed in accordance with the council's bylaws. An additional member is appointed by the Governor to serve as a liaison with the Maine Library Commission pursuant to section 111, subsection 1, paragraph H. The council shall elect from its membership officers as appropriate. The council shall meet at least 4 times a year.
 
2.  Duties.     The council shall:
 
A.  Serve as an advisory body for the regions;
 
B.  Evaluate library services in all regions in order to advise the Maine State Library and the Maine Library Commission regarding services that encourage cooperative activity among all types of libraries;
 
C.  Provide liaison services among all local libraries in a region;
 
D.  Make recommendations to Maine State Library staff and the Maine Library Commission regarding programs and services that help to make libraries accessible to all; and
 
E.  Advise the State Librarian on the need for and the designation of area reference and resource centers and research centers in any region.
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 shalllibrary region must be affiliated with an area reference and resource center which shall be designated by the Maine Library CommissionState Librarian.
 
1. Duties.   TheAn area reference and resource center may:
 
A. Provide a common borrower's card for member libraries and residents within library regions, as determined through contractual arrangements between the Maine State Library and the area reference and resource center;
 
B. Participate with the districtMaine State Library consultant or specialist in planning and conducting workshops on community-library planning;
 
C. Provide office space and support services to the extent able to the district consultantMaine State Library consultant or specialist; and
 
D.  Join with the district council in assigning priorities to implement the district plan; and
 
E. SuchProvide other cooperative activities and services as member libraries may need or require.
Sec. 16. 27 MRSA §116, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 626, §6, is amended to read:
 
C. Provide such other cooperative activities and services as member libraries may need or require.
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 councilMaine Library Advisory Council, shall appoint a staff member, or contract with an area reference and resource center, to provide district consultant servicesholding the position of consultant or specialist to serve as a primary point of contact or liaison to one or more districtslibrary regions.
 
1. Duties.   The district consultant shall serve as secretary of the district council and furtherA Maine State Library consultant or specialist shall:
 
A.  Serve as a professional consultant to libraries within the district or districts;
 
B. Study the needs of the districtlibrary region or regions and make recommendations to the district councilMaine Library Advisory Council;
 
C. Coordinate services among libraries of all types;
 
D. Provide liaison between the district, other districtslibrary region or regions and the Maine State Library;
 
E. Encourage local initiative and commitment to regional cooperative library service; and
 
F. Work with area reference and resource center staff members in planning area reference and interlibrary loan service; and.
 
G.  Help evolve a district plan of service.
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, whichthat 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.