Chapter 136

2011 -- H 5118 AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/29/11

A N A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES-REFERENCE RESOURCE CENTERS

Introduced By: Representatives McCauley, Fox, Carnevale, Williams, and Ajello

Date Introduced: January 25, 2011

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 29-6-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 29-6 entitled "State Aid to

Libraries" is hereby amended to read as follows:

29-6-9. Rhode Island library network. -- (a) In order to provide each individual in

Rhode Island with equal opportunity of access to resources that will satisfy their and society's

information needs and interests, office of library and information services is hereby authorized to

establish a Rhode Island Library network, hereafter referred to as the library of Rhode Island

network (LORI), to be administered by the office of library and information services for the

purpose of maintaining, promoting, and developing a program of statewide resource sharing and

interlibrary cooperation. The office of library and information services shall include as part of its

budget a budget for the administration and operation of the Rhode Island library network to:

      (1) Provide central support services for the library of Rhode Island, such as delivery of

materials, telecommunications, consultant services, resource sharing and access to bibliographic

and other information sources;

      (2) Reimburse libraries for the actual cost of providing services to individuals outside the

library's primary clientele; and

      (3) Support the development, maintenance of, and access to the resource sharing

potential embodied in specialized collections and services at the Providence public library and

other libraries which can be provided most cost-effectively on a statewide basis.

      (b) By fiscal year 2000, the state shall provide from state and federal revenue sources

one hundred percent (100%) of the funding for the following statewide library services:

      (1) Reference resource center at the Providence public library located in a public library

to be chosen biennially by the Office of Library Information Services from responses to a request

for proposals issued by the office of library and informational services.

      (2) Interlibrary delivery system;

      (3) Interlibrary telecommunications system;

      (4) Electronic interlibrary loan system; and

      (5) Statewide catalog of all library holdings.

      (6) [Deleted by P.L. 1996, ch. 100, art. 29, section 1.]

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), the funding for the statewide

library catalog and the statewide access to databases shall be subject to appropriation by the

general assembly. The duty imposed upon the office of state library and information services to

create and maintain a statewide library catalog and provide statewide access to databases shall be

subject to appropriation by the general assembly.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00377

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