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Legislation relating to Maine Libraries

Update

The Governor's bond package was approved by the voters.  Information about New Century grants for libraries will be forthcoming in the spring of 2008.

Legislation sponsored by Beth Edmonds, Senate President

Co-Sponsors

This bill is sponsored by Senate President Beth Edmonds and co-sponsored by Representatives Crockett of Augusta, Adams of Portland, Crossthwaite of Ellsworth, Cummings of Portland, and Tardy of Newport, and Senators Mitchell of Kennebec County, Rosen of Hancock County, and Rotundo of Androscoggin County.

LD793 - An Act To Provide Essential Library Resources to All Maine Communities

Update: This bill has been held over for the 2008 session of the Legislature. However, $100,000 in each of the next two fiscal years has been approved for database subscriptions.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine to provide Maine citizens with equitable access to resources through community libraries that will satisfy their interests and information needs:

  • Public Libraries Collection Development:  Improve local library collections to be shared statewide ($1.3 million).
    • To be eligible for funding, public libraries must meet the Maine Library Association’s criteria for the definition of a public library and must use the funding for materials that can be circulated and available for interlibrary loan.  Communities cannot offset these revenues by reducing the local library’s budget.
  • Delivery System: Support community-to-community van delivery of library books and other research materials among libraries agreeing to share resources ($300,000).
    • Legislation will support the interlibrary loan van delivery system.
  • Quality Electronic Publications:  Expand information access through statewide licensing of online journals, research data and electronic books which are not available free on the World Wide Web ($600,000).
    • Funding will expand electronic resources to cover needed subject areas in addition to providing critical resources for research and development
  • Digital Preservation: Digitally preserve unique, historically significant state and local documents, images, and media for statewide access ($100,000).
    • Funding will digitize many of the state’s unique and valuable documents, maps, photographs, and rare books.  Digitization will provide online access to all and will ensure permanency.
  • Regional Reference Collections: Support Area Reference and Resource Centers that provide regional reference and lending ($400,000).
    • Bangor Public library will provide a statewide last copy center for books and periodical.  Portland Public Library will continue to develop an extensive collection development program that will benefit all libraries in the southern part of the state as well as in the rest of Maine.
  • Minerva Consortium: Improve the Ability of this 62 multi-type library consortium to provide services ($125,008 – $ 132,177).
    • Legislation will provide one full-time position for ongoing training for member library staff.  The second full-time position will manage and provide oversight of database quality, cataloging standards, and staff training in these areas.

LD 1993 - Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Review the Accountability of State Cultural Agencies

Referred to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.  No action taken.

LD 1876 - Resolve, Regarding the Maine State Cultural Building in Augusta

Passed by both Senate and House.  Directs the director of the Bureau of General Services, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to fund the costs of an architectural consultant and to report on the status and future of the Cultural Building.

How to Help with Library Related Legislation

Call your local legislator

Follow the Text and Status of Legislative Documents

Laws and Libraries

Confidentiality of Library Records

IV. Library Records

MRSA, Title 27: LIBRARIES, HISTORY, CULTURE AND ART

Chapter 4-A LIBRARY RECORDS

§121. Confidentiality of library records

Records maintained by any public municipal library, the Maine State Library, the Law and Legislative Reference Library and libraries of the University of Maine System and the Maine Maritime Academy that contain information relating to the identity of a library patron relative to the patron's use of books or other materials at the library are confidential.

Those records may only be released with the express written permission of the patron involved or as the result of a court order.  [1997, c. 146, §1 ( amd); §2 ( aff).]