Legislation relating to Maine Libraries

Federal Legislation

Key Issues for Libraries.pdf, [49kb] National Library Legislative Day, May 2013

Maine State Legislation

Current bill related to libraries

LD 532 - "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine State Library" Sponsored by Representative Catherine Nadeau

Summary: This amendment removes the section of the bill that modifies the relationship between the Maine State Library and the Department of Education with respect to the school library media section.

This amendment also adds a definition to the confidentiality section of law amended by the bill. The section governs the confidentiality of public library records that identify patrons relative to use of library materials; current law provides confidentiality for localpublic municipal libraries. The bill removes "municipal" so that all local public libraries are included. The amendment defines "public library" by reference to the definition of that term in the chapter of law governing the regional library system; the definition encompasses any library freely open to the public that serves the needs of all the residents of the area for which its governing body is responsible.

Documents and Disposition

How to provide input on library 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).]