R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-5
§ 29-5-5. Compact administrator.
Status: in_force

The chief of library services shall be the compact administrator pursuant to article X of § 29-5-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-2.1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-2.1
§ 29-2-2.1. Appropriations for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the state librarian for the purpose of caring for, preserving, and cataloguing the property of the state in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and for the purchase and binding of books relating to the history of the state, and for copying and preserving the records of the several towns of the state, and the state librarian, with the approval of the secretary of state, may pay this sum to the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society for this purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-5
§ 29-2-5. Reports on expenditures.
Status: in_force

(a) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall place on file with the state librarian annual reports as to the manner in which the funds are expended, as long as funds are appropriated in accordance with §§ 29-2-1, 29-2-2, and 29-2-3.

(b) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall submit to the general assembly and the state librarian annually a plan for the preservation initiatives for the collections in its care. The report shall be submitted as part of the annual report of each agency.

(c) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall submit to the state librarian a disaster preparedness plan for the collection in its care on or before January 1, 1993. The plan will be maintained on file at the state library and will be updated annually.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-1
§ 29-6-1. Statement of policy.
Status: in_force

(a) The general assembly hereby declares it to be the policy of this state:

(1) That free public libraries are essential to the general enlightenment of citizens in a democracy;

(2) That these free public libraries shall provide for the cultural, educational, informational, and research needs of all citizens;

(3) That free public libraries are an integral part of the educational system at all levels and a source for vocational information and continued learning following the period of formal education; and

(4) That it is the responsibility of government at all levels to provide adequate financial support for all free public libraries.

(b) The general assembly further declares it to be the policy of this state to coordinate on a cooperative basis the resources of academic, free public, school, and special libraries to meet the expanding needs of all citizens and that it is the responsibility of government at all levels to provide adequate financial support to coordinate library resources throughout the state for improved library services to all citizens.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-10 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-10
§ 29-6-10. Appropriation authorization.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as it may deem necessary for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of §§ 29-6-2, 29-6-6, 29-6-7, and 29-6-9; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sums, or so much thereof as may from time to time be required, upon his or her receipt of duly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-4
§ 29-5-4. Appropriations.
Status: in_force

An interstate library district lying partly within this state may claim and be entitled to receive state aid in support of any of its functions to the same extent and in the same manner as these functions are eligible for support when carried on by entities wholly within this state. For the purposes of computing and apportioning state aid to interstate library districts hereinafter to be created, this state will consider that portion of the area that lies within this state as an independent entity for the performance of the aided function or functions and compute and apportion the aid accordingly. Subject to any applicable laws of this state, the district also may apply for and be entitled to receive any federal aid for which it may be eligible.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-9-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-9 / Section 29-9-5
§ 29-9-5. Declaratory and injunctive relief.
Status: in_force

(a) A librarian who has been subjected to discipline, termination, or threats of discipline or termination for refusing to censor library materials in violation of policies established pursuant to this chapter may seek relief against a government body in any court of competent jurisdiction for declaratory and injunctive relief including, but not limited to, reinstatement, back pay, restoration of benefits, and such other equitable relief as may be appropriate and necessary to make the employee whole.

(b) An individual with a vested interest in a school or public library may seek relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for declaratory and injunctive relief against a government body that enforces censorship of library materials in violation of policies established pursuant to this chapter.

(1) A student, or the students parent(s) or guardian(s), may only challenge censorship of library materials relating to a school that the student attends.

(c) An author whose library materials have been subjected to censorship may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for declaratory and injunctive relief against any government body that enforces censorship of library materials in violation of policies established pursuant to this chapter.

(d) Any school or library employee acting pursuant to direct orders from a municipal, state, or federal government authority shall not be liable for censorship.

(e) Any action or proceeding to enforce this section shall be commenced no later than one year after the date on which the violation of this section is committed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-2
§ 29-7-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Depository library means a library designated to collect, maintain, and make available state publications to the general public. The clearinghouse director shall consider the geography of the state when designating depository libraries.

(2) Printed means any form of printing and duplicating, regardless of format, with the exception of correspondence, and interoffice and intraoffice memoranda.

(3) State agency means any state office, whether legislative, executive, judicial, regulatory, an administrative body of the state, or any political subdivision thereof; including, but not limited to, any constitutional officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, office, authority, any school, fire, or water district, and/or any other agency or quasi-public agency of Rhode Island state or local government which exercises governmental function and/or that expends state appropriated funds or any other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of any public agency.

(4) State publication means any publication, regardless of physical form or characteristics produced, made available electronically, printed, purchased, or authorized for distribution by a state agency, except those determined by the issuing agency to be required for official use only for administrative or operational purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-3
§ 29-6-3. Eligibility requirements  Municipalities.
Status: in_force

(a) To qualify for state aid under § 29-6-2, a city or town shall:

(1) Appropriate from local tax revenues an amount not less than the amount appropriated the previous year from local tax revenues and expended for library operating expenses. The appropriation would exclude any state funds received for public library services. Any funds received from the state shall not be used to supplant funds from local tax revenues;

(2) In the case of a city or town having more than one free public library therein, submit or cause to be submitted to the office of library and information services a plan for the allotment or division of the proposed state aid among the free public libraries in the city or town. The plan shall be developed by agreement among the free public libraries of the city or town;

(3) Submit or cause to be submitted to the office of library and information services evidence that free public libraries in the city or town meet standards of service as set forth in regulations to be made by the chief of library services pursuant to the provisions of chapter 3.1 of this title or that the regulations are inappropriate for that library;

(4) Submit or cause to be submitted a plan describing how the public library or libraries plan to address one or more of the priorities established by the office of library and information services.

(b) The chief of library services upon application and for cause shown may authorize an annual grant-in-aid under § 29-6-2, or a portion thereof, to a city or town not fully meeting the requirements set forth in subsections (a)(1)-(a)(3).

(c) Decisions as to the eligibility of cities and towns for grants-in-aid under this chapter, and the amounts of the grants-in-aid, shall be made by the chief of library services.

(d) The chief of library services shall require a preservation plan from any public library which receives an appropriation from the state of Rhode Island which states the preservation needs and objectives of the library for the coming fiscal year. The plan shall include, but not be limited to: condition of materials, assessment of building and environmental controls, and preservation measures to be taken.

(e) The chief of library services shall require a disaster preparedness plan from any public library which receives an appropriation from the state of Rhode Island which states the plan of action to be taken in the event of a natural or human made disaster. The plan shall be in accordance with a suggested plan published by the office. The plan shall be updated yearly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-3-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-3 / Section 29-3-4
§ 29-3-4. Appropriations.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary, to be expended under the direction of the justices of the supreme court, for the purchase of legal information, both print and electronic, for the state law library, the law library in the J. Joseph Garrahy judicial complex in Providence, the law libraries in Kent, Newport, and Washington Counties, and the judges and staff of the judiciary.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-3
§ 29-4-3. City or town appropriations.
Status: in_force

Any town or city not owning a free public library may annually, by the majority vote of the electors of the town qualified to vote and voting on the proposition, or by vote of the city council of the city, appropriate such sum or sums as it shall deem proper for the maintenance and increase of any free public library therein and for land, buildings, and capital improvements for any free public library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-3
§ 29-5-3. State library agency defined.
Status: in_force

As used in § 29-5-1, state library agency, with reference to this state, means the chief of library services or his or her designated agent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-11 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-11
§ 29-1-11. Expense of the state library.
Status: in_force

(a) The state librarian shall, with the approval of the secretary of state, employ such assistance and incur such expenses as may be necessary in the proper administration of the state library, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate such sum as it may deem necessary for this purpose.

(b) The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the amount appropriated, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon their receipt of proper vouchers approved by the state librarian and the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-2
§ 29-6-2. Public library services.
Status: in_force

For each city or town, the states share to support local public library services shall be equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of both the amount appropriated and expended in the second preceding fiscal year by the city or town from local tax revenues and funds from the public librarys private endowment that supplement the municipal appropriation; provided, however, the state in any year shall not be obligated to match any amount from the endowment that exceeds six percent (6%) of the three-year (3) average market value, calculated at the end of the calendar year, of the investments in the endowment. The amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of those grants in any year exceeds the amount appropriated that year for the purposes of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-9-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-9 / Section 29-9-2
§ 29-9-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Censor or censorship means to suppress, restrict, remove, or prohibit acquiring, library material on the basis of disagreement with the materials origin, background, views, ideas, concepts, or identity of those contributing to its creation including, but not limited to, race, gender, sexuality, religious, or political views, but excludes content that is deemed developmentally inappropriate and provided further, excludes content:

(i) That the average person, applying contemporary standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;

(ii) That the work, taken as a whole, clearly depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct; and

(iii) That the work, taken as a whole, clearly lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific value.

(2) Developmentally inappropriate means the material is not structured to account for a childs age, and is misaligned with the cognitive, emotional, or social development of the intended age group as informed by standards and guidance from the American Library Association (ALA) or any other similar well recognized and established educational or developmental authority.

(3) Government actor means a member of a government body with voting authority.

(4) Government body means any government decision-making body or governing body, such as a library board or school board, that exercises authority over the purchasing, selection, curation, and location of library materials at the state or municipal levels, including a library board of trustees as provided for in § 29-4-5 and a school committee as provided for in § 16-2-9.

(5) Individual with a vested interest in the public library means any resident who is served by the public library and resides in the municipality where the library is situated.

(6) Individual with a vested interest in the school library means any teaching staff member employed by the school district, any parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school at the time the removal form is filed, and any student enrolled in the school at the time the removal form is filed.

(7) Librarian means a professionally trained employee who is responsible for the purchase, selection, curation, removal, and display of library materials.

(8) Library material means any material including, but not limited to, books, videos, subscription or locally curated databases, audio materials, government documents, interactive applications and software, and all other similar materials, whether tangible or in electronic form belonging to, on loan to, or otherwise in the custody of the public library or other material not required as part of classroom instruction.

(9) Public library means a library in a city or town that has been designated by the city or town council or town financial meeting as a library to provide library services to all individuals residing in the city or town.

(10) Reconsideration means a request to reclassify, move to a different section of the library, or remove an item in the librarys collection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-9-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-9 / Section 29-9-4
§ 29-9-4. School library collection policy.
Status: in_force

(a) Pursuant to the duties prescribed in § 16-1-5(7), the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, in collaboration with the chief of library services, shall establish a model policy on the curation of library material within a school library. Each school committee shall review the model policy established pursuant to this section and approve and adopt a policy that shall at a minimum:

(1) Recognize that school libraries serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas;

(2) Provide protection against censorship of library material;

(3) Provide standards for the selection and curation of library material while also recognizing that the library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all students and should present a wide range of points of view;

(4) Establish criteria and a procedure based on professional standards for a librarian to review and the deaccession of library material within a school library on a regular basis, which shall include, but not be limited to: the library materials relevance; the condition of the library material; the availability of duplicates; and the continued demand for the library material; and

(5) Acknowledge that a certified school librarian is professionally trained to curate and develop the school library collection that provides students with access to the widest array of developmentally relevant library material.

(b) The model policy shall be updated as the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and chief of library services deem necessary.

(c) In the event a school district has a policy that complies with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the school committee shall not be required to take further action.

(d) Librarians employed at a school library shall have discretion in selecting, purchasing, or acquiring library material for inclusion in the school library, following the policy approved by the school committee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a librarian to purchase, or otherwise acquire a particular library material for a school library.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict a school committees authority to select textbooks and school supplies related to the curriculum.

(f) Pursuant to the duties prescribed in § 16-1-5(7), the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall establish, in collaboration with the chief of library services, a model policy creating a procedure regarding a request for reconsideration of library material within a school library. The school committee shall review the model policy established pursuant to this section and approve and adopt a policy that shall, at a minimum require:

(1) The creation of a request for reconsideration form, based on a model form developed by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and chief of library services, that is submitted by an individual with a vested interest to the principal of the school in which the library material is challenged. The principal is required to send the form promptly to the superintendent to initiate a review of the material;

(2) An individual with a vested interest in the school library requesting that library material be reconsidered shall review the material as a whole; identify sections of the material that the individual objects to; and provide an explanation for such objections. Selective passages from the material taken out of context shall not be considered for this review;

(3) Library material that is the subject of a request for reconsideration shall not be removed from its location within the library and shall remain available to reserve, check out, or access while the material is being reviewed;

(4) The superintendent or the superintendents designee shall appoint a review committee; consisting of:

(i) The superintendent or the superintendents designee:

(ii) The principal of the school in which the form is submitted or the principals designee;

(iii) A certified librarian employed at the school in which the form is submitted;

(iv) A representative of the school committee; and

(v) A grade-appropriate teacher provided the teacher selected is not the individual who submitted the form;

(5) The review committee must evaluate the reconsideration request, review the material and within thirty (30) days of receiving the reconsideration form report in writing to the individual and the school committee its decision whether to remove the library material, limit the library material, or leave the library material in place;

(6) That the individual who filed the form for reconsideration may, within thirty (30) days of the decision, appeal the review committees decision to the school committee which shall review the committees report and issue a final recommendation along with a written statement of reasons for:

(i) The removal, limitation, or non-removal of a library material;

(ii) Any final determination that is contrary to the recommendations of the review committee; and

(iii) The written statement of reasons shall be posted on the school committees internet website in a prominent and easily accessible location within thirty (30) days of the determination;

(7) The review committee, when conducting a review pursuant to this section and a school committee deciding an appeal of the review committee, shall consider the following standards for review:

(i) Recognize that library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all students and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole;

(ii) Acknowledge that library material shall not be removed from a school library because of the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation;

(iii) Recognize the importance of school libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas;

(iv) Promote the free expression and free access to ideas by students by prohibiting the censorship of library material; and

(v) Acknowledge that a school library media specialist is professionally trained to curate and develop the school library collection that provides students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate library material available to schools.

(g) In the event a school committee has a policy that complies with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the school committee shall not be required to take further action.

(h) Any staff member of a school library, including a librarian employed by a school, shall be immune from civil and criminal liability arising from good faith actions performed pursuant to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-3-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-3 / Section 29-3-2
§ 29-3-2. Law librarian  Hours library open.
Status: in_force

The supreme court shall appoint a librarian, who shall cause the library to be kept open daily, Sundays and holidays excepted, from nine oclock in the morning (9:00 a.m.) until five oclock in the afternoon (5:00 p.m.), except during summer hours of the courts, when it may be closed at four-thirty oclock in the afternoon (4:30 p.m.), and on Saturdays, when it may be closed at three oclock in the afternoon (3:00 p.m.). The state court administrator, in consultation with the chief justice, shall have the authority to change the state law library hours for operational purposes and in the interest of public safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-4
§ 29-2-4. Use of historical society libraries.
Status: in_force

All books, periodicals, and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the Newport Historical Society, shall at all reasonable times be open to the use of all the citizens of the state, under the same conditions pertaining to the members of the society as long as funds are provided under §§ 29-2-1, 29-2-2, 29-2-2.1, and 29-2-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-9-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-9 / Section 29-9-3
§ 29-9-3. Public library collection policy.
Status: in_force

(a) In addition to the duties prescribed in § 29-3.1-7, the chief of library services shall establish a model policy on the curation of library material within a public library, that shall be approved and adopted by the library board of trustees.

(b) The model policy shall, at a minimum:

(1) Recognize that public libraries serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas;

(2) Provide protection against censorship of library material;

(3) Provide standards for the selection and curation of library material by the librarian, while also recognizing that library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present a wide range of points of view; and

(4) Establish criteria and a procedure based on professional standards for a librarian to review and the deaccession of library material within a public library on an ongoing basis, which shall include, but not be limited to: the library materials relevance; the condition of the library material; the availability of duplicates; the availability of more recent material; and the continued demand for the library material.

(c) The model policy shall be updated as the chief of library services deems necessary.

(d) In the event a public library has a policy that complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the library shall not be required to take further action.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a librarian to purchase, or otherwise acquire, a particular library material for the library.

(f) In addition to the duties prescribed in § 29-3.1-7, the chief of library services shall establish a model policy creating a procedure regarding a request for reconsideration of library material in a public library, that shall be approved and adopted by the library board of trustees.

(g) The model policy shall, at a minimum, require:

(1) The creation of a request for reconsideration form, based on a model form established by the chief of library services, that shall be submitted by an individual with a vested interest in the public library in order to initiate the review of specific library material;

(2) That an individual with a vested interest in the public library requesting that library material be reconsidered shall review the material as a whole; identify sections of the material that the individual objects to; and provide an explanation for such objections. Selective passages from the material taken out of context shall not be considered under this review;

(3) That library material that is the subject of a request for reconsideration shall not be removed from its location within the library and shall remain available to reserve, check out, or access while the material is being reviewed;

(4) That the government body shall appoint a review committee, consisting of:

(i) At least one member of the government body;

(ii) The director of the public library;

(iii) A subject specialist librarian employed by the public library; and

(iv) Any additional library staff that the government body deems necessary;

(5) That the review committee pursuant to subsection (g)(4) of this section evaluate the request for removal form, review the challenged library material, and report in writing its decision to the individual and to the government body on whether to remove library material within thirty (30) business days from the date of receiving the form; and

(6) That the individual who filed the form for reconsideration may, within thirty (30) days of the decision, appeal the review committees decision to the government body which shall review the committees decision and make a final determination on whether the library material is to be removed from the public library, limited in use, or remain in place. A substantive rationale for restricting or removing library material shall be memorialized by the governing body in writing and made publicly available.

In issuing its final decision, a governing body shall provide a written statement of reasons for:

(i) The removal, limitation, or non-removal of a library material; and

(ii) Any final determination that is contrary to the recommendations of the review committee;

(7) That any library material that has been challenged pursuant to subsections (g)(1)  (g)(6) of this section shall not be subject to a subsequent challenge for at least one year;

(8) That the review committee when conducting a review pursuant to this section, and a governing body deciding an appeal of a decision of the review committee, shall consider the following standards for review:

(i) Recognize that library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole;

(ii) Acknowledge that library material shall not be removed from a library because of the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation;

(iii) Recognize the importance of libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas; and

(iv) Promote the free expression and free access to ideas by prohibiting the censorship of library material.

(h) In the event a public library has a policy that complies with the requirements of subsection (g) of this section, the library shall not be required to take further action.

(i) Any staff member of a public library, including a librarian employed by a public library, shall be immune from civil and criminal liability arising from good faith actions performed pursuant to this chapter.

(j) A government body shall not reduce funding for a public library due to the librarys compliance with the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-2
§ 29-5-2. Compliance with local laws.
Status: in_force

No city, town, or library district of this state, hereinafter to be created, shall be party to a library agreement that provides for the construction or maintenance of a library pursuant to article III(c)7 of § 29-5-1, nor pledge its credit in support of that library, or contribute to the capital financing thereof, except after compliance with any laws applicable to the cities, towns, or library districts hereinafter to be created relating to or governing capital outlays and the pledging of credit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-1
§ 29-1-1. Library established  State librarian.
Status: in_force

Within the department of state there shall be a state library and, for the supervision of the state library, the secretary of state shall appoint a state librarian who has a masters degree from an American Library Association-accredited program who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary of state. The state librarian shall carry out the duties required by chapters 1  3 of this title. The state librarian shall continue to maintain and supervise the state library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-9 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-9
§ 29-6-9. Rhode Island library network.
Status: in_force

(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, the 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 LORI network to:

(1) Provide central support services for the library of Rhode Island, such as delivery of materials, consultant services, resource sharing, and access to bibliographic and other information sources; and

(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 282, § 2 and P.L. 2021, ch. 283, § 2.]

(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 that 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 located in a public library to be chosen by the office of library and information services from responses to a request for proposals issued by the office of library and information services no less than every five (5) years;

(2) Interlibrary delivery system;

(3) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 282, § 2 and P.L. 2021, ch. 283, § 2.]

(4) Online resource sharing system to facilitate interlibrary loan; and

(5) A single point of access to all holdings of LORI member libraries.

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

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), the funding for 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 interlibrary delivery and resource sharing system and provide statewide access to databases shall be subject to appropriation by the general assembly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-4
§ 29-7-4. Director.
Status: in_force

The state librarian shall designate from the state library staff a director of the state publications clearinghouse. The director shall hold a graduate degree in library science from an accredited library school. The clearinghouse director shall maintain guidelines for documents officers on the state librarys website as well as in person to give guidance on what is a state document and how to send it to the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse director shall maintain an online catalog of recently acquired state publications regardless of form.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-6
§ 29-5-6. Notices of withdrawal.
Status: in_force

In the event of withdrawal from the compact, the chief of library services shall send and receive any notices required by article XI(b) of § 29-5-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-11 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-11
§ 29-6-11. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of § 29-1-1, or of chapters 3.1, 4, or 6 of this title, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of these provisions, and the application of these provisions to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-9 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-9
§ 29-4-9. Naming of libraries in East Providence.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 7.4 of title 22, the city council of the city of East Providence shall be authorized to name all libraries within the city.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-2
§ 29-1-2. Care of library  Preservation of materials.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall have the care and custody of the state library, except the law library, and shall receive and preserve all materials and documents that may be sent to, or purchased for, the library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-1
§ 29-2-1. Appropriations for Rhode Island Historical Society.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the state librarian for the purpose of caring for, preserving, and cataloguing the property of the state in the keeping of the Rhode Island Historical Society, including such historical materials as may from time to time be transferred to the society from the state library collections by the state librarian, and for the purchase and binding of books relating to the history of the state, and for copying and preserving the records of the several towns of the state, and the state librarian, with the approval of the secretary of state, may pay this sum to the Rhode Island Historical Society for this purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-5
§ 29-7-5. Deposits of state publications.
Status: in_force

Each state agency shall designate one person as its documents officer and shall notify the clearinghouse of his or her identity. The documents officer shall, prior to public release of a state publication, deposit with the clearinghouse as many tangible copies as are specified by the clearinghouse director of publications that are produced in printed or other tangible forms and for electronic publications, one electronic copy to be housed on a digital preservation platform and in an online catalog managed by the state library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-5
§ 29-4-5. Appointment of board of trustees.
Status: in_force

Whenever any city or town shall establish a free public library, or shall become possessed, as provided in this chapter, of any free public library, the city council or town council, as the case may be, shall proceed to elect a board of trustees, to consist of not less than three (3) members nor more than seven (7). As soon as possible after the election of the first board, the members thereof shall meet and be divided by lot into three (3) groups or classes, the terms of office of one group expiring in one year from the date of their election, those of another group in two (2) years, and those of the remaining group in three (3) years. With the expiration of the term of office of any member, the vacancy shall be filled by the city council or town council, as the case may be, for the term of three (3) years. Vacancies occurring by resignation, removal, death, or otherwise, shall be filled as above for the unexpired term thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-4
§ 29-6-4. Library councils.
Status: in_force

In cities or towns having more than one free public library, the boards of trustees, or other governing bodies of the libraries in the city or town, may appoint an interlibrary committee to include the principal librarian of each of the libraries and one other representative of each of the libraries, the committee to be known as a library council. The library council is hereby authorized to prepare and submit on behalf of a city or town the plan required by the provisions of § 29-6-3 for division of the proposed annual grant-in-aid to the city or town among the free public libraries therein. The library council may also serve as a means for promoting interlibrary cooperation in the city or town, and is authorized to advise the free public libraries therein on all matters relating to cooperative or joint library services, and may make recommendations pertaining thereto.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-6
§ 29-2-6. Appropriations for purchase, microfilming, and binding of newspapers.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary, to be expended by the state librarian for the purchase, microfilming, and binding of newspapers published in this state, the copies to be received by the state librarian and to be deposited in the Rhode Island Historical Society in accordance with § 29-2-4, and the state controller is hereby authorized to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for this sum or sums, upon his or her receipt of vouchers approved by the state librarian and the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-9-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-9 / Section 29-9-1
§ 29-9-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the The Freedom to Read Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-7 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-7
§ 29-4-7. Library funds.
Status: in_force

All appropriations from the city or town and state, and the income of all funds belonging to the library, shall be subject to the exclusive control of the trustees, and the several city and town treasurers shall pay, within the limits of the appropriations and other library funds in their hands, all bills properly certified by the trustees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-3
§ 29-7-3. Creation.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created, as a section of the state library, and under the direction of the state librarian, a state publications clearinghouse for libraries, hereinafter referred to as the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse shall promote the establishment of an orderly depository library system and shall maintain a complete and permanent collection of state publications. To this end, the secretary of state, with the assistance of the state librarian and the director of the state publications clearinghouse, shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-6
§ 29-7-6. Depository agreements.
Status: in_force

The clearinghouse may enter into depository agreements with any municipal library, public library, private college or university library, or research library in the state of Rhode Island, and shall provide for distribution of state publications to the Center for Research Libraries and the Library of Congress. The requirements for eligibility to become and continue as a depository library shall be established by the clearinghouse. The standards shall include, and take into consideration, the type of library, ability to preserve state publications and to make them available for public use, and such geographical locations as will make the publications conveniently accessible to residents in all areas of the state, except as otherwise provided by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-12 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-12
§ 29-1-12. Appropriations for labor.
Status: in_force

There shall be annually appropriated for labor in the state library, including cleaning, shifting, and sorting books, such sums of money as the general assembly shall deem necessary; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of all sums appropriated under authority of this section, or so much thereof as may from time to time be required, upon his or her receipt of proper vouchers approved by the state librarian and the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-6
§ 29-1-6. Disposition of duplicates and surplus supplies.
Status: in_force

The state librarian, with the consent of the secretary of state, is hereby authorized and empowered to sell, exchange, or destroy all duplicate books, pamphlets, or other surplus supplies, which, in his or her judgment, are not available for use in the state library. All such fees shall be deposited as general revenue.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-7-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-7 / Section 29-7-1
§ 29-7-1. Purpose.
Status: repealed

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a state publications clearinghouse for libraries that will systematically collect and distribute state publications to libraries throughout the state in order to facilitate public access to publications issued by state agencies and for exchange of publications with agencies outside of the state under the direction of the state librarian as provided in § 29-1-5 [repealed].
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-1
§ 29-4-1. Founding by town or city.
Status: in_force

The electors in any town, qualified to vote upon any proposition to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money in the town, voting at any financial town meeting, or in the case of any city, the city council, may appropriate such sum or sums as they shall deem proper for the foundation therein of a free public library, with or without branches, for all the inhabitants thereof, and to provide suitable rooms, land, buildings, and capital improvements for the library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-3-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-3 / Section 29-3-1
§ 29-3-1. Custody  Use of library materials.
Status: in_force

The supreme court shall have the custody of the state law library, and shall be responsible for the care and keeping of it. The state law library shall be open to the public; provided, however, no library materials shall be taken from it, except for the use of the Rhode Island judiciary, the general assembly, officers and employees of the executive branch, and attorneys at law admitted to practice in the courts of this or any other state, but any person may use the books within the library rooms.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-4
§ 29-4-4. Gifts.
Status: in_force

In case any library, or funds for the establishment thereof, may be offered to any city or town on the condition that the library shall be maintained as a free public library, the city council of any city, or town council of any town, is hereby authorized to accept this gift in behalf of the city or town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-8 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-8
§ 29-6-8. Eligibility requirements  Institutions.
Status: in_force

(a) To qualify for state aid under § 29-6-7, an institution shall:

(1) Allocate from its appropriation an amount not less than the amount allocated and expended the previous year for operating expenditures to support library services for residents or students; and

(2) Submit, or cause to be submitted, to the office of library and information services evidence that the library or libraries in the institution meet standards of service as set forth in regulations to be made by the chief of library services pursuant to the provisions of chapter 3.1 of this title.

(b) Any funds received from the state under this program shall not be used to supplant funds from other sources.

(c) The chief of library services, upon application and for cause shown, may authorize an annual grant-in-aid under § 29-6-7, or a portion thereof, to an institution not fully meeting the requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Decisions as to the eligibility of institutions for grants-in-aid under this chapter, and the amounts of the grants-in-aid, shall be made by the chief of library services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-8 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-8
§ 29-4-8. Acceptance of gifts by trustees.
Status: in_force

In case of any bequest, legacy, or gift to, or in favor of, a public library, the trustees thereof are hereby authorized and empowered to accept the bequest, legacy, or gift on behalf of, and for the use of, the library, and their receipt shall be a full and sufficient discharge and release to any executor, administrator, or other person authorized to make the payment thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-2
§ 29-2-2. Appropriations for Newport Historical Society.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the state librarian for the purpose of caring for, preserving, and cataloguing the property of the state in the keeping of the Newport Historical Society, and for the purchase and binding of books relating to the history of the state, and for copying and preserving the records of the several towns of the state, and the state librarian, with the approval of the secretary of state, may pay this sum to the Newport Historical Society for this purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-10 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-10
§ 29-1-10. State library  Functions.
Status: in_force

There shall be in the state library, under the direction of the state librarian, a legislative reference bureau that shall collect, arrange, and place on file books, other material relating to legislation, and subscribe to databases relating to legislation; and that shall present such other information as may be useful and necessary to the general assembly in the performance of its legislative duties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-6
§ 29-4-6. Powers and duties of trustees.
Status: in_force

The trustees shall take possession of the library, and shall, thereafter, be the legal guardians and custodians of the library. They shall provide suitable rooms for the library, arrange for the proper care of the library, choose one or more competent persons as librarians and fix their compensation, and make all needful rules and regulations for the government of the library and the use of the books; provided, that no fee for the use of the books shall ever be exacted.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-4 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-4
§ 29-1-4. Annual report to general assembly.
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall annually, at the January session, make report to the general assembly of the condition of the library, and shall make such recommendations as he or she may deem advisable for the welfare thereof, and of the books purchased during the year preceding, and of the cost thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-6 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-6
§ 29-6-6. Construction and capital improvements.
Status: in_force

The office of library and information services may cause to be paid to a city or town treasurer, or to any free public library in the state, a grant-in-aid for the construction and capital improvement of any free public library as the chief of library services may determine is necessary and desirable to provide better free library services to the public, which shall be paid in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) No grant-in-aid shall be made unless the city or town receiving the grant-in-aid shall cause to be appropriated for the same purpose an amount from its own funds and not from any federal grant or other federal financial assistance equal to, or more than, the state grant-in-aid, or unless funds from private sources are dedicated for the same purpose in an amount equal to, or more than, the state grant-in-aid, or unless the total of the city or town appropriation and the funds from private sources for the same purpose is equal to, or more than, the state grant-in-aid.

(2) The state grant-in-aid may be paid in installments over a period of years up to a maximum of twenty (20) years, beginning in the fiscal year during which the project is accepted by the office of library and information services. Whenever a grant-in-aid is paid on the installment basis permitted herein, there shall be included in the state grant-in-aid the interest cost actually incurred by the city or town, or any free public library, as a result of its having to borrow the states portion of the total cost of the library project. The amount of this interest cost shall be computed on the actual interest cost paid by the city or town, or free public library, less any applicable accrued interest, premiums, and profits from investments, over the period of time elapsing between the date borrowed funds are made available and the date of the last installment payment of the state grant-in-aid. Interest cost incurred by the city or town, or any free public library, as a result of having to borrow its portion of the total cost of the library project shall not be considered a part of the total cost of the project for the purposes of matching provided for in subdivision (1) of this section. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the office of library and information services from accelerating the schedule of annual installments, or from paying the balance due of the states grant-in-aid in a lump sum; provided, however, that the state grant-in-aid in any fiscal year shall include no less than one-twentieth ( ) of the states total reimbursable principal obligations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-4-2 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-4 / Section 29-4-2
§ 29-4-2. Annual appropriations  Acceptance and management of donations.
Status: in_force

Any town or city having established a free public library therein, in the manner described in § 29-4-1, may annually, by the majority vote of the electors of the town qualified to vote and voting on the proposition, or by vote of the city council of the city, appropriate such sum or sums as it shall deem proper for the maintenance and increase of the library, and may take, receive, hold, and manage any devise, bequest, or donation for the establishment, maintenance, or increase of a public library therein. Any town or city may annually, in like manner, appropriate for the maintenance and increase of any free public library therein such sum or sums as may be deemed proper for the maintenance and increase of the free public library and for land, buildings, and capital improvements for such free public library.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-2-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-2 / Section 29-2-3
§ 29-2-3. Disbursement of appropriated funds.
Status: in_force

The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of these sums, or so much thereof as may be required, upon his or her receipt of proper vouchers approved by the state librarian and the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-7 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-7
§ 29-6-7. State supported institutions.
Status: in_force

For each state supported residential institution and the school for the deaf, the states share under this program to support library services for residents or students shall be gradually increased until the states share in fiscal year 2000 is equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended in the second preceding fiscal year by the institution for operating expenditures to support library services for residents or students.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-6-5 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-6 / Section 29-6-5
§ 29-6-5. Cooperative library services.
Status: in_force

(a) Any city or town may enter into an agreement with another city or town, or more than one other, to establish or maintain free public library service, or one or more aspects thereof to citizens therein, and those agreements for cooperative library service shall be valid when approved and accepted by the boards of trustees or other governing bodies of the libraries concerned, and by the respective city or town councils of the cities and towns parties to the agreement, and signed by the appropriate library officers and city or town officials thereunto authorized.

(b) Agreements for cooperative library service may be entered into by, and between, two (2) or more free public libraries, whether or not they are in the same city or town; provided, however, in the case of a free public library established or existing under the provisions of § 29-4-1, the agreement shall not be valid until it has been approved and accepted by the council of the city or town where the library is located.

(c) These agreements shall be reported to the office of library and information services, and such appropriate and equitable adjustments in annual grants-in-aid under this chapter shall be made as the circumstances may require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-5-1 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-5 / Section 29-5-1
§ 29-5-1. Compact.
Status: in_force

The Interstate Library Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 29-1-3 — RI Code / Title 29 / Chapter 29-1 / Section 29-1-3
§ 29-1-3. Reference assistance.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as it may deem necessary for reference librarians in the state library, and the state librarian is hereby authorized and empowered to employ additional reference librarians. Reference librarians shall have a masters degree from an American Library Association-accredited program. The state controller shall draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of all sums appropriated under the authority of this section, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon their receipt of proper vouchers approved by the state librarian and the secretary of state.