Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3375 - State Library Board › Chapter 3375-2 - State Grants › Section 3375-2-07 - Regional library system

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) In carrying out its responsibilities
			 under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code and in approving regional library
			 system (RLS) plans, the state library board shall keep in mind the overall and
			 long-range needs for assuring library services to the residents of Ohio and
			 will base its decisions and actions upon these needs.
(B) Planning for the regional library system.
The state library board will grant a charter to a RLS and
				declare its eligibility for subsidy only after the approval of the submitted
				plan and demonstration that the RLS board has been organized in accordance with
				the statutes and this rule.
(1) Four
			 or more libraries, representing two or more types of libraries, in a single
			 metropolitan area, or public libraries in two or more counties, may submit a
			 plan for the formation of a regional library system.
(2) The plan shall demonstrate that the
			 proposed boundaries do not overlap the boundaries of an existing state library
			 chartered library system.
(3) The
			 plan shall be prepared and submitted in a form determined by the state
			 librarian.
(4) The plan shall
			 contain a draft set of bylaws covering the organization, administration, and
			 operation of the RLS which will be approved by the membership after charter is
			 granted.
(5) The regional library
			 system shall be governed by a board of trustees consisting of at least seven
			 and not more than fifteen persons to be selected from among the duly appointed
			 representatives of the member institutions. The number of trustees, the manner
			 of selection, the term of office and the provision for filling vacancies shall
			 be determined and set forth in the bylaws.
(6) The RLS plan shall show how the proposed
			 RLS will promote access to library materials and services required by area
			 residents; provide the staff resources necessary to bring about the effective
			 use of library materials and provision of services required by area residents;
			 and promote the library network connections required so that Ohio's library and
			 information resources are available to all area residents.
(7) The plan shall identify the regional
			 library system needs, methods by which goals and objectives are carried out,
			 and a planned evaluation process addressing the total plan.
(8) Membership: Participating libraries may
			 be full voting members of only one existing state library chartered regional
			 library system. The plan may include a separate category of membership for
			 associate members.
(9) The RLS
			 plan shall be based upon the following principles and shall clearly state the
			 application of each principle proposed:
(a)
			 The plan is suitable for the geographic, demographic, educational and economic
			 features of the area.
(b) The plan
			 shows the organization to be built on existing strengths of the current
			 resources, services, and facilities of member libraries.
(c) The plan provides for the addition and
			 withdrawal of member libraries, and definition and change of boundaries.
(d) The plan provides for
			 coordination of library resources and services, cooperation with other
			 libraries, library organizations, and other regional library systems; and for
			 contracting with other libraries, other state library chartered regional
			 library systems, and/or other legal entities to provide and/or receive
			 services.
(e) The plan provides
			 that the board of trustees, elected from the member institutions, establishes
			 adequate criteria for the selection and evaluation of its RLS director who will
			 have authority to appoint staff, prepare budgets, and administer programs for
			 the RLS. Qualifications for the RLS director shall include, as a minimum, a
			 masters in library and information science (MLS) degree from a library school
			 accredited by the "American Library Association." The plan provides for the
			 board of trustees to hire a clerk as a treasurer of the organization's funds.
			 The clerk shall carry out the duties as defined in section
			  3375.92 
			 of the Revised Code. The RLS director and staff shall have the same employment
			 status as employees of public libraries.
(f) The plan assures that each member library
			 has a method for providing input to and evaluation of the plan.
(g) The plan is designed to meet the library
			 service needs within the region.
(i)
			 Resources. The plan shall show how the system will provide for an effective
			 utilization of library resources and a plan to provide access to those
			 resources.
(ii) Services. The plan
			 shall show how the system will provide for identification and coordination of
			 services for the area.
(iii)
			 Special staff. The plan shall demonstrate provision of services, on a
			 systemwide basis, by professional specialists to address the identified area
			 needs. These specialists may be staff members of participating libraries.
(h) Administration: The
			 plan shall assure adherence to applicable Ohio law and state library
			 regulations in the operation of the regional library system. The administrative
			 element of the plan will be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate how the
			 program objectives will be accomplished.
(i) The plan shall include provision for
			 identifying and providing access to materials not available within the RLS.
(j) The plan shall make specific
			 provision for staff development to raise the level of library services.
(k) The plan shall encourage a
			 coordinated and ongoing public information program to make people aware of the
			 services provided by the member libraries and encourage the use of these
			 services.
(l) The plan shall
			 include a timetable for reaching specific levels of service throughout the area
			 as related to paragraph (B)(7) of this rule.
(m) The plan shall outline the methods for
			 continual evaluation. Evaluation shall be related to the stated objectives of
			 the RLS; scope and extent of services, and progress in adopting new
			 developments and techniques to improve direct service as related to paragraphs
			 (B)(7) and (B)(9)(1) of this rule. A report of such evaluation shall be
			 submitted annually to the state library board.
(n) The plan shall include provision for
			 regular reporting to the RLS membership and submission to the state library of
			 an annual fiscal and narrative report and other reports as required.
(10) The RLS plan shall include a
			 detailed biennial program budget and a four-year budget projection.
(11) The fiscal year of the RLS shall be
			 defined by the state fiscal year (July first through June thirtieth).