Chapter 201-A: The State Library

There shall be a state library as provided for in RSA 12-A:10-h. The state library shall be the official clearinghouse of state government information.

The state library shall provide the following library services and facilities for the benefit of the various branches of state government and for the people of the state.

I.

Legislative Reference Service. A reference service and collection of materials especially designed to provide such information as will aid the members of the general court to meet their legislative responsibilities.

II. [Repealed.]

III.

General Reference Service. A collection of books and related materials necessary for an adequate reference service to provide for the needs of state and local officials and employees, educators and scholars, and the general public. This collection shall include:

(a) Materials especially relating to the work of the several departments;

(b) Books, manuscripts and other material concerning the state, including all the official publications of the state and its political subdivisions; and

(c) Books and related materials to supplement and reinforce the resources of public libraries and school libraries.

IV. [Repealed.]

V.

Advisory and Planning Assistance. Promote and advance library service throughout the state and serve as the coordinator for a statewide system of libraries. It may supply professional advice and information on the management and operation of libraries through conferences, institutes, correspondence and publications and may organize and administer projects to demonstrate efficient and economical methods of improved service. It shall collect information about libraries; study library problems and make the findings known throughout the state.

VI.

Library Services to Persons with Disabilities and Advisory Service to State Institutions.

(a) Provide disabled persons with talking books, large print books, and other federally funded services as provided under P.L. 91-600 as amended.

(b) Provide consultant services to the tax-supported residential-treatment institutions of New Hampshire. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) To render encouragement, advice and assistance for the establishment and operation of institutional libraries;

(2) To establish guidelines for institutional libraries;

(3) To make grants for developing library media services;

(4) To collect information on the nature, extent and quality of institutional library services and publish statistics on a regular basis;

(5) To promote the need for adequate institutional library service to the community at large;

(6) To promote inter-departmental cooperation and communication between institutional libraries;

(7) To promote cooperation between the public libraries, state agencies and institutional libraries; and

(8) To serve as a channel for informing institutions of federal and other library funding.

The state librarian, also known as the director of libraries, shall, in addition to the other powers, duties and responsibilities provided by law:

I. Preserve a sufficient number of copies of all official reports, documents, and records including those enumerated in RSA 20 and in RSA 505 to be deposited in the state library.

II. Collect and analyze statistics and undertake research pertaining to libraries and make the resultant findings available to all public, school and institutional libraries within the state.

III. Publish and submit to the commissioner a biennial report of its activities and of the status and needs of the library as reported by the state librarian, including recommendations for improving library service.

IV. Issue a publication at least 4 times a year which shall contain general and specific information to improve library management. It shall be distributed under the direction of the state librarian.

V. Purchase books and related materials for the state library, subject to RSA 21-I:18, VI.

VI. Operate a cataloging service for the benefit of the statewide development system.

In addition to the duties imposed by law, the state librarian may, subject to the approval of the commissioner:

I. Receive and accept at any time such sums of money as may be donated for the purpose of purchasing books or other supplies or facilities for the state library; and money so received shall be converted into a continuous fund or funds which shall not lapse; to be held by the state treasurer from which payments shall be made in accordance with the stipulations of the donor, upon warrant of the governor and council for such purposes as are approved by the commissioner;

II. Dispose by sale, exchange, or otherwise of all or any part of the surplus state publications deposited with the state library after 24 months;

III. Act as custodian for the state of collections of books, pamphlets, maps, manuscripts and other materials, upon such terms as seem proper;

IV. [Repealed.]

V. Enter, with the approval of the governor and council, into any agreement or compact with any other state or states, with the United States, and with library trustees and other agencies, public and private, for the purpose of developing, improving or operating library facilities and services on the basis of mutual advantages and thereby providing more efficient or economical library service;

VI. Issue booklets, bulletins, and other publications as will benefit the libraries of the state and increase the efficiency of the state library;

[Paragraph VII effective until Aug. 5, 2026; see also paragraph VII set out below.]

VII. Award scholarships to qualified persons to attend a graduate library school accredited by the American Library Association;

[Paragraph VII effective Aug. 5, 2026; see also paragraph VII set out above.]

VII. [Repealed.]

VIII. Establish, equip, and maintain branch offices when the library needs of the state will be better served;

IX. [Repealed.]

X. Conduct and arrange for training programs for library personnel.

The advisory council may receive and accept any money granted by the federal government equalizing or strengthening a state-wide system of library service in New Hampshire. Any gift or grant from the federal government shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to a special fund which shall be continuous and shall not lapse. All moneys so deposited shall be paid out by the treasurer on a warrant of the governor and council for services approved by the advisory council which will improve and equalize library service in this state.

I. Within 30 days after publication:

(a) The head of every state department and institution, every legislative commission and any commission operating under executive authority shall deliver to the state library 3 copies of all reports and all other publications issued under the authority of the state department or institution,

(b) The head of each state-supported institution of learning, including the University of New Hampshire, shall deliver 2 copies of all reports and all other publications issued under the authority of the state department or institution,

(c) The county commissioners of each county shall forward to the state library 2 copies of the report of the county for the previous fiscal year,

(d) The clerk in each town and city shall forward to the state library 2 copies each, and to the library of the University of New Hampshire one copy each, of the city or town report for the previous fiscal year.

II. [Repealed.]

I. Any funds accruing to the state library from the sale or exchange of books, pamphlets, maps, manuscripts and other related material, or from fees and fines from lost or damaged property, shall be paid into the state treasury and held in a continuous fund for the purchase of books and related materials for the state library.

II. Any funds accruing to the state library from the sale of data base services, barcodes, cataloging records, magnetic tapes, laser discs, video tapes, or related and similar materials shall be paid into the state treasury and held in a continuous fund for the support of the New Hampshire automated information system.

The state library shall control all space in the state library building. The department of administrative services shall maintain the state library building and grounds in suitable repair and condition for use by the state library.

As used in this subdivision:

I. [Repealed.]

I-a. "Official locator service" means the system or method by which state government information is disseminated to the public via a telecommunications network or successor technology. This locator service shall identify, locate, and describe publicly available state government information resources, including electronic information resources.

II. "Regional system" means an information network serving one or more communities as established under RSA 201-A:22, II.

III. "Section" means the network services section established as part of the state library under RSA 201-A:22, I.

IV. "System" means the New Hampshire automated information system established under RSA 201-A:22.

I. There shall be a section as part of the state library operated by the division of libraries in the department of natural and cultural resources. The network services section shall oversee the functioning and maintenance of the system.

II. The system shall consist of an integrated automated data processing and information retrieval system, regional systems, and an integrated statewide information network. The information network shall include public, academic, school, and special libraries, organizations, and government departments, agencies, and their subdivisions. The system shall include the following elements and operations as rapidly as funds and circumstances permit:

(a) General and governmental reference and research capabilities.

(b) Unique indexing and retrieval capabilities for New Hampshire state documents.

(c) A union catalog of statewide library holdings.

(d) A directory of information concerning state agencies and their services.

(e) Cataloging, electronic mail, and electronic interlibrary functions for the libraries included in the information network.

(f) Any other operation considered desirable, necessary or feasible.

The purposes of the system shall be to:

I. Allow New Hampshire library management to assume additional responsibility for the availability, accuracy and validity of data accumulated and processed locally.

II. Allow New Hampshire libraries to utilize distributed data processing solutions which satisfy end-user needs within the policies and procedures which are developed by the commissioner of natural and cultural resources.

III. Provide electronic access to state government information to libraries, state agencies, and the general public.

The state librarian, in addition to any other powers and duties which are delegated to the state librarian, and in order to further the purposes of this subdivision, shall have the following powers and duties:

I. To establish specific objectives and definitive policies designed to guide the development of electronic data processing systems, procedures, and techniques for a statewide information network under RSA 201-A:23 involving libraries and state agencies.

II. To adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the functioning and maintenance of the system and the definition and accreditation of each regional system established under RSA 201-A:22.

III. To develop policies and plans which fully recognize the interrelationships and impact of state activities on local governments and on agencies of the federal government, and which represent the best interests of all New Hampshire's citizens.

IV. To develop policies and plans which will enhance the use of electronic data processing for resources management of books, documents, and other materials within state government and among all New Hampshire libraries which encompass both short-term and long-range needs, and which shall be continually updated.

V. To ensure that the policies and goals stated in paragraphs I, II and III provide for the:

(a) Optimum utilization of electronic information processing equipment.

(b) Adherence to standards ensuring appropriate compatibility of systems and interchange of data and information.

(c) Proper management controls to ensure the most efficient, effective, and economical use of the state's information resources and electronic data processing.

VI. To encourage distributed data processing so that a portion of the computing capability and data of the system is located as close to the user as is practical, while at the same time retaining the ability to consolidate and share this information with other state agencies through data communications network facilities.

VII. To ensure that goals such as the collection of data, minimum duplication of records, and maximum availability of information at lowest overall cost will not jeopardize or compromise the confidentiality of information as provided by statute or the protection of the right of individual privacy as established by law.

VIII. To take advantage of, apply for, and receive any and all assistance, information, research, investigations, surveys, grants, appropriations, or allocations of funds, state or federal, made available for the center or any related or allocated purposes from any source.

IX. Execute any agreements which may be required under this section, subject to the provisions of RSA 4:15.

X. Cooperate or undertake joint activities or programs with any organization or government, including their agencies or subdivisions, pertaining to the purposes of this subdivision.

XI. Prepare and submit plans, reports, applications, and specifications to appropriate agencies or bodies.

XII. Employ and fix the compensation and duties of any personnel, required by the provisions of this subdivision.

XIII. Administer and direct any programs, plans, or projects connected with any of the provisions of this subdivision.