Rhode Island § 29-6-9 - State Aid to Libraries

§ 29-6-9. Rhode Island library network.

(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.