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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="23-202" title_number="23" title_name="Libraries" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Resource Centers and Cooperative Programs">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The boards of library trustees of at least three public library systems outside the standard metropolitan statistical areas defined by the United States Bureau of the Census may request the State Library Board to establish and maintain a regional resource center.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Each regional resource center shall provide, through mutual cooperation and coordination, books, information, and other material and service resources that an individual library cannot provide adequately by itself.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A region to be served by a regional resource center shall have a population of at least 100,000.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subject to approval by the State Library Board, the boards of library trustees of the participating library systems shall designate the library to serve as the resource center.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a board of advisors for each regional resource center that shall act as the Regional Advisory Council.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Council consists of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The director of the regional resource center; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The director of each member library system.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Council for each regional resource center shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Gather information on the resource needs of its region; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Promote the use of the regional resource center.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The director of the regional resource center is the executive officer of the regional resource center.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The director:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is appointed by the governing board established in accordance with § 23–202.1 of this subtitle; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Shall serve at the pleasure of the governing board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The director shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be eligible for certification as a professional library director by the State Superintendent of Schools as set forth in COMAR 14.38.01.01;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Have the powers and duties set forth in this title; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Appoint, promote, fix salaries, assign duties, and terminate personnel of the regional resource center.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The director shall operate the regional resource center in accordance with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The standards adopted by the State Library Board; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The policies adopted by the governing board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The director shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Prepare and submit for the approval of the governing board the annual budget of the regional resource center;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Adopt and submit for the approval of the governing board reasonable rules and bylaws to carry out this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Recommend to the governing board the purchase, condemnation, rental, use, sale, or conveyance of property for any valid purpose under this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The policies and procedures of the regional resource center shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Recommended by the board of trustees of the library designated as the regional resource center; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Approved by the Council.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The policies and procedures for operation of the regional resource center shall be consistent with the State standards for libraries.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>Each regional resource center shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Make interlibrary loans of books and materials;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Supply collections and exhibits of specialized materials;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Provide consultant services;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Organize in–service training for library staffs; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Develop and operate cooperative services among libraries.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
