In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Depository library” means a library designated for the receipt and maintenance of State publications. “Depository library” includes: The State Library Resource Center; The Maryland Department of Legislative Services Library; The State Archives; The Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library; The McKeldin Library of the University of Maryland; The Library of Congress; and Any other library designated by the Commission on State Publications Depository and Distribution Program as a depository library. “Program” means the State Publications Depository and Distribution Program. “State agency” means any permanent or temporary State office, department, division or unit, bureau, board, commission, task force, authority, institution, State college or university, and any other unit of State government, whether executive, legislative, or judicial, and includes any subunits of State government. “State publication” means informational materials produced, regardless of format, by the authority of, or at the total or partial expense of any State agency. “State publication” includes a publication sponsored by a State agency, issued in conjunction with, or under contract with the federal government, local units of government, private individuals, institutions, corporations, research firms, or other entities. “State publication” does not include correspondence, interoffice and intraoffice memoranda, routine forms or other internal records, publications of bicounty agencies which comply with this program as required in § 23-304 of this subtitle, or any informational listing which any State statute provides shall be sold to members of the public for a fee.

There is created, as part of the State Library Resource Center at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, a State Publications Depository and Distribution Program. This Program is responsible for: The collection of State publications; The distribution of State publications to the depository libraries; The monthly issuance of a list of all State publications that have been received by the Center. This list shall be sent to all depository libraries and to others upon request and the Center may provide for subscription services; and Making determinations on exemptions of State publications from the depository requirements of this subtitle. The Administrator of the Program shall be appointed by the Director of the State Library Resource Center. Funding for the Program shall be provided in the budget of the State Library Board in a program entitled State Publications Depository.

Each State agency shall designate an agency publications contact person, and shall notify the Center of the designation. Each State agency shall furnish to the Center a sufficient quantity of each publication to meet the requirements of the depository system.

Each bicounty agency shall: Designate an agency publications contact person, and notify the Center of the designation; Furnish to the Center 1 copy of each publication to meet the requirements of the depository system; and Furnish 1 copy each to a designated branch library within each county library system of the counties in which the bicounty agency operates or furnish all copies to the Center for distribution as stated in this section.