Effective: August 18, 2019
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 221 - 132nd General Assembly
A state library board is hereby created to be composed of five members to be appointed by the state board of education. One member shall be appointed each year for a term of five years. No one is eligible to membership on the state library board who is or has been for a year previous to appointment a member of the state board of education. A member of the state library board shall not during the member's term of office be a member of the board of library trustees for any library in any subdivision in the state. Before entering on official duties, each member shall subscribe to the official oath of office. All vacancies on the state library board shall be filled by the state board of education by appointment for the unexpired term. The members shall receive no compensation, but shall be paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties or in the conduct of authorized board business, within or without the state.
At its regular meeting next prior to the beginning of each fiscal biennium, the state library board shall elect a president and vice-president each of whom shall serve for two years or until a successor is elected and qualified.
The state library board is responsible for the state library of Ohio and a statewide program of development and coordination of library services, and its powers include the following:
(A) Maintain the state library, holding custody of books, periodicals, pamphlets, films, recordings, papers, and other materials and equipment. The board may purchase or procure from an insurance company licensed to do business in this state policies of insurance insuring the members of the board and the officers, employees, and agents of the state library against liability on account of damage or injury to persons or property resulting from any act or omission of the board members, officers, employees, and agents of the state library in their official capacity.
(B) Accept, receive, administer, and expend, in accordance with the terms thereof, any moneys, materials, or other aid granted, appropriated, or made available to it for library purposes, by the United States, or any of its agencies, or by any other source, public or private;
(C) Administer such funds as the general assembly may make available to it for the improvement of public library services, interlibrary cooperation, or for other library purposes;
(D) Contract with other agencies, organizations, libraries, library schools, boards of education, universities, public and private, within or without the state, for library services, facilities, research, or any allied or related purpose;
(E) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions for establishment of county district libraries, and approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions to determine the boundaries of such districts, along county lines or otherwise, and approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions to redefine boundaries, along county lines or otherwise, where questions subsequently arise as a result of school district consolidations;
(F) Upon consolidation of two or more school districts and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define and adjust the boundaries of the new public library district resulting from such consolidation and resolve any disputes or questions pertaining to the boundaries, organization, and operation of the new library district;
(G) Upon application of one or more boards of library trustees and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of the library districts making such application and the boundaries of adjacent library districts;
(H) Upon application of one or more boards of library trustees, or upon the state library board's own initiative, and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of overlapping library districts to eliminate areas of overlap;
(I) Upon application of any private corporation or library association maintaining a free public library prior to September 4, 1947, and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of a library district for the private corporation or library association for the sole purpose of preventing or eliminating areas of overlap with other library districts in relation to tax levies described in sections 5705.19, 5705.191, and 5705.21 of the Revised Code that are or may be levied in support of the private corporation or library association;
(J) Certify its actions relating to boundaries authorized in this section, to boards of election, taxing authorities, the boards of trustees of libraries affected, and other appropriate bodies;
(K) Encourage and assist the efforts of libraries and local governments to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to library service problems;
(L) Recommend to the governor and to the general assembly such changes in the law as will strengthen and improve library services and operations;
(M) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt such rules as are necessary for the carrying out of any function imposed on it by law, and provide such rules as are necessary for its government and the government of its employees. The board may delegate to the state librarian the management and administration of any function imposed on it by law.