2004 Minnesota Statutes

     134.31 Department of Education; library responsibilities.

    Subdivision 1.    Library service.  The state shall, as 
 an integral part of its responsibility for public education, 
 support the provision of library service for every citizen, the 
 development of cooperative programs for the sharing of resources 
 and services among all libraries, and the establishment of 
 jointly operated library services at a single location where 
 appropriate. 

    Subd. 2.    Advice and instruction.  The Department of 
 Education shall give advice and instruction to the managers of 
 any public library or to any governing body maintaining a 
 library or empowered to do so by law upon any matter pertaining 
 to the organization, maintenance, or administration of 
 libraries.  The department may also give advice and instruction, 
 as requested, to postsecondary educational institutions, state 
 agencies, governmental units, nonprofit organizations, or 
 private entities.  It shall assist, to the extent possible, in 
 the establishment and organization of library service in those 
 areas where adequate services do not exist, and may aid in 
 improving previously established library services.  The 
 department shall also provide assistance to school districts, 
 regional library systems, and member libraries interested in 
 offering joint library services at a single location. 

    Subd. 3.    Library resources.  The department may 
 provide, for any library in the state, books, journals, 
 audiovisual items, information services or resource materials it 
 deems appropriate and necessary and shall encourage the sharing 
 of library resources and the development of interlibrary 
 cooperation. 

    Subd. 4.    Collect statistics.  The department shall 
 collect statistics on the receipts, expenditures, services, and 
 use of the regional public library systems and the public 
 libraries of the state.  It shall also collect statistics on all 
 activities undertaken pursuant to sections 134.31 to 134.355.  

    Subd. 5. Repealed, 2001 c 161 s 58 

    HIST: 1978 c 546 s 2; 1986 c 471 s 3,4; 1989 c 329 art 10 s 1; 
 1991 c 265 art 11 s 20; 1993 c 224 art 5 s 37,38; art 9 s 41; 
 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 192 s 23; 1Sp2001 c 3 art 4 s 2; 2003 c 
 130 s 12; 
 1Sp2003 c 9 art 6 s 5; art 12 s 21