(a) The county superintendent of schools may, with the approval of the board of supervisors and the county board of education, agree with the county librarian to take over all existing contracts for supplementary books and other material adopted for the course of study between the school districts or community college districts and the county librarian entered into pursuant to the provisions of Sections 18130 to 18139, inclusive. Thereafter the county superintendent of schools shall generally perform such library services for the school districts or community college districts as were theretofore performed by the county library.

(b) After the above agreement has been entered into, the governing board of any district which had not yet joined the county library may enter into an agreement with the county superintendent of schools for the performance of school library services upon such terms and conditions as are fixed in the contracts or agreements.

(c) Whenever the county superintendent of schools performs school library services for any district, the provisions of Sections 18130 to 18139, inclusive, so far as applicable, shall control. The county superintendent shall employ a librarian holding a valid credential authorizing services as a librarian issued by the State Board of Education or Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing. He shall also employ such assistants as may be necessary to carry on this service. The cost of the salaries of such librarian and assistants, and the other necessary expenses of maintenance of the library, including necessary supplies, equipment, and books, may be paid from the county school service fund.

(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)