When used in this Code unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) The term "library system" shall mean a unified public library organization under single direction in an area of not less than one county.

(b) The term "public library" shall mean a library or library system that is freely open to all persons under identical conditions, and which is supported in whole or in part by public funds.

(c) The term "metropolitan library" shall mean a library system which is the public library for a county in which is located a city of at least two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) population.

(d) The term "multicounty library" shall mean a library system which is the public library for a library district composed of two or more counties.

(e) The term "special library" shall mean any library, whether open to the general public or not, that is supported in whole or in part by public funds and which comes within one or more of the following categories:

(1) All libraries which are operated within or as an integral part of a publicly supported institution.

(2) All libraries that cater to a special clientele.

(3) All libraries that are concerned primarily with materials on a special subject.

Provided, however, that this definition shall not be construed to include libraries operated as a part of any university, college, school, museum, the Oklahoma Historical Society and county law libraries.

(f) The word "library" shall mean the contents as well as the building, equipment and facilities of the institution.

(g) The word "Department" shall mean the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, which shall be the official library and archival agency of the state.

(h) The word "Board" shall mean the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.

(i) The word "standards" shall mean the criteria pertaining to the scope and quality of library facilities, levels of financial support, adequacy and qualifications of personnel, organization and resources for service, areas of service and population to be served, and other factors deemed necessary to insure proper, economical and effective use of funds and resources in providing library facilities and services.

(j) The term "accreditation of libraries" shall mean the evaluation and rating of public libraries and library systems.

(k) The word "Director" shall mean the Director of the Department who shall be the State Librarian and the State Archivist.

(l) The term "county library" means a public library established, supported, and maintained by county taxation.

(m) The term "municipal library" means a public library established, supported, and maintained through taxation by a city or town whose library board of trustees is appointed pursuant to municipal authority.

(n) The term "city-county library" means a library system which consists of a public library for a county in which the population is at least 100,000.

(o) The term "rural single county library" means a library system which consists of a public library for a county in which the population is less than one hundred thousand (100,000) and which is supported by ad valorem taxation designated for the support of the county library system.

Added by Laws 1967, c. 45, § 1-104, emerg. eff. April 6, 1967. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 322, § 1, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1995, c. 165, § 1, emerg. eff. May 2, 1995.