§ 29-3.1-7. Duties of chief of library services. The chief of library services shall be the executive and administrative officer in charge of the office of library and information services. The chief of library services shall be in a classified position of service, shall be appointed by the director of administration and shall report to the chief digital officer. The chief of library services shall serve as the chief executive officer of the library board. The chief of library services shall also carry out the duties required by this chapter and by chapters 5 and 6 of this title. In addition to the general supervision of the office of library and information services and the appointment of the several officers and employees of the office, it shall be the duty of the chief of library services:

(1) To develop a systematic program of information gathering, processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of public library development and interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing in this state, especially as that information relates to current and future library and information service needs, so that current needs may be met with reasonable promptness and plans formulated to meet future needs as they arise in the most efficient and economical manner possible;

(2) To develop a master plan defining board goals and objectives for public library development and interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing in the state. These goals and objectives shall be expressed in terms of the library and information services to which individuals will have access;

(3) To communicate with, and seek the advice of, those concerned with, and affected by, the library board's determinations;

(4) To develop and implement board policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives approved by the library board from time to time;

(5) To enforce standards and to exercise general supervision over interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing in the state;

(6) To develop, annually, the program for the use of federal funds that is submitted to the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services;

(7) To supervise the operation of the office of library and information services, as defined elsewhere in this title, and such other additional duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the library board from time to time; and

(8) To supervise the following functions:

(i) To distribute state funds for public library development and interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing in accordance with law and regulations of the library board;

(ii) To develop standards and regulations for public library development and interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing;

(iii) To certify that public library standards and services are in accordance with law and regulations of the library board;

(iv) To require the observance of all laws relating to public library services and interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing;

(v) To interpret library law;

(vi) To give assistance, advice, and counsel to public libraries and to participants in interlibrary cooperation and resource-sharing activities;

(vii) To require that information and statistics necessary to do the work of the office of library and information services be collected, to publish findings and reports thereon;

(viii) To provide eligible persons who are impaired, blind, reading impaired and/or physically impaired with library services through the Talking Books Plus, in cooperation with the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped;

(ix) To cooperate with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education in supporting and encouraging effective school library media services and their integration into statewide library networking activities;

(x) To cooperate with the state librarian and the state law librarian in strengthening services to library users;

(xi) To cooperate with the commissioner of higher education in supporting and encouraging effective library services through the state system of higher education; and

(xii) To coordinate with all other state departments and agencies in the provision of library services to state government and to the public.

History of Section. (G.L. 1956, § 29-3.1-7; P.L. 1964, ch. 233, § 1; P.L. 1967, ch. 227, § 2; P.L. 1983, ch. 132, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 254, § 2; P.L. 1985, ch. 196, § 3; P.L. 1990, ch. 342, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 305, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 375, §§ 4, 5; P.L. 1996, ch. 100, art. 29, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 66; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 66; P.L. 2010, ch. 191, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 142, art. 4, § 3; P.L. 2016, ch. 511, art. 2, § 23.)