Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 188 - State Library
Section 11-1a. - Programs of state-wide library service.

(a) The State Library Board may institute and conduct programs of state-wide library service which may include, but need not be limited to, (1) a cataloging and processing service to be available to libraries, (2) the creation and maintenance of current and retrospective union catalogs of books, union lists of serials and similar cooperative listings of library materials, (3) a program of coordinated acquisitions, storage and deposit of library materials, (4) the support and encouragement of the transfer, as loans or copies, of library materials between libraries and to nonresident library patrons, (5) the provision of suitable high-speed communications facilities, (6) the creation and maintenance of bibliographic and regional reference centers, (7) the provision of traveling collections of library materials and of book examination centers, (8) the provision of a publicity and public relations service for libraries, and (9) the creation and maintenance of a state-wide platform for the distribution of electronic books to public library patrons.

(b) The State Library Board shall create and maintain one or more library research centers which shall utilize any appropriate sources of information, both within and outside of the state, to meet the needs of those making inquiries.
(c) The State Library Board shall maintain the state's principal law library which shall be located in the State Library and Supreme Court Building. The State Library Board shall distribute state documents, statutes and public acts to the law libraries established pursuant to section 11-10b.
(d) The State Library Board shall create and maintain a library service for the blind and other persons with disabilities, as provided for in 2 USC Sections 135a, 135a-1 and 135b. The State Library Board shall consult with the advisory committee relating to the library for blind and physically disabled persons and the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, or the commissioner's designee, before taking any action that may diminish or substantively change the library services described in this subsection.
(1969, P.A. 245, S. 2; P.A. 73-645, S. 3, 5; P.A. 75-316, S. 2; P.A. 76-368, S. 3, 9; P.A. 80-217, S. 1, 2; 80-340, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-7, S. 2, 3; P.A. 89-167, S. 4; P.A. 90-234, S. 1, 8; P.A. 95-234, S. 2, 3; P.A. 01-173, S. 41, 67; P.A. 14-82, S. 1; P.A. 22-118, S. 90.)
History: P.A. 73-645 deleted reference to creation and maintenance of library research centers in former provisions and added new Subsec. (b) re library research centers, changing alphabetic Subdiv. indicators to numeric indicators in former provisions, now designated Subsec. (a); P.A. 75-316 changed state library committee to state library board; P.A. 76-368 added Subsecs. (c) to (e) re law libraries, cooperation with judicial department and maintenance of books and various expenditures; P.A. 80-217 changed hours of operation in Subsec. (c) from all day Monday to Saturday plus two evenings to all day Monday to Friday; P.A. 80-340 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision for state-wide toll-free telephone access to research centers; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-7 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting a provision re hours of operation of the tier I libraries in Bridgeport and New Haven, said provision being added to Sec. 11-19a, and amended Subsec. (e) to reflect establishment of tier II libraries at New London and Danbury pursuant to Sec. 11-19a by deleting the authorization for the state library board to expend funds to maintain books in New London and Danbury provided it determines that staffing is not necessary at the tier II library in Norwich and deleting proviso that library facilities and staff are maintained at Danbury and New London without additional expense to the state; P.A. 89-167 added Subsec. (f) re the creation of a library service for the blind and other persons with disabilities; P.A. 90-234 deleted provisions detailing authority of state library board over system of law libraries formerly found in Subsecs. (c), (d) and (e), relettering former Subsec. (e) as (d), and revised Subsec. (c) to require the state library board to maintain the state's principal law library located in the state library and the supreme court building and to distribute state documents, statutes and public acts to law libraries; P.A. 95-234 added new Subsec. (e) re the Connecticut Library Network, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-173 deleted Subsec. (e) re Connecticut Library Network, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 14-82 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (9) re state-wide platform for distribution of electronic books to public library patrons, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re State Library Board to consult on action that diminishes or substantively changes certain library services, effective July 1, 2022.
See Sec. 11-19a re system of law libraries.
See Sec. 11-23a re library service centers in Middlesex and Windham-Tolland areas.
See Sec. 11-23b re library service centers for public libraries and public schools.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes