State Statutes Assignment
Southern Connecticut State University
ILS 561 S 70 Public Libraries
Connecticut State Statues Title 11
pertains to libraries and has five chapters defining the roles and responsibilities
of the State Library, Cooperating Service Library Unit Program, Law Libraries,
Public Libraries, and the Interstate Library Compact.
The State of Connecticut enables
municipal governments to determine the need for a public library. If not
already defined by municipal charter, the library is managed by a board of
directors, whose number can be divisible by the number three, per Chapter
190 Public Libraries, Secs. 11-20 & 11-21. Once the Board of Directors
is defined, their six-year terms begin after the next municipal election and
are staggered into three groupings. The first groupingsÕ term ends upon the
next municipal election, then the second groupingÕs term ends at the
subsequent, and the third term ends the following election. Therefore only one-third
of the board is renewed at each municipal election per Chapter 146 Elections
Sec. 9-207. Library directors. If there is a city council, the mayor can
nominate up to nine residents for positions after election only one of which
can be a member of the city council. The nomination are subject to the city
councilÕs approval according to Chapter 146 Elections, Sec. 11-33. Powers
and duties of directors in cities. Gifts. Once appointed, a public
libraryÕs board of directors must meet and begin their functions as determined
by Chapter 14 Freedom of Information, Chapter 164 Educational
Opportunities Sec. 10-16q. and Chapter 170 Boards of Education Sec.
10-221g. In addition, they are responsible to hire, manage, and terminate
the library director.
There are other chapters that
pertain to public libraries. Chapter 113. Municipal Employees Sec. 7-425.
Definitions. defines library employees as municipal employees and therefore
eligible for a municipal pension. Chapter 219 Sales and Usage Tax Sec.
12-412. Exemptions. permits libraries and Friends Groups to not charge
sales tax on books sales. Lastly, Chapter 952 Penal Code: Offenses. Sec.
53a-119. Larceny defined. includes theft or defacement of library
materials as a punishable offense
under the law.