Eligibility Requirements for Participation as a Member of a Regional Library System

Any public, academic, school and special library within a region will be eligible to participate as a member of a Regional library System upon meeting certain requirements.   These requirements are that the participating library shall:

  1. be a part of an organization or institution that has a legal basis for operation;
  2. have an organized collection of information and material accessible for use by designated clientele;
  3. have a fixed location
  4. have established and posted hours of service
  5. have an on-site, paid librarian-in-charge who meets Massachusetts education and certitication requirements in effect for that type of library. (Each public school library must be staffed by a full or part time librarian meeting Massachusetts certification requirements as a school library media specialist. Each non-public school library must be staffed by a full or part time librarian meeting Massachusetts certification requirements or possessing a Masters in Library Science degree.)
  6. have a written mission statement and service objectives
  7. have an established funding base
  8. be authorized to participate by its appropriate administrative authority
  9. agree to the terms and conditions of the Regional Library System membership agreement as established by the Board of Library Commissioners. This agreement shall include certification by each member library that it meets the minimum eligibility requirements for participation, agrees to participate in interlibrary loan activities within the Commonwealth in accordance with the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States and agrees to provide data on the use of regional and statewide library materials and services.

All public libraries that are currently members of a Regional Public Library System are automatically members of the Regional Library System.

April 24, 1997 - Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

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