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2004 SESSION

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045469732
SENATE BILL NO. 519 Offered January 14, 2004 Prefiled January 14, 2004 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 42.1-3.1 and 42.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the State Library Board; qualifications for library directors; certification. ---------- Patron-- Hanger ---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 42.1-3.1 and 42.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 42.1-3.1. Authority of Board generally.

The Board shall be vested with full authority (i) to establish to:

1. Establish policy concerning what books and other library materials are to be kept, housed, or exhibited by The Library of Virginia; (ii) to enter

2. Enter into agreements with institutions and organizations with purposes similar to its own; (iii) to adopt

3. Adopt and amend bylaws; (iv) to charge

4. Charge for such services as deemed proper;

5. Sell, grant, and convey or to change the form of investments or control of any funds, securities or other property, provided such action is not inconsistent with the terms of the instrument under which the property may have been acquired;

6. Confer the honorary degree of patron of letters on any person who has, in its opinion, made an outstanding contribution in the realm of history, or library or archival science;

7. Establish criteria for the certification of library directors in accordance with § 42.1-15.1; and (v) to do

8. Do such other things as it deems proper to promote education in the realm of history and library and archival science throughout the Commonwealth through The Library of Virginia.

The Board is hereby authorized to sell, grant, and convey or to change the form of investments or control of any funds, securities or other property, provided such action is not inconsistent with the terms of the instrument under which the property may have been acquired.

The Board may confer the honorary degree of patron of letters on any person who has, in its opinion, made an outstanding contribution in the realm of history, or library or archival science.

§ 42.1-15.1. Qualifications required for library directors; certification; continuing education.

A. Public libraries serving a political subdivision or multiple subdivisions having over a population of more than 5,000 population , and libraries operated by the Commonwealth or under its authority, shall not use any public funds to employ, in the position of librarian or in any other full-time professional librarian position library director, a person who does not meet the qualifications established by the State Library Board in accordance with this section.

A professional librarian position as used in this section is one that requires a knowledge of books and of library technique equivalent to that required for graduation from any accredited library school or one that requires graduation from a school of library science accredited by the American Library Association.

No public funds shall be paid to any person whose employment does not comply with this section.

B. The State Library Board (the "Board") shall establish criteria for the certification of library directors to ensure an appropriate combination of training, education and experience in the operation of public libraries. The criteria shall include the following requirements: (i) a masters degree in library science or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university; (ii) a masters degree in History, English, Information Services, or any equivalent field relevant to library or archival science, combined with a minimum of one year of work experience as an employee or volunteer in a library or archival institution in a position requiring a knowledge of books and library services; or (iii) a minimum of seven years of work experience as an employee or volunteer in a library or archival institution in a position requiring a knowledge of books and library sciences. The criteria shall also establish the duration of the certification, the method of renewal of certification, and may provide for continuing education requirements as a prerequisite for renewal.

C. This section shall not apply to law libraries organized pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 42.1-60 et seq.) of this title, libraries in colleges and universities or to public school libraries.

D. For the purposes of this section, "library director" means a full-time, professional librarian who (i) possesses a knowledge of books and library sciences and (ii) is certified by the Board in accordance with this section.

2. That the State Library Board shall issue a provisional certification of library directors in accordance with the first enactment of this act for a period not to exceed one year from July 1, 2004, to allow an applicant to complete any of the required education or work experience necessary for certification. Provisional certification may also be granted to allow a public library to fill a vacant library director position on an interim basis on such terms and conditions as required by the State Library Board in accordance with this act.