NEW JERSEY LIBRARY NETWORK LAW
TITLE 18A. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 73. New Jersey State Museum under control of the Division of the State Museum.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35a: Short title
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Library Network Law.”
L.1983, c. 486, s.1, eff. Jan. 17, 1984.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35b: Findings, declarations concerning a Statewide library network.
2. The Legislature finds and declares that promoting cooperation among the various types of libraries in New Jersey will provide this State’s residents with full and equal access to library materials and programs not currently available within their communities; that increased cooperation and access will help control the cost of maintaining local libraries, while providing for improved services; that establishing a library network can best be accomplished by assisting libraries to form cooperatives on a regional basis and by having the State Library promote, coordinate and fund such cooperative efforts, as well as provide and coordinate library services on a Statewide basis.
L.1983, c.486, Amended by L.1986, c. 174, 1. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 13.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35c: Definitions relative to the library network.
As used in this act:
a. “President” means the President of Thomas Edison State College or the designee thereof,
b. “State Library” means the State’s research library and depository for State and federal documents affiliated with Thomas Edison State College;
c. “Library” means any library eligible for advisory service from the State Library as provided in subsection d. of section 20 of P.L.1969, c.158 (C.18A:73-35); any county audiovisual aids center established pursuant to N.J. S. 18A: 5 1 -1 et seq.; and any educational information and resource center established pursuant to P.L. 1983, c.486 (C. 18A:73-35a et seq.);
d. “Library region” means a geographic area designated by the State Librarian pursuant to this act within which libraries may establish a regional library cooperative;
e. “Library network” means all libraries in all regional library cooperatives, the State Library, and any library providing services to other libraries; and
f. “Regional library cooperative” means a membership organization of libraries within a library region which has agreed to provide and receive cooperative library services.
L.1983, c. 486, 3. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 14.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35d: Additional duties concerning the network.
In addition to the duties prescribed in section 20 of P.L.1969, c.158 (C.18A:73-35), the State Library shall establish, organize, supervise and fund the library network, as well as provide library services on a regional as well as a Statewide basis. To effectuate the purposes of this act, the State Library shall:
a. establish library regions to encompass all of the State’s territory;
b. provide for the creation, structure, funding, and governance of a regional library cooperative for each library region;
c. enter into contracts with any library or service-providing agency to provide cooperative library services to any members of the library network;
d. determine the kinds of cooperative services to be provided and received by members of the network; and
e. provide direct services to members of the network, on a regional as well as a Statewide basis.
L.1983, c. 486, 4. Amended by L.1986, c. 174, 2. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 15.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35e: Cooperative services
Any library eligible for participation in the library network is authorized to enter into agreements with other such libraries to provide and receive cooperative library services on a regional as well as Statewide basis. Libraries entering into an agreement pursuant to this act shall form an organization which may incorporate as a nonprofit corporation for the purposes of providing and receiving cooperative services on a regional as well as Statewide basis.
L.1983, c. 486, 5. Amended by L.1986, c. 174, 3.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35f: State funding restriction.
To provide an efficient and effective library network in accordance with objectives of this act, no regional library cooperative or any library with which the State Library contracts to provide cooperative services on a regional as well as a Statewide basis to the library network shall participate in any apportionment of State funds pursuant to this act unless it operates in compliance with the rules and regulations which have been, or may be, prescribed by law or promulgated by the State Librarian with the approval of the President of Thomas Edison State College.
L.1983, c. 486, 8. Amended by L.1986, c. 174, 4. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 16.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35g: Budget estimates.
On or before November 15 in each year, the State Librarian, with the approval of the President, shall estimate the amount necessary to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this act for the succeeding fiscal year and shall determine for budget purposes the amount estimated to be payable to each regional library cooperative or library with which the State Library contracts to provide cooperative service to the library network for that year and the amount necessary for supplemental library services provided directly. The amount requested for direct services shall not exceed 20% of the total amount appropriated. The State Librarian shall make such determination for budget purposes upon the basis of appropriations for library network purposes made by the Legislature in the current calendar year.
On or before September 15 of each succeeding year, the State Librarian shall make a final determination of the payments to be made under this act.
L.1983, c. 486, 9. Amended by L.1986, c. 174, 5. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 17.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35g1: Funding of library network.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, all funds previously appropriated to fund area libraries pursuant to N.J.S.18A:74-4 and research library centers pursuant to N.J. S. 18A:74-5 are appropriated to the State Library, for the purpose of funding the library network.
In succeeding fiscal years the State Librarian shall make the budget determinations required by section 9 of P.L. 1983, c.486 (C. 18A:73-35g), based on previous appropriations for library network purposes, which shall include the transfer of area library and research library center appropriations made pursuant to this section.
L.1986, c. 174, 8. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 18.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35h: Payments.
The sums payable pursuant to this act shall be payable on October 1 following the final determination in each year. Payments shall be made by Thomas Edison State College. Payment shall be made to the receiving officer designated by each regional library cooperative, each library with which the State Library contracts to provide cooperative service to the library network and to the State library for the cost of providing direct Statewide library services to the library network.
L.1983, c. 486, 10. Amended by L. 1986, c. 174, 6. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 19.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35i: Rules, regulations.
The State Librarian may, with the approval of the President, promulgate pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as the State Librarian deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
L.1983, c. 486, 11. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 20.
N.J.S.A. 18A:73-35j: Appropriations.
There shall be appropriated in the first fiscal year following the receipt by the Legislature of the first annual report and in each fiscal year thereafter following the receipt by the Legislature of each subsequent annual report required pursuant to section 6 of P.L. 1983, c.486 (C.18A:73-33.1), such sums as may be necessary for the operations of the library network. If the sums appropriated at any time are insufficient to carry out in full the provisions of this act, the President, with the approval of the Thomas Edison State College Board of Trustees, shall allocate such sums on a pro rata basis. A sum not to exceed 1% of such total or supplemental appropriation for the purposes of this act may be allocated for the administrative cost thereof.
L.1983, c. 486, 12. Amended by L.2001, c. 137, 21.
Last Updated: May 28, 2024.
