Chapter 3375 | Libraries

Section 3375.01 | State library board.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

A state library board is hereby created to be composed of five members to be appointed by the director of education and workforce. One member shall be appointed each year for a term of five years. No one is eligible to membership on the state library board who is or has been for a year previous to appointment a member of the state board of education. A member of the state library board shall not during the member's term of office be a member of the board of library trustees for any library in any subdivision in the state. Before entering on official duties, each member shall subscribe to the official oath of office. All vacancies on the state library board shall be filled by the director by appointment for the unexpired term. The members shall receive no compensation, but shall be paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties or in the conduct of authorized board business, within or without the state.

At its regular meeting next prior to the beginning of each fiscal biennium, the state library board shall elect a president and vice-president each of whom shall serve for two years or until a successor is elected and qualified.

The state library board is responsible for the state library of Ohio and a statewide program of development and coordination of library services, and its powers include the following:

(A) Maintain the state library, holding custody of books, periodicals, pamphlets, films, recordings, papers, and other materials and equipment. The board may purchase or procure from an insurance company licensed to do business in this state policies of insurance insuring the members of the board and the officers, employees, and agents of the state library against liability on account of damage or injury to persons or property resulting from any act or omission of the board members, officers, employees, and agents of the state library in their official capacity.

(B) Accept, receive, administer, and expend, in accordance with the terms thereof, any moneys, materials, or other aid granted, appropriated, or made available to it for library purposes, by the United States, or any of its agencies, or by any other source, public or private;

(C) Administer such funds as the general assembly may make available to it for the improvement of public library services, interlibrary cooperation, or for other library purposes;

(D) Contract with other agencies, organizations, libraries, library schools, boards of education, universities, public and private, within or without the state, for library services, facilities, research, or any allied or related purpose;

(E) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions for establishment of county district libraries, and approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions to determine the boundaries of such districts, along county lines or otherwise, and approve, disapprove, or modify resolutions to redefine boundaries, along county lines or otherwise, where questions subsequently arise as a result of school district consolidations;

(F) Upon consolidation of two or more school districts and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define and adjust the boundaries of the new public library district resulting from such consolidation and resolve any disputes or questions pertaining to the boundaries, organization, and operation of the new library district;

(G) Upon application of one or more boards of library trustees and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of the library districts making such application and the boundaries of adjacent library districts;

(H) Upon application of one or more boards of library trustees, or upon the state library board's own initiative, and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of overlapping library districts to eliminate areas of overlap;

(I) Upon application of any private corporation or library association maintaining a free public library prior to September 4, 1947, and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, define, amend, and adjust the boundaries of a library district for the private corporation or library association for the sole purpose of preventing or eliminating areas of overlap with other library districts in relation to tax levies described in sections 5705.19, 5705.191, and 5705.21 of the Revised Code that are or may be levied in support of the private corporation or library association;

(J) Certify its actions relating to boundaries authorized in this section, to boards of election, taxing authorities, the boards of trustees of libraries affected, and other appropriate bodies;

(K) Encourage and assist the efforts of libraries and local governments to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to library service problems;

(L) Recommend to the governor and to the general assembly such changes in the law as will strengthen and improve library services and operations;

(M) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt such rules as are necessary for the carrying out of any function imposed on it by law, and provide such rules as are necessary for its government and the government of its employees. The board may delegate to the state librarian the management and administration of any function imposed on it by law.

Last updated September 5, 2023 at 10:18 AM

Section 3375.011 | Free photocopy of driver's license or identification card.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

Any library organized under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code shall provide free of charge to any individual a photocopy of that individual's driver's license, temporary driver's permit, or state identification card, if the individual requests one.

Last updated September 9, 2021 at 12:31 PM

Section 3375.02 | Appointment of state librarian - duties.

• Effective: November 25, 1969
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 262 - 108th General Assembly

The state library board shall appoint a state librarian, who shall be the secretary of said board, and under the direction and supervision of the board shall be the executive officer of the state library, with power to appoint and remove the employees thereof. The state librarian shall:

(A) Administer the state library and execute the policies of the board in accordance with law;

(B) Provide technical assistance and maintain a clearing house of information, data, and other materials in the field of library service, furnishing advice and assistance to the public libraries in the various subdivisions of the state, other libraries, state, local and regional agencies, planning groups and other appropriate agencies and organizations;

(C) Collect, compile, and publish statistics and information concerning the operation of libraries in the state;

(D) Carry out continuing studies and analyses of library problems;

(E) Assist and cooperate with other state agencies and officials, with organizations, with local governments and with federal agencies in carrying out programs involving library service;

(F) Maintain a comprehensive collection of official documents and publications of this state and a library collection and reference service to meet the reference and information needs of officers, departments, agencies of state government, and other libraries;

(G) Issue official lists of publications of the state, and other bibliographical and informational publications as appropriate;

(H) Withdraw books and materials from the collection and determine method of disposition of any items no longer needed.

The state librarian shall hold office during the pleasure of the board.

Section 3375.04 | Control and management of state library.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The state library shall be under the control and management of the state library board. The board shall make and publish such rules and regulations for the operation and management of the library and for the use and location of the books and other property thereof as it deems necessary. The board may establish such divisions and departments within the library as it deems necessary, and shall determine the number of the employees therein.

Section 3375.05 | Application for establishment of library stations, branches, or traveling library service.

• Effective: June 26, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of any public library receiving money from a county's public library fund that desires to render public library service by means of branches, library stations, or traveling library service to the inhabitants of any school district, other than a school district situated within the territorial boundaries of the subdivision or district over which said board has jurisdiction of free public library service, may make application to the state library board before January 1, 2014, upon forms provided by the board, for the establishment of such service. The application shall set forth the total number of people being served by the library on the date of the application; an inventory of the books owned by the library; the number of branches, library stations, and traveling library service maintained by the library on the date of the application; the number and classification of the employees of the library, and other information as the state library board deems pertinent. The application shall be accompanied by a financial statement of the library making the application, covering the two fiscal years next preceding the date of the application.

(B) Upon receipt of the application by the state library board, the state librarian, or an employee of the state library board designated by such librarian, shall visit the library making the application for the purpose of determining whether or not the establishment of branches, library stations, or traveling library service as requested in the application will promote better library service in the district covered by the application. Upon the completion of the inspection, the librarian, or the person designated by the librarian to make the inspection, shall prepare a written report setting forth the librarian's or designee's recommendations pertaining to the establishment of the branches, library stations, or traveling library service as set forth in the application. The report shall be submitted to the state library board within ninety days after the receipt of the application by the state library board.

(C) Within thirty days after the report has been filed with the state library board, the board shall either approve or disapprove, in whole or in part, the establishment of branches, library stations, or traveling library service as requested in the application. No approvals may be made under this section by the state library board on or after January 1, 2015. The decision of the state library board shall be final. Within ten days after final action upon the application has been taken by the state library board, the librarian shall notify in writing the board of trustees of the public library making the application of the decision of the state library board.

(D) The state library board may withdraw its approval of library service rendered by any library to the inhabitants of a school district other than the school district in which the main library of the library is located. At least thirty days before the approval of such service may be withdrawn, the state library board shall give written notice to the board of trustees of the library rendering the service and to the board of education of the school district to which such service is being rendered. The notice shall set forth the reasons for the withdrawal of the approval of such service. If the board of trustees of the library rendering such service, or the board of education of a school district to which such service is being rendered, objects to the withdrawal of the approval it may, within twenty days of the receipt of the notice, request, in writing, that the state library board hold a hearing for the purpose of hearing protests to the withdrawal of the approval. Upon the receipt of the request, the state library board shall set the time and place of the hearing, which shall be held within the territorial boundaries of the school district being served by the branch, library station, or traveling library service whose continued operation is in question. The hearing shall be held not less than thirty days after the receipt by the state library board of the request for a hearing. The state library board shall take no action on the withdrawal of approval of such service until after holding the hearing. The decision of the state library board shall be final.

(E) All approvals previously granted under this section are void on January 1, 2015.

Section 3375.06 | County free public library - appointment of trustees.

• Effective: January 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

In any county in which the board of county commissioners has accepted a gift or bequest pursuant to volume 122, Ohio Laws, page 166, section I at "Sec. 2454," a county free public library shall be established for the use of all of the inhabitants of the county. Such library shall be under the control and management of a board of library trustees consisting of seven members. The trustees shall be qualified electors of the county and shall be appointed by the court of common pleas of the county in which the library is situated. Board members shall serve for a term of six years, but the initial term of the seventh board member may be for the number of years set by the court, not to exceed six years. All vacancies on the board of library trustees shall be filled by the court by appointment for the unexpired term. The members of the board of library trustees shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The board of library trustees shall organize as provided by section 3375.32 of the Revised Code. The board of library trustees shall have the control and management of the county free public library, and in the exercise of the control and management shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41 of the Revised Code. This section does not affect the term of any member of a board of library trustees of a county free public library appointed prior to January 1, 2013.

Section 3375.07 | Tax levy for maintenance of county free public library.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners of any county in which there has been created a county free public library, pursuant to section 3375.06 of the Revised Code, may, at its June session each year, levy a tax not to exceed one mill on each dollar of taxable property in such county for the purpose of maintaining the library. The proceeds of such tax levy shall be paid over by the county treasurer to the treasurer of the board of trustees of the county free public library.

Section 3375.08 | Board of county commissioners may transfer, convey, or lease property for library purposes.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners may, by resolution, transfer, convey, or lease any property of the county, real or personal, suitable for public library purposes, to the board of trustees of any free public library rendering free public library service to all the inhabitants of the county, upon such terms as are agreed upon between the board of county commissioners and the board of library trustees of the library rendering such service.

Section 3375.09 | Tax levy by board of township trustees for maintenance of library.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any township where a public library has been created by a vote of the electors thereof, prior to September 4, 1947, the board of township trustees may, annually, levy upon all the taxable property of such township a tax not exceeding one mill on the dollar valuation thereof to maintain such library and to procure suitable rooms therefor.

Section 3375.10 | Township free public library - appointment of trustees.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any township in which there has been established by a vote of the electors of such township, prior to September 4, 1947, a free public library, such library shall be under the control and management of a board of trustees consisting of three members to be appointed by the board of township trustees. Such members shall be qualified electors of the township. All vacancies on such board of trustees shall be filled by the board of township trustees by appointment. The members of such board of trustees shall serve without compensation. Such board of trustees shall organize in accordance with section 3375.32 of the Revised Code and shall have the control and management of the township free public library. In the exercise of such control and management the board of trustees shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code. This section does not affect the term of any member of a board of library trustees of a township free public library appointed prior to September 4, 1947.

Section 3375.11 | Board of township trustees may transfer, convey, or lease property for library purposes.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of township trustees may, by resolution, transfer, convey, or lease any property of the township, real or personal, suitable for public library purposes to the board of trustees of any free public library rendering free public library service to the inhabitants of the township, upon such terms as are agreed upon between the board of township trustees and the board of trustees of the library rendering such service.

Section 3375.12 | Municipal free public libraries - appointment of trustees.

• Effective: January 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

Except as provided in section 3375.13 of the Revised Code, the erection and equipment and the custody, control, and administration of free public libraries established by municipal corporations shall be vested in a board of library trustees composed of seven members. The trustees shall be appointed by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, to serve without compensation, for a term of four years, but the initial term of the seventh trustee may be for the number of years set by the legislative authority, not to exceed four years. Vacancies shall be filled by like appointment for the unexpired term. The board shall organize in accordance with section 3375.32 of the Revised Code. In the exercise of its control and management of the municipal free public library, except as provided in section 3375.13 of the Revised Code, the board shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41 of the Revised Code. This section does not affect the term of any member of the board appointed prior to January 1, 2013.

Section 3375.121 | Municipal library district created.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 500 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) In any municipal corporation, not located in a county library district, that has a population of not less than twenty-five thousand, and within which there is not located a main library of a township, municipal, school district, association, or county free public library, a library district may be created by a resolution adopted by the legislative authority of that municipal corporation. No such resolution shall be adopted after one year from June 20, 1977. Upon the adoption of the resolution, any branches of an existing library that are located in that municipal corporation shall become the property of the municipal library district created.

The municipal corporation and the board of trustees of the public library maintaining any existing branches in that municipal corporation shall forthwith take appropriate action transferring all title and interest in all real and personal property located in that municipal corporation in the name of the library district maintaining those branches in that municipal corporation to the municipal corporation adopting the appropriate resolution. Upon transfer of all title and interest in that property, the branches shall become a part of, and be operated by, the board of library trustees appointed by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

(B) In any municipal corporation that has a population of less than twenty-five thousand and that has not less than one hundred thousand dollars available from a bequest for the establishment of a municipal library, the legislative authority of that municipal corporation may adopt, within one year after June 20, 1977, a resolution creating a library district. Upon the establishment of any such library district, the board of trustees of any library operating a branch library in that municipal corporation shall not be required to transfer any property to the newly established library.

(C) The board of library trustees of any library district created under this section shall be composed of seven members. Those trustees shall be appointed by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, to serve without compensation, for a term of four years, but the initial term of the seventh trustee may be for the number of years set by the legislative authority, not to exceed four years. Vacancies shall be filled by like appointment for the unexpired term. This section does not affect the term of any trustee appointed prior to January 1, 2013. A library district created under this section shall be governed in accordance with and exercise the authority provided for in sections 3375.32 to 3375.41 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3.24 of the Revised Code, the chairperson of a board of township trustees may administer the oath of office to a person or persons representing the township on the board of library trustees of any library district created under this section, even if the geographical limits of the library district do not fall within the geographical limits of the township.

(D) Any library district created under this section is eligible to participate in the proceeds of the county public library fund in accordance with section 5705.28 of the Revised Code.

(E) A municipal corporation may establish and operate a free public library regardless of whether the municipal corporation is located in a county library district or school library district, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The facility in which the library is principally located is transferred to the municipal corporation from the county library district or school library district in which it is located prior to January 1, 1996.

(2) The population of the municipal corporation is less than five hundred when the library is transferred from the county library district or school library district to the municipal corporation.

(3) The municipal corporation does not establish a municipal library district under this section.

(4) The library does not receive any proceeds from the county public library fund under section 5747.48 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.13 | Issuance of bonds - control of property vested in board of library trustees of municipal corporation - agreement with library organization.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any municipal corporation where there is a library organization created by will or otherwise for the purpose of maintaining in perpetuity a public library, and such organization is endowed and owns and maintains a library, the board of library trustees mentioned in section 3375.12 of the Revised Code may request the taxing authority of the municipal corporation to submit to the electors the question of issuing bonds, in accordance with section 3375.43 of the Revised Code for the purpose of purchasing, erecting, constructing, enlarging, extending, or improving a building for library purposes, including a site therefor, and equipping and furnishing the same. The acquisition of such improvement, including the maintenance and control of the building and property acquired, shall be vested in such board. Such board may enter into an agreement in writing with such library organization whereby said library organization may occupy all or a part of such building, and conduct, operate, and maintain therein a free public library, the period of each such agreement to be not less than ten nor more than twenty-five years. Such library organization shall administer, operate, and control such library in accordance with said agreement and in terms of the trust creating such organization, providing such library is free to all the inhabitants of the municipal corporation. Such board may enter into a similar agreement with any historical or other educational association whereby a part of said building may be used by such organization for the housing and displaying of its property and effects, providing the same is free to all the inhabitants of the municipal corporation.

Section 3375.14 | School libraries.

• Effective: November 9, 1959
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 140 - 103rd General Assembly

The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district may provide for the establishment, control, and maintenance of school libraries for the purpose of providing school library service to the pupils under its jurisdiction. Such board of education may contract with any public board, association, or other organization operating a public library in a community to furnish such school library service, the board of education paying all or such part of the expense thereof, including the salaries of school librarians, as compensation for the service rendered, as the two boards shall agree upon as terms of the contract, provided that nothing in this section shall prevent such public board, association, or other organization operating a public library from providing classroom collections, operating bookmobiles, branches, or the main library of a public library, notwithstanding the fact that such branches or main library may be located within a school building.

Such board of education may purchase, erect, construct, enlarge, extend, or improve buildings for library purposes, including sites therefor, and equip and furnish such buildings.

Section 3375.15 | School district free public library - appointment of trustees.

• Effective: June 26, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

(A) In any school district in which a free public library has been established by resolution adopted by the board of education of such school district prior to September 4, 1947, or by resolution adopted by the board of education of such school district under section 3375.151 of the Revised Code after the effective date of this amendment but prior to January 1, 2014, such library shall be under the control and management of a board of library trustees consisting of seven members. No one is eligible to membership on such board of library trustees who is or has been for a year previous to appointment a member of a board of education making such appointment. A majority of the trustees shall be qualified electors of the school district, but a minority may be qualified electors of the county who reside outside the school district, and all shall be appointed by the board of education of the school district.

(B) The trustees shall serve for a term of seven years and without compensation. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all vacancies on the board of library trustees shall be filled by the board of education by appointment for the unexpired term. The board of library trustees shall organize in accordance with section 3375.32 of the Revised Code. The board of library trustees shall have the control and management of the school district free public library and in the exercise of such control and management shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41 of the Revised Code. This section does not affect the term of any member of a board of library trustees of a school district free public library appointed prior to September 4, 1947.

(C) The board of education shall make appointments to the board of library trustees not later than forty-five days after the date a member's term expires or after the date a vacancy occurs, whichever is applicable. If the board of education does not make an appointment by that time, the appointment shall be made within the next fourteen days by the probate court of the county in which the library is situated.

Section 3375.151 | Acceptance of bequest, gift, or endowment for school district free public library.

• Effective: June 26, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

At any time after the effective date of this section but prior to January 1, 2014, the board of education of any school district in which a free public library has not previously been established may receive a bequest, gift, or endowment of a building, money, or property, or any combination thereof, from an incorporated or unincorporated library association whose main library is located within the school district, that was organized and operating before January 1, 1968, that participates in the distribution of the proceeds of the county public library fund, and that has had a library district defined for it by the state library board under section 3375.01 of the Revised Code. The bequest, gift, or endowment shall be used to construct a building for, or to furnish, equip, or operate, a school district free public library.

At any time after the effective date of this section but prior to January 1, 2014, the board of education, by resolution, may accept the bequest, gift, or endowment and agree on behalf of the school district to establish, provide, and maintain a school district free public library. No library association that has made a bequest, gift, or endowment under this section shall thereafter receive proceeds from the county public library fund or from any funds appropriated or taxes levied under section 3375.42 of the Revised Code. The library district for the newly established school district free public library shall be the library district previously established by the state library board for the library association.

Section 3375.16 | Board of education may transfer, convey, or lease property for library purposes.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of education of any school district may, by resolution, transfer, convey, or lease any property of the school district, real or personal, suitable for public library purposes to the board of trustees of any free public library rendering free public library service to the inhabitants of the school district, upon such terms as are agreed upon between the board of education and the board of trustees of the library rendering such service.

Last updated April 28, 2021 at 7:26 PM

Section 3375.17 | Tax levy by board of education for operation of library.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of library trustees of a school district free public library may annually, during the month of May, certify to the board of education of the school district the amount of money required to maintain and operate said library during the ensuing year and the amount of revenue anticipated from all sources other than a tax levy on the taxable property of said school district. The board of education may annually levy a tax on the taxable property of the school district, not to exceed one and one-half mills, for the purposes of providing funds for library operation pursuant to said certification. The tax so levied shall be in addition to all other levies authorized by law.

The proceeds of such tax levy shall be paid by the county treasurer to the treasurer of the board of library trustees.

Section 3375.18 | Board of education may provide building or property for public library service.

• Effective: July 20, 1967
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 161 - 107th General Assembly

The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district may purchase, erect, construct, enlarge, improve, equip, and furnish buildings, and acquire real estate and interests in real estate therefor, for the purpose of rendering free library service to the inhabitants of said school district, which library facilities shall be operated by the board of library trustees of such school district if a free public library was established by the board of education of such school district prior to September 4, 1947, or otherwise may be operated, under conveyance, lease, or otherwise, by the board of trustees of any free public library, library association, or corporation upon such terms as they may agree upon, provided, that the board of education of the school district finds and determines that such operation by such board of trustees will be beneficial to the school district and the residents thereof.

Section 3375.19 | County library district.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

In each county there may be created a county library district composed of all the local, exempted village, and city school districts in the county which are not within the territorial boundaries of an existing township, school district, municipal, county district, or county free public library, by one of the following methods:

(A) The board of county commissioners may initiate the creation of such a county library district by adopting a resolution providing for the submission of the question of creating a county library district to the electors of such proposed district. Such resolution shall define the territory to be included in such district by listing the school districts which will compose the proposed county library district.

(B) The board of county commissioners shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by no less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the proposed county library district voting at the last general election, adopt a resolution providing for the submission of the question of creating a county library district to the electors of the proposed district. Such resolution shall define the territory to be included in such district by listing the school districts which will compose the proposed county library district.

Upon adoption of such a resolution authorized in either division (A) or (B) of this section the board of county commissioners shall cause a certified copy of it to be filed with the board of elections of the county prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the creation of such county library district to the electors of the territory comprising such proposed district at the succeeding November election.

If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of creating such proposed district, vote in the affirmative such district shall be created.

Section 3375.20 | Resolution by boards of library trustees requesting formation of county library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any county in which there is not in existence a county library district and in which all of the local, exempted village, and city school districts in the county, in which there is not located a main library of a township, municipal, school district, association, or county free public library, are receiving approved service from one or more of such libraries, there may be created a county library district.

The boards of trustees of the library or libraries providing approved library service to the school districts in the county in which there is not located a main library of a township, municipal, school district, or county free public library may adopt a resolution requesting the formation of a county library district composed of all of the school districts being served by such library or libraries. Such resolution or resolutions shall set forth the school districts to be included in the proposed county library district and it shall be submitted to the taxing authority of the subdivision or subdivisions having jurisdiction over the library or libraries requesting the formation of such proposed library district.

Within thirty days after the receipt of such resolution by the taxing authority of a subdivision it shall either approve or disapprove the formation of the proposed county library district as set forth in said resolution. Within ten days after a taxing authority has either approved or disapproved the formation of a proposed county library district it shall notify the board of county commissioners of the county in which such proposed library is to be situated of its action.

If all of the taxing authorities to which such proposal has been submitted approve of the creation of such county library district, such district is created and the board of county commissioners shall immediately notify the boards of library trustees initiating such proposed county library district and the taxing authorities which approve the formation of such county library district that such county library district has been created.

Upon receipt of such notice from the board of county commissioners the boards of library trustees initiating such proposed county library district and the taxing authorities which approve the creation of such county library district shall take appropriate action transferring all title to the interest in all property, both real and personal, in the name of the public libraries under their jurisdiction to the board of trustees of the county library district.

For the purposes of this section the board of county commissioners is the taxing authority of an association library.

Section 3375.201 | Election on creating county district library.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

The taxing authority of a subdivision maintaining a free public library which is providing approved library service and whose board of library trustees therefore is qualified under section 3375.20 of the Revised Code to request the formation of a county library district shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the subdivision voting at the last general election, adopt a resolution providing for the submission of the question, "Shall the free public library of the subdivision become a county district library?". The taxing authority shall cause a certified copy of it to be filed with the board of elections of the county prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the creation of such county district library to the electors of the subdivision maintaining said free public library at the succeeding November election.

If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of creating such county district library, vote in the affirmative, the board of trustees of the library and the taxing authority of the subdivision shall establish a county library district in the manner prescribed in section 3375.20 of the Revised Code, by adopting and approving the resolution so authorized.

Section 3375.21 | Resolution for inclusion of subdivision in county library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any county in which there has been created a county library district, the taxing authority of any subdivision of the county not inincluded in said library district and maintaining a free public library for the inhabitants thereof may, upon request of the board of trustees of said free public library, adopt a resolution providing for the inclusion of said subdivision in said library district. Upon the adoption of such a resolution, the taxing authority of the subdivision and the board of trustees of the free public library shall take appropriate action transferring all title and interest in all property, both real and personal, in the name of said free public library to the board of trustees of the county library district. Upon the transfer of such title and interest in such property said subdivision shall become part of the county library district.

Section 3375.211 | Submission of resolution to electors.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

The taxing authority of any subdivision maintaining a free public library for the inhabitants thereof and whose board of library trustees is qualified under section 3375.21 of the Revised Code to request inclusion of the subdivision in a county library district shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least ten per cent of the qualified electors of the subdivision voting at the last general election, adopt a resolution providing for the submission of the question of the inclusion of the subdivision in such county library district to the electors of the subdivision.

The taxing authority shall cause a certified copy of the resolution to be filed with the board of elections of the county prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the inclusion of the subdivision in such county library district to the electors of the subdivision at the succeeding November election.

If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of including the subdivision in such county library district, vote in the affirmative, the taxing authority of the subdivision and the board of trustees of the free public library shall include the subdivision in the county library district in the manner prescribed in section 3375.20 of the Revised Code by adopting and approving the resolutions so authorized.

Unless more than thirty per cent of the votes cast on the question of including the subdivision in the county library district are in the affirmative, the same issue shall not be submitted to the electors of the subdivision for three years following an election in which the question was defeated.

Section 3375.212 | Consolidation with another subdivision.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

The board of public library trustees of a county library district, appointed under section 3375.22 of the Revised Code, may consolidate with another subdivision in the county maintaining a free public library. Such consolidation may be accomplished by one of the following procedures:

(A) The board of public library trustees of the county library district may submit a resolution to the board of library trustees of such subdivision requesting such consolidation. The library trustees of the subdivision within thirty days of receipt of the resolution shall approve or reject such resolution; and, if approved shall forward the resolution together with a certification of its action to the taxing authority of said subdivision. Said taxing authority within thirty days of receipt of such resolution and certification shall approve or reject it and so notify the board of library trustees of the county district library and the board of county commissioners.

(B) Upon receipt of such resolution, under division (A) of this section the board of library trustees of the subdivision may request the taxing authority of the subdivision to adopt a resolution providing for the submission of the question of consolidation to the electors of the subdivision.

The taxing authority in turn shall adopt such a resolution and shall cause a certified copy of the resolution to be filed with the board of elections of the county prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the subdivision at the succeeding November election.

(C) The board of county commissioners and the taxing authority of the subdivision, upon receipt of petitions signed by not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors in the county library district and not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the subdivision, voting at the last general election, shall adopt resolutions providing for the submission of the question of consolidation to the electors of the county library district and of the subdivision.

Each taxing authority in turn shall cause a certified copy of its resolution to be filed with the board of elections of the county prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the consolidation of the county library district and the subdivision to the electors of the county library district and of the subdivision at the succeeding November election.

If under division (A) of this section the board of library trustees and the taxing authority of said subdivision approve the request for consolidation, or if under division (B) of this section a majority of the electors of the subdivision vote in favor of the consolidation, or if under division (C) of this section a majority of the electors of the county library district and a majority of the electors of the subdivision vote in favor of the consolidation, such consolidation shall take place. The taxing authority of the subdivision or the board of elections, whichever the case may be, shall notify the county commissioners and the respective library boards.

The board of library trustees of the county library district, the board of library trustees of the subdivision and their respective taxing authorities shall take appropriate action during the succeeding December, transferring all title and interest in all property, both real and personal, held in the names of said library boards to the board of trustees of the consolidated county library district, effective the second Monday of the succeeding January.

The board of library trustees of the county library district and the board of library trustees of the subdivision shall meet jointly on the second Monday of the succeeding January.

Acting as a board of the whole, the two boards shall become the interim board of library trustees of the consolidated county library district whose terms shall expire the second Monday of the second January succeeding the election at which the consolidation was approved. The board shall organize itself under section 3375.32 of the Revised Code and shall have the same powers, rights, and limitations in law as does a board of library trustees appointed under section 3375.22 of the Revised Code. In the event of a vacancy on the interim board the appointment shall be made by the same taxing authority which appointed the trustee whose place had become vacant and shall be only for the period in which the interim board is in existence.

At least thirty days prior to the second Monday of the second January succeeding the election at which the consolidation was approved, the board shall request the county commissioners and the judges of the court of common pleas to appoint a regular board of library trustees of seven members under the provisions of section 3375.22 of the Revised Code. The terms of said trustees shall commence on the second Monday of the January last referred to above. The control and management of such consolidated county library district shall continue to be under section 3375.22 of the Revised Code.

For the purposes of this section, whenever a county library district is consolidated with a subdivision other than a school district, the area comprising the school district in which the main library of said subdivision is located shall become a part of the county library district.

Section 3375.213 | Assets, liabilities and levies.

• Effective: August 17, 1961
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 84 - 104th General Assembly

Whenever a county library district has been created, or enlarged, under sections 3375.20, 3375.201, 3375.21, 3375.211, or 3375.212 of the Revised Code, all assets and liabilities of the former board of trustees of the library or libraries of the subdivisions which comprise said county library district shall become those of the county library district.

Any levies which the taxing authorities of such subdivision or of the former county library district have been authorized by the electors of the subdivision or of the former county library district to make for the payment of current expenses, interest, and retirement of bonds, or any other indebtedness of said boards of trustees shall thereafter be made upon the taxable property of all of the new or enlarged county library district and at such lesser rate as is necessary for the payment of such expenses, bonds, or indebtedness.

Section 3375.22 | County library district - appointment of trustees.

• Effective: June 13, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 786 - 109th General Assembly

In any county in which there has been created a county library district, the free public library of said district shall be under the control and management of a board of library trustees consisting of seven members. Such trustees shall be qualified electors of the library district or county. Three shall be appointed by the judges of the court of common pleas and four shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners of the county in which said district is situated. The term of office of said trustees shall be seven years, except that at the first appointment the terms of those appointed by the judges shall expire in two, four, and six years respectively, and the terms of those appointed by the board of county commissioners shall expire in one, three, five, and seven years respectively. Any appointment made to fill a vacancy shall be made by the same body which appointed the trustee whose place has become vacant and shall be for his unexpired term. The successor of any trustee of any county library district shall be appointed by the same board or officers which appointed his predecessor and all subsequent appointments shall be for seven years. The members of such board of library trustees shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such board of library trustees shall organize in accordance with section 3375.32 of the Revised Code. Such board of library trustees shall have the control and management of the county district free public library and in the exercise of such control and management shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.23 | Tax levy by board of county commissioners for county library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of library trustees of a county library district may annually, during the month of May, certify to the board of county commissioners of the county in which such district is situated the amount of money required to maintain and operate the free public library during the ensuing year and the amount of revenue anticipated from all sources other than a tax levy on the taxable property of said district. The board of county commissioners may annually levy a tax on the taxable property of the district not to exceed one mill for the purpose of providing funds for library operation pursuant to said certification. The tax so levied shall be in addition to all other levies authorized by law.

Section 3375.24 | Notes and bonds may be issued by board of county commissioners - sale of real property.

• Effective: October 30, 1989
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 230 - 118th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners of any county which has a county library district constitutes the taxing authority of such district and may issue notes and bonds of such district under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, for the acquisition of land and the construction of buildings and equipment of one or more buildings, but no notes or bonds shall be issued for such purpose except in accordance with the vote of the electors of such district. The proceeds of the sale of any former site, including land or buildings, or both, belonging to the district, may be applied to reduce the amount of the bonds ultimately issued to refund the notes issued under such section. All funds provided by the issue of county bonds or notes, or in any other manner, for the acquisition of property and the construction and equipment of library buildings shall be deposited in a special library fund, which shall be expended only on the order of the board of library trustees of the county library district, to be handled and disbursed in the same manner as other funds of the district. The title of all property so acquired shall be held by the board of library trustees of the county library district, and section 307.03 of the Revised Code shall not apply.

Section 3375.28 | Creation of regional library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners of two or more contiguous counties may by joint resolution create a regional library district and may provide for the establishment, control, and maintenance in such district of a free public library.

Such district shall contain the territory of all school districts of such counties outside the territorial boundaries of a subdivision or district maintaining a free public library, including the territory of any such subdivision or district maintaining a free public library and petitioning to become a part of such regional library district pursuant to section 3375.29 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.29 | Resolution by taxing authority for inclusion in regional library district - transfer of title.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any county comprising a part of a regional library district or in any county contiguous to such a county in which there has been created a regional library district, the taxing authority of any subdivision of the county, not included in said district and maintaining a free public library for the inhabitants thereof, may, upon request of the board of trustees of said free public library, adopt a resolution providing for the inclusion of said subdivision in the regional library district. Upon the adoption of such a resolution, the taxing authority and the board of trustees of the free public library shall take appropriate action transferring all title and interest in all property, both real and personal, in the name of said free public library to the board of library trustees of the regional library district. Upon the transfer of such title and interest in such property said subdivision shall become part of the regional library district.

Section 3375.30 | Appointment, term, and compensation of board of library trustees of a regional library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In any two or more contiguous counties in which there has been created a regional library district, there shall be a board of library trustees consisting of seven members. Such trustees shall be qualified electors of the district. The first appointments to such board of library trustees shall be made by the boards of county commissioners of such counties in joint meeting. Thereafter each appointment to fill an expiring term shall be made by the board of county commissioners of a participating county in the rotating order represented by the alphabetical arrangement of the names of the counties. The term of office of said trustees shall be seven years, except that at the first appointment the terms must be such that one member retires each year. Any appointment made to fill a vacancy shall be made by the same body which appointed the trustee whose place has become vacant and shall be for his unexpired term. The members of such board of library trustees shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such board of library trustees shall organize in accordance with section 3375.32 of the Revised Code. Such board of library trustees shall have the control and management of the regional district free public library and in exercise of such control and management shall be governed by sections 3375.33 to 3375.41, inclusive, and section 3375.19 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.31 | Tax levy by board of county commissioners for regional library district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of library trustees of a regional library district may annually, during the month of May, certify to the boards of county commissioners of counties in such district the amount of revenue anticipated from all sources other than a tax levy on the taxable property of such district. The boards of county commissioners may annually levy a tax on the taxable property of such district situated within their respective counties, not to exceed one mill, for the purpose of providing funds for library operation pursuant to said certification.

Section 3375.32 | Meeting of boards of library trustees - organization - election of clerk - bond.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 291 - 132nd General Assembly

Each board of library trustees appointed pursuant to sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code shall meet not later than January of each year and may meet in December of the preceding year and organize by selecting from its membership a president, a vice-president, and a secretary who shall serve for a term of one year commencing the later of the first day of January or the date of selection. At the same meeting, each board shall elect and fix the compensation of a fiscal officer, who may be a member of the board, and who shall serve for a term of one year commencing the later of the first day of January or the date of election. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, the fiscal officer, before entering upon official duties, shall execute a bond in an amount and with surety to be approved by the board, payable to the board, and conditioned for the faithful performance of the official duties required of the fiscal officer.

Section 3375.33 | Boards of library trustees are bodies politic and corporate.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The boards of library trustees appointed pursuant to sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code are bodies politic and corporate, and as such are capable of suing and being sued, contracting, acquring, holding, possessing, and disposing of real and personal property, and of exercising such other powers and privileges as are conferred upon them by law.

Section 3375.34 | Name of board of library trustees.

• Effective: August 22, 1980
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 847 - 113th General Assembly

The board of trustees of a free public library, appointed pursuant to sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code, shall designate the name under which it may acquire or convey property, contract, sue or be sued, or perform any other official act. If the board does not designate a name, the library shall be known as the ______________ public library, with the blank being filled in with the name of the subdivision which created the library.

Section 3375.35 | Rules of procedure - annual report.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

Each board of library trustees appointed pursuant to sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code shall, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it, be governed by this section. For the purpose of transacting any business a quorum is a majority of the full membership of the board. The purchase of any real property requires a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the board making such purchase. All conveyances of real property shall be executed by the president and the secretary of the board making such conveyance. Except as provided in section 3375.351 of the Revised Code, no moneys credited to a free public library shall be paid out except on a check signed by the fiscal officer of the board having jurisdiction over said moneys and the president, vice-president, or secretary of said board. Each board of library trustees shall, at the end of each fiscal year, transmit on forms provided by the state library board to the state librarian and officer or board which appointed said board of library trustees a report of the activities of said board of library trustees during said year. Such report shall include a complete financial statement showing the receipts and expenditures in detail of all library funds for the entire fiscal year made by such board of library trustees. No member of a board of library trustees shall have any pecuniary interest in any contract entered into by such board.

Section 3375.351 | Payment of employees by direct deposit.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

The fiscal officer of each board of library trustees appointed under section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code may pay the compensation of each employee of the library under the board's jurisdiction by direct deposit, as defined in section 131.01 of the Revised Code. If direct deposit is chosen as the desired form of compensation by the board of library trustees for its employees, each employee shall provide to the fiscal officer a written authorization for payment by direct deposit. The authorization shall include the designation of a financial institution equipped to accept direct deposits and the number of the account into which the deposit is to be made. The authorization shall remain in effect until withdrawn in writing by the employee or until dishonored by the financial institution.

Section 3375.36 | Treasurer of library funds - deposits of moneys - monthly statement - financial statement.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

The fiscal officer of the board of library trustees of a free public library shall be the treasurer of the library funds. All moneys received by the fiscal officer for library purposes shall be immediately placed by the fiscal officer in a depository designated by the board. The fiscal officer shall keep an account of the funds credited to the board. The fiscal officer shall render a statement to the board monthly showing the revenues and receipts from whatever sources derived, the disbursements and the purposes for such disbursements, and the assets and liabilities of the board. At the end of each fiscal year the fiscal officer shall submit to the board a complete financial statement showing the receipts and expenditures in detail for the entire fiscal year. The board of library trustees of a free public library may appoint a deputy fiscal officer, for a term of one year, and may authorize such deputy to receive and disburse library funds. Such deputy, before entering upon official duties, shall execute a bond in an amount and with surety to be approved by the board, payable to the board, and conditioned for the faithful performance of the official duties required of the deputy.

Section 3375.361 | Liability for loss of public funds.

• Effective: September 13, 2022
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 15 - 134th General Assembly

A fiscal officer or deputy fiscal officer of the board of library trustees of a free public library shall not be held liable for a loss of public funds when the fiscal officer or deputy fiscal officer has performed all official duties required of the fiscal officer or deputy fiscal officer with reasonable care, but shall be liable only when a loss of public funds results from the fiscal officer's or deputy fiscal officer's negligence or other wrongful act.

Last updated June 30, 2022 at 5:15 PM

Section 3375.37 | Statement filed with county auditor.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

Before giving the fiscal officer of a board of library trustees of a free public library a warrant for funds due such board, the county auditor shall require the fiscal officer to file with the auditor a statement showing the amount of funds on hand, available for expenditure by the board, according to the books of the fiscal officer and the books of the depository designated by the board. Such statement shall indicate that the fiscal officer's books are in exact balance with the depository accounts and shall be certified to by the fiscal officer and proper officer of the depository.

Section 3375.38 | Compliance with duties relating to moneys credited to board of library trustees.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

All the duties required of the county auditor, county treasurer, or other officer or person relating to the moneys to the credit of or to be credited to a board of library trustees of a free public library shall be complied with by dealing with the fiscal officer of such board.

Section 3375.39 | Accounting by clerk - count and certificate.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

At the expiration of the term of a fiscal officer of a board of library trustees of a free public library or before such board approves the surety of any fiscal officer, such board shall require the fiscal officer to produce all money, bonds, or other securities in the fiscal officer's hands, which shall then be counted by the board or a committee of the board, or by a representative of the auditor of state. A certificate setting forth the exact amount of such money, bonds, or other securities and signed by the representatives making such count shall be entered upon the records of the board and shall be prima-facie evidence that the amount stated in such certificate is actually in the treasury at that date.

Section 3375.391 | Treasurer to credit earnings on investments.

• Effective: March 30, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 674 - 122nd General Assembly

The board of library trustees of any free public library district may adopt a resolution requiring the treasurer of the district to credit the earnings made on the investment of the principal of the moneys specified in the resolution to the fund from which the earnings arose or any other fund of the district as the board specifies in its resolution.

This section does not apply to the earnings made on the investment of any bond retirement fund or any sinking fund.

Section 3375.392 | Policies for use of credit card accounts.

• Effective: November 2, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 312 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Not later than three months after the effective date of this amendment, a board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code of a free public library or library district that holds a credit card account on the effective date of this amendment shall adopt a written policy for the use of credit card accounts. Otherwise, a board shall adopt a written policy before first holding a credit card account.

The policy shall include provisions addressing all of the following:

(1) The officers, positions, or appointees authorized to use credit card accounts;

(2) The types of expenses for which a credit card account may be used;

(3) The procedure for acquisition, use, and management of a credit card account and presentation instruments related to the account including cards and checks;

(4) The procedure for submitting itemized receipts to the fiscal officer or the fiscal officer's designee;

(5) The procedure for credit card issuance, credit card reissuance, credit card cancellation, and the process for reporting lost or stolen credit cards;

(6) The library's or district's credit card account's maximum credit limit or limits;

(7) The actions or omissions by an officer, employee, or appointee that qualify as misuse of a credit card account.

(B) The name of the free public library or library district shall appear on each presentation instrument related to the account including cards and checks.

(C) If the fiscal officer of a free public library or library district does not retain general possession and control of the credit card account and presentation instruments related to the account including cards and checks, the board shall appoint a compliance officer to perform the duties enumerated under division (D) of this section. The compliance officer may use a credit card account only upon authority from the fiscal officer of the free public library or library district, except the director of a free public library or library district serving in the role of compliance officer may use a credit card if so authorized under the policy. If the compliance officer has authority to use a credit card account, the fiscal officer or the fiscal officer's designee, who shall not be the compliance officer, monthly shall review the credit card account transaction detail and shall sign an attestation stating the fiscal officer or designee reviewed the credit card account transaction detail. The compliance officer may not authorize an officer, employee, or appointee to use a credit card account, except a director serving in the role of compliance officer may authorize an officer, employee, or appointee to use a credit card account. The fiscal officer of the free public library or library district is not eligible for appointment as compliance officer. The director is eligible for appointment as compliance officer.

(D) The compliance officer, if applicable, at least once every six months shall review the number of cards and accounts issued, the number of active cards and accounts issued, the cards' and accounts' expiration dates, and the cards' and accounts' credit limits.

(E) If the fiscal officer retains general possession and control of the credit card account and presentation instruments related to the account including cards and checks, and the board or director authorizes an officer, employee, or appointee to use a credit card, the fiscal officer may use a system to sign out credit cards to the authorized users. The officer, employee, or appointee is liable in person and upon any official bond the officer, employee, or appointee has given to the library or district to reimburse the library or district treasury the amount for which the officer, employee, or appointee does not provide itemized receipts in accordance with the policy described in division (A) of this section.

(F) The use of a credit card account for expenses beyond those authorized by the board constitutes misuse of a credit card account. An officer, employee, or appointee of the library or district or a public servant as defined under section 2921.01 of the Revised Code who knowingly misuses a credit card account held by the board violates section 2913.21 of the Revised Code.

(G) The fiscal officer or the fiscal officer's designee annually shall file a report with the board detailing all rewards received based on the use of the free public library's or library district's credit card account.

(H) As used in this section, "credit card account" means any bank-issued credit card account, store-issued credit card account, financial institution-issued credit card account, financial depository-issued credit card account, affinity credit card account, or any other card account allowing the holder to purchase goods or services on credit or to transact with the account, and any debit or gift card account related to the receipt of grant moneys. "Credit card account" does not include a procurement card account, gasoline or telephone credit card account, or any other card account where merchant category codes are in place as a system of control for use of the card account.

Section 3375.40 | Board of library trustees - powers and duties.

• Effective: June 26, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

Each board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code may do the following:

(A) Hold title to and have the custody of all real and personal property of the free public library under its jurisdiction;

(B) Expend for library purposes, and in the exercise of the power enumerated in this section, all moneys, whether derived from the county public library fund or otherwise, credited to the free public library under its jurisdiction, and generally do all things it considers necessary for the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of the free public library under its jurisdiction;

(C) Purchase, lease, construct, remodel, renovate, or otherwise improve, equip, and furnish buildings or parts of buildings and other real property, and purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire motor vehicles and other personal property, necessary for the proper maintenance and operation of the free public library under its jurisdiction, and pay their costs in installments or otherwise. Financing of these costs may be provided through the issuance of notes, through an installment sale, or through a lease-purchase agreement. Any such notes shall be issued pursuant to section 3375.404 of the Revised Code.

(D) Purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or erect buildings or parts of buildings to be used as main libraries, branch libraries, or library stations pursuant to section 3375.41 of the Revised Code;

(E) Establish and maintain a main library, branches, library stations, and traveling library service within the territorial boundaries of the political subdivision or district over which it has jurisdiction of free public library service;

(F) Except as otherwise provided in this division and only before January 1, 2015, establish and maintain branches, library stations, and traveling library service in any school district, outside the territorial boundaries of the political subdivision or district over which it has jurisdiction of free public library service, upon application to and approval of the state library board pursuant to section 3375.05 of the Revised Code. The board of library trustees of any free public library maintaining branches, stations, or traveling library service, outside the territorial boundaries of the political subdivision or district over which it has jurisdiction of free public library service, on September 4, 1947, may continue to maintain and operate those branches, those stations, and that traveling library service without the approval of the state library board until January 1, 2015.

(G) Appoint and fix the compensation of all of the employees of the free public library under its jurisdiction, pay the reasonable cost of tuition for any of its employees who enroll in a course of study the board considers essential to the duties of the employee or to the improvement of the employee's performance, and reimburse applicants for employment for any reasonable expenses they incur by appearing for a personal interview;

(H) Make and publish rules for the proper operation and management of the free public library and facilities under its jurisdiction, including rules pertaining to the provision of library services to individuals, corporations, or institutions that are not inhabitants of the county;

(I) Assess uniform fees for the provision of services to patrons of the library, but no fee shall be assessed for the circulation of printed materials held by the library except for the assessment of fines for materials not returned in accordance with the board's rules;

(J) Establish and maintain a museum in connection with and as an adjunct to the free public library under its jurisdiction;

(K) By the adoption of a resolution, accept any bequest, gift, or endowment upon the conditions connected with the bequest, gift, or endowment. No such bequest, gift, or endowment shall be accepted by the board if its conditions remove any portion of the free public library under the board's jurisdiction from the control of the board or if the conditions, in any manner, limit the free use of the library or any part of it by the residents of the counties in which the library is located.

(L) At the end of any fiscal year, unless doing so would be contrary to law, set aside any unencumbered surplus remaining in the general or any other fund of the free public library under its jurisdiction for any purpose, including creating or increasing a special building and repair fund, or for operating the library or acquiring equipment and supplies;

(M) Procure and pay all or part of the cost of group term life, hospitalization, surgical, major medical, disability benefit, dental care, eye care, hearing aids, or prescription drug insurance or coverage, or a combination of any of those types of insurance or coverage, whether issued by an insurance company or a health insuring corporation duly licensed by the state, covering its employees, and, in the case of group term life, hospitalization, surgical, major medical, dental care, eye care, hearing aids, or prescription drug insurance or coverage, also covering the dependents and spouses of its employees, and, in the case of disability benefits, also covering the spouses of its employees.

(N) Pay reasonable dues and expenses for the free public library and library trustees in library associations.

Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.401 | Purchase of liability insurance.

• Effective: November 11, 1977
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 116 - 112th General Assembly

Each board of library trustees appointed pursuant to sections 1713.28, 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, and 3375.22 of the Revised Code may procure policies of insurance insuring trustees, officers, and employees of the library against liability on account of damage or injury to persons and property, including liability on account of death by wrongful act, occasioned by the operation of a motor vehicle owned or operated by said library, and on account of damages or injury to persons or property resulting from any act or omission of such person in his official capacity as a trustee, officer, or employee of the library or resulting solely out of his membership on or employment by the library board. Whenever the board deems it necessary to procure such insurance, it shall adopt a resolution setting forth the necessity thereof, together with a statement of the estimated premium cost, and upon the adoption of the resolution the board may purchase such insurance. Premium for such insurance shall be paid from the current expense fund of the library. The amount of liability insurance carried on any motor vehicle operated by said public library may be distributed among more than one insurance company.

Section 3375.402 | Establishment of museums.

• Effective: October 6, 1955
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 906 - 101st General Assembly

A library board may contract with a corporation not for profit organized to establish a museum for the use of the general public and located within the territory served by the library, to turn over to such corporation the museum physical assets of the library under such terms and conditions as the library board may deem proper. Such board may also loan books, periodicals, and similar matter belonging to the library to such corporation for use in its museum, and such library board may include in its annual budget a sum not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars, which sum it may pay to such corporation for the maintenance of such museum.

Section 3375.403 | Contract for public library service.

• Effective: September 11, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 146 - 116th General Assembly

The board of library trustees or governing body of any public library may contract for public library service with the board of library trustees or governing body of one or more libraries within the state that serve the general public, public or private schools, colleges, or universities, or a profession, occupation, or business. The board of library trustees of any public library may contract with boards of education of school districts within its territory to provide school library service, the boards of education paying all or part of the expense thereof.

Contracts as provided in this section may be terminated by mutual agreement, or by either of the two contracting parties on giving six months' notice before the day upon which taxes upon real estate become a lien.

Section 3375.404 | Issuance of notes and anticipation notes.

• Effective: September 13, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 292 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Anticipation notes" means notes issued in anticipation of the library facilities notes authorized by this section.

(2) "Authorizing proceedings" means the resolution, legislation, trust agreement, certification and other agreements, instruments, and documents, as amended and supplemented, authorizing, or providing for the security or sale or award of, notes, and includes the provisions set forth or incorporated in those notes and proceedings.

(3) "Board" or "board of library trustees" means the board of library trustees appointed pursuant to sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Library fund" means the public library fund provided for in Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code or any successor to that fund.

(5) "Note service charges" means principal, including any mandatory sinking fund or redemption requirements for retirement of notes, interest, and any redemption premium payable on notes.

(6) "Notes" means the library facilities notes authorized by this section, including anticipation notes.

(7) "Public library" means any of the libraries provided for in sections 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Refunding notes" means notes issued to provide for the refunding of the notes, or of obligations issued prior to March 4, 1996, collectively referred to in this section as refunded obligations.

(B) A board of library trustees of a public library that receives an allocation of the library fund pursuant to section 5705.32 and Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code may anticipate its portion of the proceeds of the library fund distribution and, if the board receives proceeds from a tax levied under section 5705.23 of the Revised Code by the taxing authority of the political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the board is subject, the lawfully available proceeds of that tax and issue library facilities notes of the public library in the principal amount necessary to pay the costs of financing the facilities or other property referred to in division (C) of section 3375.40 of the Revised Code, or to refund any refunded obligations, provided that the board projects annual note service charges on the notes, or on the notes being anticipated by anticipation notes, to be capable of being paid from the annual library fund receipts of the public library and the available proceeds of the tax. The maximum aggregate amount of notes that may be outstanding at any time in accordance with their terms upon issuance of the new notes shall not exceed an amount which requires or is estimated to require payments from library fund and tax receipts of note service charges on the notes, or, in the case of anticipation notes, projected note service charges on the notes anticipated, in any calendar year in an amount exceeding the sum of the following:

(1) Forty per cent of the average of the library fund receipts of the public library for the two calendar years prior to the year in which the notes are issued;

(2) The portion of the lawfully available proceeds from a tax levied under section 5705.23 of the Revised Code that the board has, in the authorizing proceedings, covenanted to appropriate annually for the purpose of paying note service charges or, in the case of anticipation notes, projected note service charges.

A board may at any time issue renewal anticipation notes, issue notes to pay renewal anticipation notes, and, if it considers refunding expedient, issue refunding notes whether the refunded obligations have or have not matured. The refunding notes shall be sold and the proceeds needed for such purpose applied in the manner provided in the authorizing proceedings of the board.

(C) Every issue of notes outstanding in accordance with their terms shall be payable out of the money received by the public library from the library fund or from a tax levied under section 5705.23 of the Revised Code or proceeds of notes, renewal anticipation notes, or refunding notes which may be pledged for such payment in the authorizing proceedings. The pledge shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the receipts and proceeds so pledged and thereafter received by the board shall immediately be subject to the lien of that pledge without any physical delivery of the receipts or proceeds or further act. The lien of any pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the board, whether or not such parties have notice of the lien. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge is created or further evidenced need be filed or recorded except in the board's records.

(D) No property tax levied under section 5705.23 of the Revised Code that is either pledged, or that a board of library trustees has covenanted to appropriate annually, to pay the note service charges and projected note service charges under this section shall be repealed while those notes are outstanding. If such a tax is reduced while those notes are outstanding, the taxing authority to whose jurisdiction the board is subject shall continue to levy and collect the tax under the authority of the original election authorizing the tax at a rate in each year that the board of library trustees reasonably estimates will produce an amount equal to the note service charges on the notes for that year.

(E) Notes issued under this section do not constitute a debt, or a pledge of the faith and credit, of the state, the public library, or any other political subdivision of the state, and the holders or owners of the notes have no right to have taxes levied by the general assembly or by the taxing authority of any political subdivision of the state, including the board of the public library, for the payment of note service charges. Notes are payable solely from the funds pledged for their payment as authorized by this section. All notes shall contain on their face a statement to the effect that the notes, as to note service charges, are not debts or obligations of the state and are not debts of any political subdivision of the state, but are payable solely from the funds pledged for their payment. The utilization and pledge of the library fund receipts and tax receipts and proceeds of notes, renewal anticipation notes, or refunding notes for the payment of note service charges is determined by the general assembly to create a special obligation which is not a bonded indebtedness subject to Section 11 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, or, alternatively, to satisfy any applicable requirement of that Section 11.

(F) The notes shall bear such date or dates, shall be executed in the manner, and shall mature at such time or times, in the case of any anticipation notes not exceeding ten years from the date of issue of the original anticipation notes and in the case of any notes that are not anticipation notes or of any refunding notes, not exceeding forty years from the date of the original issue of notes, or other obligations for the purpose, all as the authorizing proceedings may provide. The notes shall bear interest at such rates, or at variable rate or rates changing from time to time, in accordance with provisions provided in the authorizing proceedings, be in such denominations and form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, as the board may authorize or provide. The notes may be sold at public or private sale, and at, or at not less than, the price or prices as the board determines. If any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any notes or coupons ceases to be such officer before delivery of the notes or anticipation notes, the signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be sufficient for all purposes as if that officer had remained in office until delivery of the notes. Whether or not the notes are of such form and character as to be negotiable instruments under Title XIII of the Revised Code, the notes shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments, subject only to any provisions for registration. Neither the members of the board nor any person executing the notes shall be liable personally on the notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of their issuance.

(G) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, sections 9.98 to 9.983, 133.02, 133.70, and 5709.76, and division (A) of section 133.03 of the Revised Code apply to the notes. Notes issued under this section need not comply with any other law applicable to notes or bonds but the authorizing proceedings may provide that divisions (B) through (E) of section 133.25 of the Revised Code apply to the notes or anticipation notes.

(H) Any authorizing proceedings may contain provisions, subject to any agreements with holders as may then exist, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders, as to the pledging of any or all of the board's anticipated library fund receipts and receipts from a tax levied under section 5705.23 of the Revised Code to secure the payment of the notes; the use and disposition of the library fund and tax receipts of the boards; the crediting of the proceeds of the sale of notes to and among the funds referred to or provided for in the authorizing proceedings; limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of the notes may be applied and the pledging of portions of such proceeds to secure the payment of the notes or of anticipation notes; the agreement of the board to do all things necessary for the authorization, issuance, and sale of those notes anticipated in such amounts as may be necessary for the timely payment of note service charges on any anticipation notes; limitations on the issuance of additional notes; the terms upon which additional notes may be issued and secured; the refunding of refunded obligations; the procedure by which the terms of any contract with holders may be amended, and the manner in which any required consent to amend may be given; securing any notes by a trust agreement or other agreement which may provide for notes or refunding notes to be further secured by a mortgage on the property financed with the proceeds of the notes, anticipation notes, or refunded obligations refunded by refunding notes; and any other matters, of like or different character, that in any way affect the security or protection of the notes or anticipation notes.

Section 3375.405 | Evaluating library buildings for energy conservation; energy conservation report; implementation.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "energy conservation measure" means the construction of, installation or modification of an installation in, or remodeling of, a new or existing building, to reduce energy consumption. It includes:

(1) Insulation of the building structure and of systems within the building;

(2) Storm windows and doors, multiglazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing or heat-reflective glazed and coated window and door systems, additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption;

(3) Automatic energy control systems;

(4) Heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system modifications or replacements;

(5) Caulking and weather-stripping;

(6) Replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to increase the energy efficiency of the system without increasing the overall illumination of a facility, unless such an increase in illumination is necessary to conform to the applicable state or local building code for the proposed lighting system;

(7) Energy recovery systems;

(8) Cogeneration systems that produce steam or forms of energy such as heat, as well as electricity, for use primarily within a building or complex of buildings;

(9) Acquiring, constructing, furnishing, equipping, improving the site of, or otherwise improving a central utility plant to provide heating and cooling services to a building together with distribution piping and ancillary distribution controls, equipment, and related facilities from the central utility plant to the building; and

(10) Any other construction, modification, installation, or remodeling approved by a board of library trustees as an energy conservation measure.

(B) For the purpose of evaluating library buildings for energy conservation measures, a board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code may contract with an architect, professional engineer, energy services company, contractor, or other person experienced in the design and implementation of energy conservation measures for an energy conservation report. Such a report shall include all of the following:

(1) Analyses of the energy needs of library buildings and recommendations for building installations, modifications of existing installations, or building remodeling that would significantly reduce energy consumption in the buildings;

(2) Estimates of all costs of the recommended installations, modifications, or remodeling, including costs of design, engineering, installation, maintenance, and repair;

(3) Estimates of the amounts by which energy consumption could be reduced;

(4) The interest rate used to estimate the costs of any energy conservation measures that are to be financed by the library;

(5) The average system life of the energy conservation measures;

(6) Estimates of the likely savings that will result from the reduction in energy consumption over the average system life of the energy conservation measures, including the methods used to estimate the savings; and

(7) A certification under the seal of a registered professional engineer that the energy conservation report uses reasonable methods of analysis and estimation.

(C)(1) A board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code desiring to implement energy conservation measures may proceed under any of the following methods:

(a) Procure the energy conservation measures in any manner authorized by existing authority.

(b) Advertise for bids using an energy conservation report or any part of an energy conservation report prepared under division (B) of this section, and, except as otherwise provided in this section, comply with competitive bidding requirements applicable to the board of library trustees.

(c) Notwithstanding any requirement in the Revised Code that requires competitive bidding or specifies bidding procedures, request proposals from at least three vendors for the implementation of energy conservation measures. A request for proposals shall require the vendor that is awarded a contract under division (C)(2)(b) of this section to prepare an energy conservation report in accordance with division (B) of this section.

Prior to sending any vendor a copy of any request for proposals, the board of library trustees shall advertise its intent to request proposals for the installation of energy conservation measures in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the political subdivision or district over which it has jurisdiction of free public library services once a week for two consecutive weeks. The notice shall state that the board of trustees intends to request proposals for the installation of energy conservation measures, indicate the date on which the request for proposals will be mailed to vendors, which shall be at least ten days after the second publication in the newspaper, and state that any vendor interested in receiving the request for proposals shall submit written notice to the board of library trustees not later than noon of the day on which the request for proposals is to be mailed.

(2)(a) Upon receiving bids under division (C)(1)(b) of this section, the board of library trustees shall analyze them and select the lowest and best bid or bids most likely to result in the greatest energy savings considering the cost of the project and the board of library trustees' ability to pay for the improvements with current revenues or by financing the improvements.

(b) Upon receiving proposals under division (C)(1)(c) of this section, the board of library trustees shall analyze the proposals and the vendors' qualifications and select the most qualified vendor to prepare an energy conservation report in accordance with division (B) of this section. After receipt and review of the energy conservation report, the board of library trustees may award a contract to the selected vendor to install the energy conservation measures that are most likely to result in the greatest energy savings considering the cost of the project and the board of library trustees' ability to pay for the improvements with current revenues or by financing the improvements.

(c) The awarding of a contract to install energy conservation measures under division (C)(2)(a) or (b) of this section shall be conditioned upon a finding by the board of library trustees that the amount of money spent on energy conservation measures is not likely to exceed the amount of money the library would save in energy, operating, maintenance, and avoided capital costs over the average system life of the energy conservation measures as specified in the energy conservation report. In making such a finding, the board of trustees may take into account the increased costs due to inflation as shown in the energy conservation report. Nothing in this division prohibits a board of library trustees from rejecting all bids or proposals under division (C)(1)(b) or (c) of this section or from selecting more than one bid or proposal.

(D) A board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code may contract for the purchase and installation of energy conservation measures as provided in division (C) of section 3375.40 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.41 | Contracts over $50,000 to require bidding procedure.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

When a board of library trustees appointed pursuant to section 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, or 3375.30 of the Revised Code determines to construct, demolish, alter, repair, or reconstruct a library or make any improvements or repairs, the cost of which will exceed the amount specified in section 9.17 of the Revised Code, except in cases of urgent necessity or for the security and protection of library property, it shall proceed as follows:

(A) The board shall advertise for a period of two weeks for sealed bids in a newspaper of general circulation in the district or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. If no newspaper has a general circulation in the district, the board shall post the advertisement in three public places in the district. The advertisement shall be entered in full by the fiscal officer on the record of proceedings of the board.

(B) The sealed bids shall be filed with the fiscal officer by twelve noon of the last day stated in the advertisement.

(C) The sealed bids shall be opened at the next meeting of the board, shall be publicly read by the fiscal officer, and shall be entered in full on the records of the board; provided that the board, by resolution, may provide for the public opening and reading of the bids by the fiscal officer, immediately after the time for their filing has expired, at the usual place of meeting of the board, and for the tabulation of the bids and a report of the tabulation to the board at its next meeting.

(D) Each sealed bid shall contain the name of every person interested in it and shall meet the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code.

(E) When both labor and materials are embraced in the work bid for, the board may require that each be separately stated in the sealed bid, with their price, or may require that bids be submitted without the separation.

(F) None but the lowest responsible bid shall be accepted. The board may reject all the bids or accept any bid for both labor and material for the improvement or repair that is the lowest in the aggregate.

(G) The contract shall be between the board and the bidders. The board shall pay the contract price for the work in cash at the times and in the amounts as provided by sections 153.12, 153.13, and 153.14 of the Revised Code.

(H) When two or more bids are equal, in whole or in part, and are lower than any others, either may be accepted, but in no case shall the work be divided between these bidders.

(I) When there is reason to believe there is collusion or combination among the bidders, the bids of those concerned in the collusion or combination shall be rejected.

(J) No project subject to this section shall be divided into component parts, separate projects, or items of work in order to avoid the requirements of this section.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 2:11 PM

Section 3375.411 | Retirement systems for library employees.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 343 - 129th General Assembly

A board of library trustees of a free public library, appointed pursuant to the provisions of sections 3375.06, 3375.08, 3375.12, 3375.15, and 3375.22 of the Revised Code, which has not less than seventy-five full-time employees, and which, prior to September 16, 1943, was providing for retirement of the employees of such library with annuities, insurance, or other provisions, under authority granted by former section 7889 of the General Code, may provide such retirement, insurance, or other provisions in the same manner authorized by former section 7889 of the General Code, as follows: the library board of such library which has appropriated and paid the board's portion provided in such system or plan, may continue to appropriate and pay the board's portion provided in such system or plan out of the funds received to the credit of such board by taxation or otherwise. Each employee of such library who is to be included in a system of retirement shall contribute to the retirement fund not less than four per cent per annum of the employee's salary from the time of eligibility to join the retirement system to the time of retirement. If a group insurance plan is installed by any library, not less than fifty per cent of the cost of such insurance shall be borne by the employees included in such plan.

Provided, any employee whose employment by said library began on or after September 16, 1943, may exempt self from inclusion in such retirement system, or withdraw from such retirement system. Upon such exemption or withdrawal, such person shall become a member of the public employees retirement system in accordance with former section 145.02 and sections 145.03 and 145.28 of the Revised Code, respectively. All employees appointed for the first time on and after January 1, 1956, shall, for retirement purposes, be eligible only for membership in the public employees retirement system as provided in Chapter 145. of the Revised Code.

A library board which provides for the retirement of its employees with annuities, insurance, or other provisions under the authority granted by this section may, pursuant to a board resolution adopted within thirty days after the effective date of this section, terminate such retirement plan. Upon the effective date of such termination, which is specified in the resolution, each employee covered by such retirement plan shall become a member of the public employees retirement system.

Section 3375.42 | Contract for library service - tax levy.

• Effective: June 26, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 321 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of county commissioners of any county, the board of education of any school district, the legislative authority of any municipal corporation, or the board of township trustees of any township may contract with the board of library trustees of any public library, or with any private corporation or library association maintaining a free public library prior to September 4, 1947, situated within or without the taxing district, to furnish library service to all the inhabitants of said taxing district, notwithstanding the fact that such library is receiving proceeds from the county public library fund, and, subject to division (B) of this section, may levy a tax, or may make an appropriation from its general fund or from federal funds, to be expended by such library in providing library service in said taxing district for any of the purposes specified in section 3375.40 of the Revised Code. The taxing authority may require an annual report in writing from such board of library trustees, private corporation, or library association. When a tax for library purposes has been so levied, at each semiannual collection of such tax the county auditor shall certify the amount collected to the proper officer of the taxing district who shall forthwith draw a warrant for such amount on the treasurer of such district payable to the proper officer of such library.

(B) The taxing authority of a subdivision may levy a tax pursuant to division (A) of this section for the support of a library association or private corporation only if the library association or private corporation has an association library district, as defined in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code, and if the territory of the subdivision includes some or all of the territory of that association library district. The taxing authority shall submit the question of levying such a tax only to electors residing within the territory of the association library district. If approved by a majority of such electors voting on the question, such a tax shall be levied only upon taxable property located within the territory of the association library district.

Section 3375.43 | Submission of question - issuance and sale of bonds by subdivision for library purposes.

• Effective: October 30, 1989
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 230 - 118th General Assembly

Any public library board of trustees charged with the title, custody, control, and maintenance of a public library in the state may request the taxing authority of the political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the board is subject to submit to the electors of such subdivision the question of issuing bonds for the purpose of purchasing, erecting, constructing, enlarging, extending, or improving a building for library purposes, including a site therefor, and equipping and furnishing the building. Such request shall be made by resolution adopted by the board, and the resolution shall recite whether notes shall be issued in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds. A copy of the resolution shall be certified by the board to the taxing authority of the subdivision pursuant to section 5705.23 of the Revised Code. The submission to the electors of the question of the issuance of the bonds, the issuance, sale, characteristics, and requirements for the interest and retirement levies, and the method and means for payment of the bonds or notes, if notes are to be issued in anticipation of the issuance of the bonds, shall conform to Section 11 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, and Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, governing the issuance, sale, characteristics, and levies for, and method and means of payment of, bonds or notes issued by such subdivision pursuant to a vote of the electors. Such bonds or notes shall be issued and sold by the proper officer as is provided by law for the issuance and sale of bonds of the political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the board is subject. The indebtedness created by such bonds or notes constitutes a part of the net indebtedness of such subdivision. The proceeds of the sale of such bonds shall be transferred by the fiscal officer of such subdivision to the board for the benefit of which the bonds were issued and shall be appropriated to and expended only for the purposes for which issued.

Section 3375.431 | Board of education may issue bonds for libraries.

• Effective: October 30, 1989
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 230 - 118th General Assembly

The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district, which does not have a board of library trustees established under section 3375.15 of the Revised Code may issue bonds in accordance with Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, without regard to section 3375.43 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of purchasing, erecting, constructing, enlarging, improving, equipping, and furnishing library facilities and acquiring real estate and interests in real estate therefor, to be operated by the board of trustees of any free public library, library association, or corporation pursuant to section 3375.18 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.44 | Payment of interest - retirement of bonds - annual levy.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

After the issue of any notes or bonds under section 3375.43 of the Revised Code, the public library board of trustees on behalf of which said bonds are issued shall certify, on or before the first day of July in each year, to the taxing authority of the political subdivision to the jurisdiction of which such board is subject, a sufficient amount to pay the interest on and to retire at maturity such bonds or notes, and such taxing authority shall annually include in its budget the amount certified and required to pay the interest on and to retire such bonds or notes at maturity, and shall levy the necessary tax therefor.

Such board may appropriate and apply any moneys in its possession and control, which are available and unappropriated for other purposes, to the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds or notes. Any moneys so to be applied shall be appropriated by resolution of the library board and transferred to the board or officers having charge of the retirement fund for such bonds to be applied to the payment of such bonds and for no other purposes. The interest and retirement charges to be levied in each year shall then be reduced by such amounts of money as are otherwise made available.

Section 3375.45 | Control and management of sinking or bond retirement fund.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When bonds are issued pursuant to section 3375.43 of the Revised Code, the board or officer of the political subdivision issuing such bonds having charge of the sinking fund or bond retirement fund of such subdivision shall have the control and management of all moneys and securities for the payment of interest on and for the redemption of the principal of such bonds, and shall exercise the same powers of control and management thereof as for the management and control of the sinking or bond retirement fund for all bonds of such subdivision.

Section 3375.46 | Bureau of municipal research and information may be established.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any board of library trustees of a school district may enter into an agreement with any municipal corporation located in such school district for the establishment of a bureau of municipal research and information. The agreement shall provide for the rendering of such services by and under the supervision and control of such board, and upon such terms, as are agreed upon between such board and municipal corporation.

Section 3375.481 | Consortium of county law library resources boards.

• Effective: January 1, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 420 - 127th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created a statewide consortium of county law library resources boards. The statewide consortium shall be comprised of the county law library resources board of each county.

(B) The statewide consortium board shall consist of five voting members, one of whom shall be the librarian of the supreme court of Ohio, or, if the librarian of the supreme court is unavailable, the chief justice's designee, and the other four members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) The Ohio judicial conference shall appoint one member.

(2) The county commissioners association of Ohio shall appoint two members, one of whom shall be the chief administrator of a county law library resources board.

(3) The Ohio state bar association shall appoint one member.

(C) Initial appointments to the statewide consortium board shall be made on or before July 1, 2010. Of the initial appointments, the initial term of the member appointed by the county commissioners association who is not the chief administrator of a county library resources board and the member appointed by the Ohio judicial conference shall be for a term ending December 31, 2014. The initial term of the member appointed by the Ohio state bar association and the member appointed by the county commissioners association who is the chief administrator of a county law library resources board shall be for a term ending December 31, 2016. Thereafter, terms for all members shall be for five years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds.

Each member appointed pursuant to division (B) of this section shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Vacancies shall be filled within sixty days after the vacancy occurs and shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(D) The statewide consortium board shall do all of the following for the benefit of the members of the statewide consortium:

(1) Negotiate contracts that each county law library resources board may use for purchasing or obtaining access to legal research and reference materials available in any medium;

(2) Catalogue existing resources held by county law library resources boards and facilitate the sharing of those resources by the county law library resources boards;

(3) Develop and recommend guidelines for the collection of or access to legal resources that ought to be provided by a county law library resources board;

(4) Provide consultation and assistance to county law library resources boards;

(5) Issue an annual report of its activities to each county law library resources board.

(E)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the statewide consortium of county law library resources boards fund. Commencing in calendar year 2011, each county treasurer shall deposit on or before the fifteenth day of February of each calendar year two per cent of the funds deposited pursuant to section 307.515 of the Revised Code into the county law library resources fund of the treasurer's county, established under section 307.514 of the Revised Code, from the immediately preceding calendar year into the statewide consortium of county law library resources boards fund. The statewide consortium board may recommend in writing and submit to each county law library resources board an increase or decrease in the percentage of funds that must be deposited into the statewide consortium fund by county treasurers pursuant to the division. Upon the receipt of written approval of the recommendation from a majority of the county law library resources boards, the recommendation shall become effective on January 1 of the succeeding year. The statewide consortium board of the county law library resources boards shall make any recommendations not later than the first day of April for the proceeding fiscal year, and any action by a county law library resources board on the recommendation shall be certified to the statewide consortium board not later than the first day of June of that year.

(2) The statewide consortium board may use the money deposited in the fund for the operation of the statewide consortium board and may provide grants to county law library resources boards.

(F) The statewide consortium board may create an advisory council that is comprised of persons with expertise in the operation and funding of law libraries.

(G) The statewide consortium board shall determine the necessary qualifications of staff and the facilities and equipment necessary for the operation of the statewide consortium.

(H) The statewide consortium board shall elect a chairperson from its membership. The statewide consortium board shall meet at least four times per year and shall keep a record of its proceedings. The record of its proceedings shall be open to the public for inspection. The chairperson or the chairperson's designee shall send a written notice of the time and place of each meeting to each member. A majority of the members of the statewide consortium board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3375.61 | Financial aid to Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association.

• Effective: June 27, 2005
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 124 - 126th General Assembly

In recognition of the work the Ohioana Library Association, Martha Kinney Cooper Memorial, a corporation organized not for profit under the laws of this state, has done and is doing to collect, promote, publicize, and make available to the public the cultural, literary, scientific, social, and economic achievements of Ohioans, the state may grant financial aid to that corporation in order that the purposes for which it was instituted may be fostered and its services to the public improved and expanded.

Section 3375.62 | Appointment of trustees.

• Effective: June 27, 2005
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 124 - 126th General Assembly

The governor shall appoint four members of the board of trustees of the Ohioana Library Association, Martha Kinney Cooper Memorial. Terms of office shall be for four years, commencing on the sixteenth day of September and ending on the fifteenth day of September. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The gubernatorial appointees shall serve as members of the board of trustees in addition to the regular constituted board of trustees of the corporation.

Section 3375.63 | Eligibility for membership on board of public library trustees.

• Effective: September 14, 1959
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 68 - 103rd General Assembly

No person shall be ineligible for membership on a board of public library trustees because of his employment by a school district or other political subdivision, provided that a majority of the members of each board of public library trustees shall be persons not employed by school districts or other political subdivisions.

Section 3375.64 | Public library information network.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established the Ohio public library information network, as an independent agency within the state library of Ohio, for the purpose of ensuring equity of access to electronic information for all residents of this state, subject to the restrictions described in division (C) of this section on access to materials or performances that may be obscene or harmful to juveniles. The network shall be governed by the board of trustees created under section 3375.65 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, any board of library trustees appointed under section 1713.28, 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.15, 3375.22, 3375.30, or 3375.90 of the Revised Code may participate in the network by providing notice in writing to the network board of trustees.

(2) A board of library trustees participating in the network authorized under Section 323.10 of H.B. 119 of the 127th general assembly is a participant in the network established by division (A) of this section unless its participation is otherwise terminated.

(C) A library board of trustees participating in the network established under division (A) of this section shall comply with any policies the network board of trustees may adopt. The network board shall adopt a policy that requires each participant to establish and enforce procedures designed to keep juveniles who use the participant's services from having access to materials or performances that may be obscene or harmful to juveniles and to keep persons who are not juveniles and who use the participant's services from having access to materials or performances that may be obscene. If a participant does not establish and enforce such procedures, the network board shall terminate the participant's participation in the network. As used in this division, "juveniles," "materials," "performances," "obscene," and "harmful to juveniles" have the same meanings as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.65 | Library information network board of trustees.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio public library information network board of trustees, which shall be the governing board of the Ohio public library information network. The board shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) The state librarian, who shall serve as a nonvoting member;

(2) The eleven members of the Ohio public library information network board authorized under Section 323.10 of H.B. 119 of the 127th general assembly who are serving on such board on the effective date of this section. These continuing members shall serve staggered terms, with three terms expiring on June 30, 2008, four terms expiring on June 30, 2009, and four terms expiring on June 30, 2010. (At their first meeting after the effective date of this section, the voting members of the board shall draw lots to determine when their terms end.) Thereafter, terms of office for all voting members shall be three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. The state library board shall fill a vacancy among the voting members of the board by selecting an appointee from among the staff of public libraries and past and present members of boards of trustees of public libraries, based on the recommendations of the library community of this state. A member of the board may be reappointed, but no member shall serve more than two terms, provided that service for a partial term of one year or less shall not be counted toward the two-term limitation. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the predecessor's term shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member may continue in office subsequent to the expiration of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(B) Members of the board shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as board members.

(C) The board shall meet at least quarterly and hold such additional meetings as are necessary to carry out the board's duties under sections 3375.64, 3375.66, and 3375.67 of the Revised Code. Additional meetings may be called in accordance with bylaws adopted by the board.

Section 3375.66 | Duties and powers of board of trustees.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

(A) To fulfill the network purpose under section 3375.64 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of the Ohio public library information network shall do all of the following:

(1) Employ and fix the compensation of an executive director of the network and such other personnel as are necessary to carry out this section and sections 3375.64 and 3375.67 of the Revised Code. The board may designate positions in the unclassified civil service for which it may employ persons.

(2) Develop plans of service and operation for the Ohio public library information network in consultation with the state library of Ohio;

(3) Have exclusive control of the expenditure of all money held in the name of the network;

(4) Adopt bylaws for the governance of the network and for calling and conducting the board's meetings;

(5) Appoint the state library of Ohio as the board's fiscal agent. When so appointed, the state library shall serve as fiscal agent and shall provide all of the following services:

(a) Prepare and process payroll and other personnel documents that the board approves;

(b) Maintain ledgers of accounts and reports of account balances, and monitor budgets and allotment plans in consultation with the board;

(c) Provide purchasing services to facilitate the purchase of property approved by the board;

(d) Deposit revenues received on behalf of the board into the accounts maintained by the board;

(e) Perform other routine support services that the state librarian or the state librarian's designee and the board or the board's designee consider appropriate to achieve efficiency.

(B) The board of trustees may do any of the following:

(1) Enter into contracts or agreements for the purposes of this section and section 3375.64 of the Revised Code;

(2) Receive grants, payments, bequests, and gifts on behalf of the network;

(3) Expend, for the network purpose under section 3375.64 of the Revised Code, and in the exercise of the powers enumerated in this section, all money received as grants, payments, gifts, bequests, or otherwise, and generally do all things the board determines necessary for the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of the network;

(4) Purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire vehicles and other personal property for the maintenance and operation of the network;

(5) Purchase, erect, lease, lease with an option to purchase, appropriate, or otherwise improve, equip, and furnish buildings or parts of buildings and other real property for use by the network;

(6) Hold title to and have custody of property, both real and personal, of the network.

Section 3375.67 | Dissolution of network.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

If the need for the Ohio public library information network ceases to exist, the network board of trustees, by a two-thirds vote of its members, may declare its intention to dissolve the network and file with the state library board a plan for effecting such dissolution.

Section 3375.79 | Bill and Melinda Gates foundation grant fund.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation grant fund consisting of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation grants awarded to the state library of Ohio. The state library board shall use the fund for the improvement of public library services, interlibrary cooperation, or other library purposes. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 3375.80 | Libraries designated as resource centers.

• Effective: November 25, 1969
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 262 - 108th General Assembly

To encourage and make available adequate library reference and research facilities, the state library board may designate certain libraries as resource centers and develop and encourage cooperative steps to link these centers with other libraries in a reference and information network. Such designation shall be made subject to the approval of the governing boards of the libraries. Grants may be made to these libraries and to other libraries which share their resources and facilities on an interlibrary basis.

Section 3375.81 | Essential library services support program.

• Effective: March 30, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 674 - 122nd General Assembly

A program of grants, to be known as the essential library services support program, is hereby established within the limitation of funds appropriated by the general assembly together with other funds made available by the federal government or other sources for this purpose. They shall include:

(A) Planning grants, to be paid to a public library or regional library system;

(B) Establishment grants, to be paid to a regional library system;

(C) Essential services operations grants, to be paid to a regional library system;

(D) Reference services and interlibrary loan grants to be paid to a public library, university library, or other library participating in a reference and information network or similar program of interlibrary cooperation;

(E) Special program grants, to be paid to a public library or a regional library system.

Section 3375.82 | Administration of grants.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

The state library board shall administer all grants and shall provide for the expenditure of all funds appropriated for the essential library services support program. All grants shall be made under rules adopted by the state library board and under the terms of written agreements between the state library board and the recipient. Such rules shall be designed to:

(A) Ensure every resident of Ohio access to essential public library services;

(B) Provide adequate library materials to satisfy the reference and research needs of the people of this state;

(C) Assure and encourage local initiative and responsibility and support for library services;

(D) Encourage the formation of viable regional library systems and library systems providing a full range of library services;

(E) Develop adequate standards for services, resources, and programs that will serve as a source of information and inspiration to persons of all ages, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged persons, and will encourage continuing education beyond the years of formal education;

(F) Encourage adequate financing of public libraries from local, state, and other library financial resources.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:10 PM

Section 3375.83 | Interstate library compact.

• Effective: January 5, 1976
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 236 - 111th General Assembly

The "interstate library compact" is hereby ratified, enacted into law, and entered into by the state of Ohio with all states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

INTERSTATE LIBRARY COMPACT

Article I. Policy and Purpose.

Because the desire for the services provided by libraries transcends governmental boundaries and can most effectively be satisfied by giving such services to communities and people regardless of jurisdictional lines, it is the policy of the states party to this compact to cooperate and share their responsibilities; to authorize cooperation and sharing with respect to those types of library facilities and services which can be more economically or efficiently developed and maintained on a cooperative basis; and to authorize cooperation and sharing among localities, states, and others in providing joint or cooperative library services in areas where the distribution of population or of existing and potential library resources make the provision of library service on an interstate basis the most effective way of providing adequate and efficient service.

Article II. Definitions

As used in this compact:

(A) "Public library agency" means any unit or agency of local or state government operating or having power to operate a library.

(B) "Private library agency" means any nongovernmental entity which operates or assumes a legal obligation to operate a library.

(C) "Library agreement" means a contract establishing an interstate library district pursuant to this compact or providing for the joint or cooperative furnishing of library services.

Article III. Interstate Library Districts.

(A) Any one or more public library agencies in a party state in cooperation with any public library agency or agencies in one or more other party states may establish and maintain an interstate library district. Subject to the provisions of this compact and any other laws of the party states which pursuant hereto remain applicable, such district may establish, maintain, and operate some or all of the library facilities and services for the area concerned in accordance with the terms of a library agreement therefor. Any private library agency or agencies within an interstate library district may cooperate therewith; assume duties, responsibilities, and obligations thereto; and receive benefits therefrom as provided in any library agreement to which such agency or agencies become party.

(B) Within an interstate library district, and as provided by a library agreement, the performance of library functions may be undertaken on a joint or cooperative basis or may be undertaken by means of one or more arrangements between or among public or private library agencies for the extension of library privileges to the use of facilities or services operated or rendered by one or more of the individual library agencies.

(C) If a library agreement provides for joint establishment, maintenance, or operation of library facilities of services by an interstate library district, such district shall have power to do any one or more of the following in accordance with such library agreement:

(1) Undertake, administer, and participate in programs or arrangements for securing, lending, or servicing of books and other publications, and other materials suitable to be kept or made available by libraries, library equipment, or for the dissemination of information about libraries, the value and significance of particular items therein and the use thereof;

(2) Accept for any of its purposes under this compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services (conditional or otherwise), from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, or interstate agency; or from any institution, person, firm, or corporation; and receive, utilize, and dispose of the same;

(3) Operate mobile library units or equipment for the purpose of rendering bookmobile service within the district;

(4) Employ professional, technical, clerical, and other personnel, and fix terms of employment, compensation, and other appropriate benefits; and where desirable, provide for the in-service training of such personnel;

(5) Sue and be sued in any court of competent jurisdiction;

(6) Acquire, hold, and dispose of any real or personal property or any interest or interests therein as may be appropriate to the rendering of library service;

(7) Construct, maintain, and operate a library, including any appropriate branches thereof;

(8) Do such other things as may be incidental to or appropriate for the carrying out of any of the foregoing powers.

Article IV. Interstate Library Districts, Governing Board.

(A) An interstate library district which establishes, maintains, or operates any facilities or services in its own right shall have a governing board which shall direct the affairs of the district and act for it in all matters relating to its business. Each participating public library agency in the district shall be represented on the governing board which shall be organized and conduct its business in accordance with provision therefor in the library agreement, but in no event shall a governing board meet less often than twice a year.

(B) Any private library agency or agencies party to a library agreement establishing an interstate library district may be represented on or advise with the governing board of the district in such manner as the library agreement may provide.

Article V. State Library Agency Cooperation.

Any two or more state library agencies of two or more of the party states may undertake and conduct joint or cooperative library programs, render joint or cooperative library services, and enter into and perform arrangements for the cooperative or joint acquisition, use, housing, and disposition of items or collections of materials which, by reason of expense, rarity, specialized nature, or infrequency of demand therefor, would be appropriate for central collection and shared use. Any such programs, services, or arrangements may include provision for the exercise on a cooperative or joint basis of any power exercisable by an interstate library district and an agreement embodying any such program, service, or arrangement shall contain provisions covering the subjects detailed in Article VI of this compact for interstate library agreement.

Article VI. Library Agreements.

(A) In order to provide for any joint or cooperative undertaking pursuant to this compact, public and private library agencies may enter into library agreements. Any agreement executed pursuant to the provisions of this compact shall, as among the parties to the agreement:

(1) Detail the specific nature of the services, programs, facilities, arrangements, or properties to which it is applicable;

(2) Provide for the allocation of costs and other financial responsibilities;

(3) Specify the respective rights, duties, obligations, and liabilities of the parties;

(4) Set forth the terms and conditions for duration, renewal, termination, abrogation, disposal of joint or common property, if any, and all other matters which may be appropriate to the proper effectuation and performance of the agreement.

(B) No public or private library agency shall undertake to exercise itself, or jointly with any other library agency, by means of a library agreement, any power prohibited to such agency by the constitution or statutes of its state.

(C) No library agreement shall become effective until filed with the compact administrator of each state involved and approved in accordance with Article VII of this compact.

Article VII. Approval of Library Agreements.

(A) Every library agreement made pursuant to this compact shall, prior to and as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the attorney general of each state in which a public library agency party thereto is situated, who shall determine whether the agreement is in proper form and compatible with the laws of his state. The attorneys general shall approve any agreement submitted to them unless they shall find that it does not meet the conditions set forth herein and shall detail, in writing, addressed to the governing bodies of the public library agencies concerned, the specific respects in which the proposed agreement fails to meet the requirements of law. Failure to disapprove an agreement submitted hereunder within ninety days of its submission shall constitute approval thereof.

(B) In the event that a library agreement made pursuant to this compact shall deal in whole or in part with the provision of services or facilities with regard to which an officer or agency of the state government has constitutional or statutory powers of control, the agreement shall, as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the state officer or agency having such power of control and shall be approved or disapproved by him or it as to all matters within his or its jurisdiction in the same manner and subject to the same requirements governing the action of the attorneys general pursuant to division (A) of this article. This requirement of submission and approval shall be in addition to and not in substitution for the requirement of submission to and approval by the attorneys general.

Article VIII. Other Laws Applicable.

Nothing in this compact or in any library agreement shall be construed to supersede, alter, or otherwise impair any obligation imposed on any library by otherwise applicable law, nor to authorize the transfer or disposition of any property held in trust by a library agency in a manner contrary to the terms of such trust.

Article IX. Appropriations and Aid.

(A) Any public library agency party to a library agreement may appropriate funds to the interstate library district established thereby in the same manner and to the same extent as to a library wholly maintained by it and, subject to the laws of the state in which such public library agency is situated, may pledge its credit in support of an interstate library district established by the agreement.

(B) Subject to the provisions of the library agreement pursuant to which it functions and the laws of the states in which such district is situated, an interstate library district may claim and receive any state and federal aid which may be available to library agencies.

Article X. Compact Administrator.

Each state shall designate a compact administrator with whom copies of all library agreements to which his state or any public library agency thereof is party shall be filed. The administrator shall have such other powers as may be conferred upon him by the laws of his state and may consult and cooperate with the compact administrators of other party states and take such steps as may effectuate the purposes of this compact. If the laws of a party state so provide, such state may designate one or more deputy compact administrators in addition to its compact administrator. The compact administrator and other persons performing official functions in connection with this compact shall be entitled to reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties or in the conduct of authorized business, within or without the state.

Article XI. Entry into Force and Withdrawal.

(A) This compact shall enter into force and effect immediately upon its enactment into law by any two states. Thereafter, it shall enter into force and effect as to any other state upon the enactment thereof by such state.

(B) This compact shall continue in force with respect to a party state and remain binding upon such state until six months after such state has given notice to each other party state of the repeal thereof. Such withdrawal shall not be construed to relieve any party to a library agreement entered into pursuant to this compact from any obligation of that agreement prior to the end of its duration as provided therein.

Article XII. Construction and Severability.

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

Section 3375.831 | Instrument to identify state agency for whose use and benefit real property is acquired.

• Effective: October 26, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 19 - 123rd General Assembly

Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to section 3375.83 of the Revised Code shall identify any agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.84 | Interstate library compact definitions.

• Effective: January 5, 1976
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 236 - 111th General Assembly

As used in the interstate library compact:

(A) "State library agency," with reference to this state, means the state library board as designated in section 3375.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Compact administrator," with reference to this state, means the state librarian as designated in section 3375.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.85 | Aid to interstate library district partly within state.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

An interstate library district lying partly within this state may claim and be entitled to receive state aid, other than aid from the public library fund, in support of any of its functions to the same extent and in the same manner as such functions are eligible for support when carried on by entities wholly within this state. For the purposes of computing and apportioning such state aid to an interstate library district, this state will consider that portion of the area which lies within this state as an independent entity for the performance of the aided function or functions and compute and apportion the aid accordingly. Any library association that was organized and operated prior to January 1, 1968, and which pursuant to the authority granted in section 3375.83 of the Revised Code, has become part of an interstate library district shall be considered a library association under section 5705.28 of the Revised Code and entitled to participate in the county public library fund and other public funds. Subject to any applicable laws of this state, such a district also may apply for and be entitled to receive any federal aid for which it may be eligible.

Section 3375.90 | Formation of regional library system.

• Effective: September 29, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 283 - 123rd General Assembly

Public libraries in two or more counties, or four or more libraries, including two or more types, within a metropolitan area, as defined by the state library board, may form a regional library system by agreement in the manner set forth in this section.

(A) The libraries authorized to form a regional library system may include any of the following types of libraries: academic, public, special, and school, including cooperative ventures established by two or more school districts. For the purposes of this section, those libraries may be serving the general public, public or private schools, colleges or universities, or a profession, occupation, or business.

An agreement for the formation of a regional library system shall first be approved by the governing bodies of the participating libraries. For the purposes of this section, the governing body of a library means the board of trustees of a public library, the board of education of a public school or school system if the library is a public school library, or otherwise the board of trustees or directors or other recognized governing board or committee of any private school, college, university, association, or union, public or private, which provides, controls, or maintains a library that is intended to be a participating library.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the agreement and an application for the formation of the regional library system shall be submitted to the state library board in the form and in accordance with rules prescribed by the state library board, with a plan of service describing the specific purposes for which the system is formed and the means by which those purposes are to be accomplished.

(C) Upon approval of the application by the state library board and the making by that board or some other authority or authorities of a grant or grants for the system, the regional library system shall become operable. The state library board shall approve no more than seven regional library systems.

A regional library system shall be governed by a board of trustees consisting of at least seven and no more than fifteen persons, to be selected from among the representatives of the participating libraries, duly appointed as such representatives by the governing bodies of the participating libraries.

The number of trustees, the manner of selection, the terms of office, and the provisions for filling vacancies shall be determined by the agreement between the governing bodies of the participating libraries and shall be set forth in the application submitted to the state library board. Nothing pertaining to the organization and operation of a regional library system shall be construed to infringe upon the autonomy of any participating library or of the governing body of any library.

(D) No area library service organization or metropolitan library system in existence on March 30, 1999, shall be required to submit a new agreement and application to the state library board in order to continue operation as a regional library system on and after that date. Any agreement that applied under this section immediately prior to March 30, 1999, to an area library service organization or metropolitan library system that continues operation as a regional library system under this division shall continue to govern the applicable regional library system to the extent authorized by sections 3375.90 to 3375.93 of the Revised Code.

Section 3375.91 | Board of trustees of regional library system - powers and duties.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

The board of trustees of each regional library system may:

(A) Develop plans of service and operation for the regional library system and submit these to the state library board, and to each other granting authority if and when required by such authority;

(B) Receive grants, payments, bequests, and gifts and have exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys held in the name of the regional library system;

(C) Expend for library purposes, and in the exercise of the powers enumerated in this section, all moneys whether received as grants, payments, gifts, bequests, or otherwise, and generally do all things it determines necessary for the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of the regional library system under its jurisdiction;

(D) Make and publish such bylaws and rules as may be necessary for its operation and for the government of the regional library system;

(E) Purchase or lease vehicles and other personal property for the operation of the regional library system;

(F) Purchase, erect, lease, or lease with an option to purchase, appropriate buildings or parts of buildings for use of the regional library system;

(G) Hold title to and have the custody of all property, both real and personal, of the regional library system;

(H) Appoint and fix the compensation of a director and necessary assistants, who shall have the same employment status as employees of public libraries;

(I) Elect and fix compensation of a fiscal officer and a deputy fiscal officer who shall serve for a term of one year;

(J) Enter into contracts with the governing body of any participating library organized under sections 1713.28, 3375.06, 3375.10, 3375.12, 3375.121, 3375.15, 3375.22, and 3375.30 of the Revised Code, the state library board, any granting authority, the board of county commissioners of any county, the board of education of any school district, the legislative authority of any municipal corporation, boards of township trustees, colleges, universities, or public or private agencies and corporations;

(K) Accept an application from any other library desiring to become a participating library in accordance with the agreement for the formation of the system, either as originally submitted to and approved by the state library board, or as amended by and with the agreement of all the participating libraries and the approval of the state library board.

Section 3375.92 | Clerk and deputy clerk of board - duties.

• Effective: June 20, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 185 - 127th General Assembly

The fiscal officer of the board of trustees of the regional library system is the treasurer of the organization's funds. Before entering upon their duties, the fiscal officer and the deputy fiscal officer shall execute a bond in an amount and with surety to be approved by the board, and conditioned for the faithful performance of the official duties required of them.

All moneys received by the fiscal officer shall be immediately placed by the fiscal officer in a depository designated by the board. The fiscal officer shall keep an account of the funds credited to the board.

The fiscal officer shall render a monthly statement to the board showing the revenues and receipts from whatever sources derived, the disbursements and the purposes for such disbursements, and the assets and liabilities of the board. At the end of each fiscal year the fiscal officer shall submit to the board, to the state library board and, if requested, to any granting authority, a complete financial statement showing the receipts and expenditures in detail for the entire fiscal year. Such financial records shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

At the expiration of the term of the fiscal officer or before the board of trustees approves the surety of any fiscal officer, the board shall require the fiscal officer to produce all moneys, bonds, or other securities in the fiscal officer's hands, which shall then be counted by the board or a committee of the board, or by a representative of the auditor of state. A certificate setting forth the exact amount of such money, bonds, or other securities and signed by the persons making such count shall be entered upon the records of the board and shall be prima-facie evidence that the amount stated in such certificate is actually in the treasury at that date.

Section 3375.93 | Dissolution of or withdrawal from regional library system.

• Effective: March 30, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 674 - 122nd General Assembly

If the need for a regional library system ceases to exist, the board of trustees may, by a two-thirds vote of its members, declare its intention to dissolve the organization and file with the state library board a plan for effecting such dissolution.

The plan shall state the means by which the participating libraries may record their approval or disapproval of such intended dissolution, and shall include a plan for the distribution of the assets of the regional library system. If the regional library system received more than fifty per cent of its total budget for the previous three years from grant funds provided by the state library board, the state library board shall make final determination of the distribution of the assets.

A participating library may withdraw from a regional library system on the first day of July in any year, providing that notice of the withdrawal intention has been given at least eighteen months prior to the date of withdrawal. Whenever a withdrawal occurs or another library joins a regional library system, an amended plan shall be submitted to the state library board for approval.