Maryland Education Section 23-202

      (a)      The boards of library trustees of at least three public library systems outside the standard metropolitan statistical areas defined by the United States Bureau of the Census may request the Department to establish and maintain a regional resource center.

      (b)      Each regional resource center shall provide, through mutual cooperation and coordination, books, information, and other material and service resources that an individual library cannot provide adequately by itself.

      (c)      (1)      A region to be served by a regional resource center shall have a population of at least 100,000.

            (2)      Subject to approval by the Department, the boards of library trustees of the participating library systems shall designate the library to serve as the resource center.

            (3)      If possible, the library selected as the regional resource center shall be:

                  (i)      The strongest library in the region; and

                  (ii)      Located so as to be of greatest service to the entire region.

      (d)      (1)      There is a board of advisors for each regional resource center.

            (2)      The board of advisors consists of two individuals selected by the board of trustees of each participating library system to represent its library.

            (3)      The board of advisors for each regional resource center shall:

                  (i)      Gather information on the resource needs of its region and this State;

                  (ii)      Before State funds are distributed to it, make an annual report to the Department and the State Advisory Council on Libraries that evaluates and makes recommendations on the operation of the center;

                  (iii)      Recommend to the board of trustees of the library designated as the regional resource center and to the Department policies and procedures for the development and use of the regional resource center;

                  (iv)      Promote the use of the regional resource center;

                  (v)      Recommend the purchase, condemnation, rental, use, sale, or conveyance of property for any purpose valid under this section; and

                  (vi)      Recommend plans for the regional resource centers, which may include the use of facilities of participating libraries, additions to the facilities of participating libraries, or new facilities separate from the existing facilities of participating libraries.

      (e)      (1)      The head of each regional resource center is the administrator of the library designated as the center.

            (2)      The administrator shall operate the regional resource center under standards adopted by the Department.

            (3)      The policies and procedures of the regional resource center shall be:

                  (i)      Recommended by the board of trustees of the library designated as the center; and

                  (ii)      Approved by the board of advisors of the center.

      (f)      Each regional resource center shall:

            (1)      Make interlibrary loans of books and materials;

            (2)      Supply collections and exhibits of specialized materials;

            (3)      Provide consultant services;

            (4)      Organize inservice training for library staffs; and

            (5)      Develop and operate cooperative services among libraries.