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Membership in the Maine Regional Library System
Title 27, Chapter 4 of the Maine State Statutes authorized the creation of the Maine Regional Library System (MRLS) of the Maine State Library in 1973. The goal of the MRLS is to increase public awareness, use and support of Maine libraries, facilitate professional development, encourage resource sharing and regional cooperation, foster literacy, improve communication among libraries, library organizations and other groups and foster improved library service.
The MRLS is comprised of one statewide district with nine regions. Libraries in each region have access to services from an Area Reference and Resource Center (ARRC) library, an MSL Regional Liaison and MSL specialist. The regions and their respective ARRCS are:
Region # County MSL Regional Staff Liaison ARRC for ILL 1 Cumberland
Deb Clark Portland Public Library 1 York Deb Clark Portland Public Library 2 Franklin Kara Reiman Maine State Library 2 Oxford Kara Reiman
Maine State Library 3 Androscoggin Jenna Blake Davis Maine State Library 3 Kennebec Jenna Blake Davis Maine State Library 3 Sagadahoc Jenna Blake Davis Maine State Library 4 Knox Jared Leadbetter Bangor Public Library 4 Lincoln Jared Leadbetter Maine State Library 5 Piscataquis Jenny Melvin Bangor Public Library 5 Somerset Jenny Melvin Maine State Library 6 Penobscot Jenny Melvin Bangor Public Library 6 Waldo Jenny Melvin Bangor Public Library 7 Hancock Jared Leadbetter Bangor Public Library 8 Washington Lisa Shaw Bangor Public Library 9 Aroostook Lisa Shaw Bangor Public Library
Benefits of district membership include:
- Eligibility for the MSLN Internet connection worth a minimum of $6,100/year (If the library meets E-rate eligibility requirements in both federal and state statute)
- Access to Digital Maine Library databases including AncestryLibrary and LearningExpress
- Eligibility for new grants and programs from the Maine State Library
- Eligibility for van delivery
- Eligibility for continuing education stipends
- Maine State Library Directory listing
- LSTA eligibility for E-rate discounts (public libraries only)
- MHEC purchasing cooperative discounts for library materials, supplies and furnishings
- Specialist consulting services
- Interlibrary Loan services via assigned ARRC
General Membership Criteria
District membership is free to all types of libraries located within the geographic boundary of the district. Any library may join the Maine Regional Library System if it meets the following criteria:
- Be a part of an organization or institution that has a legal basis for operation and provides information resources;
- Have a written mission statement and service objectives;
- Have an established funding base;
- Be authorized to participate by its appropriate administrative authority;
- Have established and posted hours of service;
- Have a fixed location;
- Have a permanent, paid library director with library services training and who is responsible for the administration of library services;
- Have an organized collection of information and material accessible for use by its designated clientele and/or the public;
- Agree to the terms and conditions of the Maine Regional Library System membership agreement as established by the Maine Library Commission. This agreement shall include certification by each member library that it meets the minimum eligibility requirements for participation, agrees to participate in interlibrary loan activities within the state in accordance with the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States and agrees to provide data on the use of regional and statewide library materials and services
Public Library Membership Criteria
Public libraries seeking district membership must adhere to the Core Public Library Standards approved by the Maine Library Commission.
