A. The state librarian shall:

(1) administer the state library;

(2) administer grants-in-aid and encourage local library service and generally promote an effective statewide library system;

(3) make studies and surveys of public library needs;

(4) supply advice and information to existing libraries and aid in the establishment of new libraries;

(5) obtain each year, from all libraries in the state, reports showing the conditions, growth and development together with such other facts and statistics regarding them as are of public interest;

(6) cooperate with other educational services and governmental agencies of the state and with library agencies of other states and with national library agencies;

(7) cooperate with the administrative services division of the cultural affairs department in preparing the budget for the state library;

(8) administer the library extension service;

(9) make rules and regulations necessary to administer the library division as provided by law and to perform other duties as provided by law; and

(10) establish and administer a library depository and distribution system for state documents and publications.

B. The state librarian may solicit and receive funds or property, including federal funds and public and private grants, for programs and activities administered by the state librarian.

History: 1953 Comp., § 4-11-3.1, enacted by Laws 1961, ch. 126, § 4; 1977, ch. 246, § 11; 1978, ch. 140, § 1; 2018, ch. 23, § 1.

Cross reference. — For powers and duties of state libraries relating to rural libraries and other services, see 22-9-9 NMSA 1978.

The 2018 amendment, effective May 16, 2018, authorized the state librarian to solicit and receive funds or property, including federal funds and public and private grants, for programs and activities administered by the state librarian; designated the former undesignated introductory clause as Subsection A and redesignated former Subsections A through J as Paragraphs A(1) through A(10), respectively; in Paragraph A(7), after "services division", added "of the cultural affairs department"; and added a new Subsection B.

Conflict with federal law. — Section 18-2-7 NMSA 1978, which has a limiting effect on this section, is in conflict with the requirements of the federal Library Services and Construction Act, § 203(a), (Pub. L. No. 269, 88th Cong., 2nd Sess., Feb. 11, 1964 (repealed in 1996)), if the boards or agencies that control the local public libraries of New Mexico have a different policy of supervision than that required by the Library Services and Construction Act. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-51.