Powers and duties of State Library, Archives and Public Records Administrator: Responsibility for statewide program of development and coordination of library and informational services

1. The State Library, Archives and Public Records Administrator is responsible for the statewide program of development and coordination of library and informational services. 2. The State Library, Archives and Public Records Administrator shall: (a) Collect, compile and publish statistics and information concerning the operation of libraries in this State. (b) Carry out continuing studies and analyses of library problems. (c) Maintain a clearinghouse of information, data and other materials in the field of library and informational services. (d) Provide advice and technical assistance to public libraries, other libraries, agencies of the State, political subdivisions, planning groups and other agencies and organizations. (e) Make available to public libraries advice and technical assistance with respect to programs of public relations. (f) Assist and cooperate with other state agencies and officials, local governments, federal agencies and organizations in carrying out programs involving library and informational services. (g) Encourage and assist the efforts of libraries and local governments to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to problems with respect to library and informational services. (h) Administer such funds as may be made available by the Legislature for improvement of public library services, interlibrary cooperation or for other library and information-transfer services. (i) Subject to the approval of local governing bodies, designate certain libraries as resource center libraries and develop and encourage cooperative steps to link these centers with other libraries in a reference and information network. 3. The State Library, Archives and Public Records Administrator may contract with agencies, organizations, libraries, library schools, boards of education and universities, public and private, within or outside this State, for library services, facilities, research or any other related purposes.