256.51 - DIVISION OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES -- DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. - Iowa Statutes

256.51 DIVISION OF LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES -- DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 1. The division of libraries and information services is established within the department of education. The division shall do all of the following: a. Determine policy for providing information service to the three branches of state government and to the legal and medical communities in this state. b. Coordinate a statewide interregional interlibrary loan and information network among libraries in this state and support activities which increase cooperation among all types of libraries. c. Establish and administer a program for the collection and distribution of state publications to depository libraries. d. Develop, in consultation with the library service areas and the area education agency media centers, a biennial unified plan of service and service delivery for the division of libraries and information services. e. Establish and administer a statewide continuing education program for librarians and trustees. f. Give to libraries advice and counsel in specialized areas which may include, but are not limited to, building construction and space utilization, children's services, and technological developments. g. Obtain from libraries reports showing the condition, growth, and development of services provided and disseminate this information in a timely manner to the citizens of Iowa. h. Establish and administer certification guidelines for librarians not covered by other accrediting agencies. i. Foster public awareness of the condition of libraries in Iowa and of methods to improve library services to the citizens of the state. j. Establish and administer standards for state agency libraries, the library service areas, and public libraries. 2. The division may do all of the following: a. Enter into interstate library compacts on behalf of the state of Iowa with any state which legally joins in the compacts as provided in section 256.70. b. Receive and expend money for providing programs and services. The division may receive, accept, and administer any moneys appropriated or granted to it, separate from the general library fund, by the federal government or by any other public or private agency. c. Accept gifts, contributions, bequests, endowments, or other moneys, including but not limited to the Westgate endowment fund, for any or all purposes of the division. Interest earned on moneys accepted under this paragraph shall be credited to the fund or funds to which the gifts, contributions, bequests, endowments, or other moneys have been deposited, and is available for any or all purposes of the division. The division shall report annually to the director and the general assembly regarding the gifts, contributions, bequests, endowments, or other moneys accepted pursuant to this paragraph and the interest earned on them.          Section History: Recent Form 93 Acts, ch 48, §18; 2001 Acts, ch 158, §12; 2006 Acts, ch 1152, §21 Referred to in § 256.57