Utah State Library Board

CREATION AND MISSION: The State Library Commission was established in 1957 (Laws of Utah, 1957, ch. 68). The initial objectives were to establish a State Library agency; promote library service in rural areas; and promote adequate public library service throughout the state. The commission became a policy-making board for the State Library division with reorganization of state government in 1979 (Laws of Utah 1979, ch 234, 37-4-3, p. 1106). The State Library Board was formally placed within the Department of Community and Economic Development in 1992 (Laws of Utah ch. 241, sec. 257).

FUNCTIONS: Initially, the Library Commission was directly over the State Library, responsible for its development and the hiring of its director. Since the 1979 reorganization, the Library Board serves as the advisory and policy making body for the State Library division, providing advice and setting standards for the State Library and public libraries around the state. The board must concur on the appointment of the division director by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

ADMINISTRATION: Members are appointed by the Governor. Membership must include one from each of the following agencies: State Department of Public Instruction (Later changed to State Office of Education); Law Library Board (Later changed to Board of Control of the State Law Library; the Legislative Council (later called the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel); and the State Historical Society Board (replaced by ch. 37, Laws of Utah in 1989 by the Utah System of Higher Education). Of the five remaining members, at least two must be from rural areas. The director of the State Library Division serves as the board secretary. The Board selected its own chairman until amendments in 1992 (Laws of Utah ch 241 sec. 257) when the governor began appointing the chairman.