The Maine State Library staff has canceled a meeting set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, as the system awaits legal guidance from the Office of the Maine Attorney General on proposed revised standards.

At its regular meeting Nov. 17, the Maine State Library Commission was scheduled to consider and vote on a revised membership agreement and a new definition of “public library” that all libraries would be required to meet.

The proposed definition would have forced the state’s smallest libraries to hire directors and expand their hours if they wanted to continue accessing the state’s interlibrary loan service, including e-books and internet service.

At the meeting, several library directors, patrons and donors from Maine’s smallest libraries expressed dismay at the plan, saying they could not meet the new requirements because it would be too costly for their all-volunteer libraries with limited hours. They said their shared concern was losing access to services critical in rural communities, particularly internet service provided through the Maine State Library.

After hearing about a half-hour of criticism, much of which was angry, commissioners voted unanimously to postpone their vote and to seek a legal opinion on standards outlined in the Maine Regional Library System Public Library Agreement to Participate to avoid “punishing” rural libraries. Commissioners also pledged that Maine State Library staff members would meet with libraries that would be impacted under the proposals, including more than 20 libraries that do not have paid directors.

The commission tabled further discussion on the proposals until its next regular meeting in January.

Two days after the commission meeting Nov. 19, Jenny Melvin Smith, a public library consultant to the Maine State Library, sent invitations to librarians for a two-hour information session scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, on Zoom. The meeting, organized by library staff members, was “designed for public libraries that may be at risk of not meeting the membership criteria outlined in the revised Maine Regional Library System Agreement and Definition of a Public Library,” according to the invitation.

The agenda included an overview of the proposed agreement and definition, a review of key membership requirements, results of impact and capacity assessments conducted by the Maine State Library and an explanation of implementation plans and support to be offered to public libraries, followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

In her invitation, Smith said the goal of the discussion was to “ensure every library has the information and support it needs to remain in good standing and continue receiving the full benefits of MRLS membership.”

On Monday, Nov. 24, the session was canceled.

In an email to libraries, Smith said the cancellation was necessary “while we await additional legal guidance from our Assistant Attorney General.”

She said more information would be available to libraries at the next Maine Library Commission meeting, scheduled for Jan. 12, “regarding how it will gather input from the library community on this issue.”

Asked about the cancellation, Marijke Visser, director of library development for the Maine State Library, wrote in an email that “through the Commission subcommittee responsible for the work on the Agreement, the Commission will seek input from the libraries that may be impacted by revision to the Agreement and is obtaining guidance from the Assistant Attorney General liaison to the Maine State Library.”

Her statement echoed Smith’s announcement that information on how libraries can provide feedback on the new standards will be shared at the January commission meeting.

Maine State Library staff members held 10 listening sessions across the state between Sept. 10 and Nov. 14 to introduce the new standards to library directors, staff and trustees.

Visser said the sessions were organized to explain recent changes to the library system, including updated benchmarks of excellence and a revised Maine Regional Library System that consolidates nine districts into three: southern, central and northern.

The benchmarks of excellence, considered goals rather than requirements, were approved by the commission in June.

The listening sessions marked the first time some library directors heard about the new requirements. Other library supporters learned of the proposed changes only through Monitor Local reporting just two days before the commission’s November meeting, a factor that fueled criticism at the session.

This week, Visser asked the public for patience “while we await further guidance” from the assistant attorney general.

At the November commission meeting, Barbara Baig, a teacher and writer from Washington County, emphasized the need for public access to internet services in small towns. She said she had “never heard of such a shortsighted and mean-spirited public policy,” and admonished the commission for “the lack of understanding that rural areas are not cities and, in setting public policy, should not be treated like cities.”

Making no apology for her sharp tone, Baig urged the commission to delay further consideration for six months or longer to do more homework. She encouraged members to visit small libraries to see how they operate, and then “come up with a policy that reflects the reality” for rural libraries, rather than setting policy “from the view out of a window in Augusta.”

After the vote to postpone discussion, a surprised Baig said she was “heartened by the fact that only half a dozen or so speakers were enough to prompt the motion to reschedule the planned vote. Democracy still lives!”

Baig and other supporters of the Pembroke Library Association, who have been especially vocal about the proposed changes, said they will continue to oppose the proposals. They said the changes defy the state’s definition of a public library: “Public library means a library freely open to all persons and receives its financial support from a municipality, private association, corporation or group. The above serves the informational, educational and recreational needs of all the residents of the area for which its governing body is responsible.”

According to the Maine Library Commission, its new membership agreement uses a definition developed by the Federal-State Cooperative System. At a minimum, it requires an organized collection of printed or other library materials, paid staff members, a set schedule when staff services are available to the public, facilities to support the collection and staff and funding supported in whole or in part with public money.

In its proposed agreement, the Maine Library Commission requires public libraries to hire a permanent, paid director in compliance with state and federal labor laws — a move that would bar volunteer directors or those paid with small stipends. The agreement also calls for libraries to be open at least 12 hours a week and to maintain an up-to-date automated or searchable catalog system. 

For information about the commission’s January meeting, which Visser said would be posted in December, visit the Maine Library Commission’s website.

This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit civic news organization. To get regular coverage from The Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here.