Maine Library Commission Notice of Rulemaking

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Notice of Proposed Rule 94-075, Chapter 1: Maine Regional Library System

Pursuant to 5 M.R.S. § 8053, the Maine Library Commission provides this notice of rulemaking and call for public comment on the following:

Agency proposing this rule

Maine Library Commission

Chapter number and title of proposed rule

94-075, Chapter 1: Maine Regional Library System

Statutory authority pursuant to which the rule is proposed

27 M.R.S. § 111(2) grants the Maine Library Commission the authority to adopt rules to carry out its responsibilities.

Date, time and place of scheduled public hearing

Manner and deadline by which comments on proposed rule must be submitted for consideration

The public comment period runs from October 7 through November 20, 2026. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 20, 2026.

Written comments may be submitted in any of the following ways:

Comments may also be provided at the public hearing on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, in Augusta or via Zoom. Hearing details and participation information are provided above.

COMMENT DEADLINE: Written comments must be received by the Maine Library Commission no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 20, 2026.

Staff contact for inquiries and requests for copies of the proposed rule

  • Name: Lori Stockman, Maine State Librarian
  • Mailing address: Maine State Library, 64 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0064
  • Telephone: 207-287-6400
  • Email address: Lori.Stockman@maine.gov

Paper copies of the proposed rule are available upon request.

Summary of proposed rule

This rule establishes the geographic boundaries of the regions of the Maine Regional Library System and assigns libraries and Area Reference and Resource Centers to each region. This rule also identifies services provided by the Maine State Library to members of the Maine Regional Library System and sets forth the eligibility criteria that must be met in order for member libraries to receive each of the services. Finally, this rule establishes the dates by which libraries must be in compliance and explains how non-compliance will be determined and addressed.

State or federal law that would be implemented by the proposed rule

The rule implements the Maine Library Commission's responsibilities under:

  • 27 M.R.S. § 112(2) - establishing policies and operations of the State's library program, including minimum standards of library service and designation of library regions;
  • 27 M.R.S. § 113 - establishing or modifying geographic boundaries of library regions; and
  • 27 M.R.S. § 115 - providing for affiliation of each region with an Area Reference and Resource Center.

Adverse economic impact on small businesses

The Maine Library Commission has not documented any adverse economic impact on small businesses pursuant to 5 M.R.S. § 8052(5-A).

Category of rule

Pursuant to 27 M.R.S. § 111(2), rules adopted by the Maine Library Commission are routine technical rules as defined in 5 M.R.S. § 8071(2).

Additional Background Information

Maine law (27 M.R.S. § 112(2)) charges the Maine Library Commission (MLC) with “[e]stablish[ing] the policies and operations of the Maine State Library and the State's library program including minimum standards of library service, the apportionment of state aid to libraries, the designation of library regions and their boundaries, the endorsement of the designation of area reference and resource centers and the designation of research centers after full consideration of the advice of the State Librarian.”

The MLC has identified that the Maine Regional Library System agreement, which has been in place and signed by Maine public libraries for decades, is not legally enforceable. The Attorney General’s office has advised that to be enforceable, a rule is necessary. In addition, the Commission recognizes that it operates in a world of limited human and fiscal resources. The current rule (“Rules Regarding Responsibilities of Public Libraries”), would be replaced by the proposed rule.