Article 8 - Provision of Library Services

California Education Code — §§ 1770-1775

Sections (6)

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 471, Sec. 5. (SB 1329) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)The county superintendent of schools may, with the approval of the county board of supervisors and the county board of education, agree with the county librarian to take over all existing contracts for supplementary books and other material adopted for the course of study between the school districts or community college districts and the county librarian entered into pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 18130) of Chapter 2 of Part 11. Thereafter, the county superintendent of schools shall generally perform the library services for the school districts or community college districts that were previously performed by the county library.
(b)After the above agreement has been entered into, the governing board of

any district that had not yet joined the county library may enter into an agreement with the county superintendent of schools for the performance of school library services upon the terms and conditions fixed in the contracts or agreements.

(c)Whenever the county superintendent of schools performs school library services for any district, the provisions of Article 4 (commencing with Section 18130) of Chapter 2 of Part 11, so far as applicable, shall control. The county superintendent of schools shall employ a librarian holding a valid credential authorizing services as a librarian issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The county superintendent of schools shall also employ the assistants that may be necessary to carry on this service. The cost of the salaries of the librarian and assistants, and the other necessary expenses of maintenance of the library, including necessary supplies, equipment, and books, may be paid from the

county school service fund.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 471, Sec. 6. (SB 1329) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)The county superintendent of schools of any county in which no county library is maintained may, with the approval of the county board of education, establish and maintain a county school library service for elementary school districts of the county that elect to participate in that service.
(b)Upon the governing board of any elementary school district electing to participate in that service, the governing board of the elementary school district shall enter into an agreement with the county superintendent of schools, and the provisions of Article 4 (commencing with Section 18130) of Chapter 2 of Part 11 shall control and be applicable in the same manner as they apply to a school district that enters into an agreement for

school library services from the county library.

(c)The county superintendent of schools shall have the same powers, duties, responsibilities, and jurisdiction with respect to the furnishing and performance of library services to elementary school districts that have elected to participate in the county school library service as may be exercised by a county library with respect to school library services.
(d)Whenever the county superintendent of schools establishes and maintains a county school library service pursuant to subdivision (a), the county superintendent of schools shall employ a librarian holding a valid credential authorizing service as a school librarian issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
(e)The county superintendents of schools of two or more contiguous counties that have established

county school library services pursuant to this section may cooperate with each other and to that end may enter into agreements with each other, and may do any and all things necessary or convenient to aid and cooperate in carrying out this section.

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

The county superintendent of schools may, with the approval of the county board of education, agree with the proper authorities of the county to transfer funds from the county school service fund to the county library for the purchase of such books and other materials as are adopted by the body authorized to adopt courses of study for the school districts of this county.

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

The county superintendent of schools of any county maintaining one or more emergency elementary schools may, if the county maintains a county library, enter into an agreement with the proper authorities of the county to provide school library services in each of the schools under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon. The agreement may, among other matters, provide for the payment by the county superintendent of schools to the proper authorities for the use of the county library from the county school service fund of such money at such times as may be agreed upon. All money transferred shall be used solely by the authorities of the county library for the purchase of books and other materials as may be adopted by the county board of education and for the care and distribution of such books and other materials to the schools.

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

(a)The county superintendent of schools may establish a county teachers’ library and expend from the county school service fund such amounts as are necessary for the purchase of books therefor and for the payment of the necessary expenses of maintenance thereof.
(b)If there is a county library in any county, the county superintendent of schools may enter into an agreement with the county library for the transfer to it of all books and other property belonging to the county teachers’ library and may order such sums to be transferred from the county school service fund as are necessary for expenditure for the purchase and maintenance of books of professional interest to teachers. Thereupon the teachers’ library shall be administered as a part of the county library.

Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.

Whenever the county superintendent of schools assumes responsibility for the establishment of a library or the performance of library services pursuant to this article, the county superintendent shall, on or before August 31st, in each year, report to the State Department of Education on the condition of the libraries under his supervision, for the year ending June 30th preceding. The reports of the superintendent shall, in addition to other matters deemed expedient by the librarian and the superintendent, contain such statistical and other information as is deemed desirable by the State Department of Education. For this purpose the State Department of Education may send to the several county superintendents or librarians instructions or question blanks so as to obtain the material for a comparative study of library conditions in the state.