Any public, academic, school, or special library within a Region will be eligible to participate as a member of a Regional Library System on meeting certain requirements. These requirements are that the participating library shall:

• be a part of an organization or institution that has a legal basis for operation;
• have an organized collection of information and material accessible for use by its designated clientele;
• have a fixed location;
• have established and posted hours of service;
• have an on-site, paid librarian-in-charge who meets Massachusetts education and certification requirements in effect for that type of library;
  

  Note: Each public school library member must be staffed by a full-or part-time librarian meeting Massachusetts certification requirements as a school library media specialist; each non-public school library member must be staffed by a full-or part-time librarian meeting Massachusetts certification requirements or possessing a Master in Library Science degree.)

• have a written mission statement and service objectives;
• have an established funding base;
• be authorized to participate by its appropriate administrative authority;
• agree to the terms and conditions of the Regional Library System membership agreement as established by the Board of Library Commissioners. This agreement shall include certification by each member library that it meets the minimum eligibility requirements for participation, agrees to participate in interlibrary loan activities within the Commonwealth in accordance with the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States and agrees to provide data on the use of Regional and statewide library materials and services.

All public libraries that are currently members of a Regional Public Library System are automatically members of a Regional Library System.

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners - April 24, 1997