Most public libraries that receive state aid must comply with the Open Meetings Law effective September 1, 2005

S 242 Sub B, which requires that any library that funds a majority of its operational budget in the prior budget year with public funds must comply with the Open Meetings Law. This law was signed by the Governor in the 2005 legislative session and becomes effective September 1, 2005.

According to the Office of the Secretary of State in order for public libraries to comply with the Open Meetings Law, they should:

1. Fill out and return to the Secretary of State a Filing Coordinator Designation Form
   http://www.sec.state.ri.us/pubinfo/publications/filing-coordinator-form.pdf
   
   
2. Fill out and return to the Secretary of State a Public Bodies Requirements Form (Excel format)
   http://www.sec.state.ri.us/pubinfo/publications/Public_Body_Requirements.xls
   
   
3. Print out and read the Open Meetings Rules and Regulations
   http://www.sec.state.ri.us/pubinfo/publications/SOS_2992.pdf

Free Public Libraries were established in law by statute RIGL 29-4

Although libraries are not required to file meeting minutes, the Office of the Secretary of State will accept them if the library wants to file them with the Office.

For more information about open meetings law requirements, please contact Stacy DiCola at the Secretary of State's Office Public Information Division, (401) 222-3983.

Once they are filed, both meeting notices and meeting minutes are available electronically from the Secretary of State's Office and can be embedded in a library's website via an RSS feed (meaning the library webmaster will not have to manually post the agenda and minutes on your library website).