Minimum Standards for Rhode Island Public Libraries will become effective October 1, 2000. Public libraries will have until July 1, 2003 to comply with these minimum standards. At that time, a review of the standards should begin that would result in another revision to be approved in 2005 and implemented on July 1, 2008.

The Office of Library and Information Services will assist each library in performing an initial standards review. For each standard with which the library does not comply, the director will be required to submit by July 1, 2001 a Standards Compliance Plan to the Office of Library and Information Services. For those standards (numbers 1, 15, and 16) which relate to the combined libraries of a city or town, a joint Standards Compliance Plan for those particular standards must be submitted. The plan should detail the actions that will be taken to comply with the particular standard by July 1, 2003.

Beginning in state fiscal 2003-2004, standards certification form(s) must be submitted annually by each library and by the combined libraries in a city or town for Standards 1, 15, and 16. A Request for Waiver for each individual standard not met must be submitted by the individual library, or in the case of Standards 1, 15, and 16, by the combined libraries.

Waivers will not automatically be granted to a library with personnel currently in professional positions who do not comply with the degree requirement. Each request for waiver will be evaluated in consideration of the qualifications and experience of the staff in those professional positions. After July 1, 2003, whenever these positions become vacant, the library will be required to comply with the particular standard.