From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1991 18:56:27 GMT
Message-ID: <1991Sep12.185627.26936@eff.org>
Subject: What is a library?

I advocate treating newsgroup selection like selection at a library.

But is Netnews only like a library, or is it a library? The answer to
this question is more than academic. Some states such as Michigan
exempt libraries from their antipandering laws.

So what is a library?


Here is my favorite definition:

(From Indiana state law) "'Library' means a collection of a variety of
books or other printed matter, audiovisual materials or other items in
which knowledge is recorded; kept in a centralized place; for which a
person who as knowledge of the materials, their arrangement, their use
and of library skills is responsible; and which are for the use of
individuals or groups in meeting their recreational, informational,
educational, research or cultural needs."


Here are some others:

The best definition in the OED II is:

"a public institution or establishment, charged with the care of a
collection of books, and the duty of rendering the books accessible to
those who require to use them."


I called the American Library Association, but the folks I talked to
did know of an official definition. They did, however, suggest looking
in the book _American Library Laws_ (5th edition) for legal
definitions.  From the book I learned that most states do not define
the term. Here are definitions from the states that do:

California: "'School library' means an organized collection of printed
and audiovisual materials which (a) is administered as a unit, (b) is
located in a designed place, and (c) makes printed, audiovisual, and
other materials as well as necessary equipment and services of a staff
accessible to elementary and secondary school students and teachers."

"'Academic library' means a library established and maintained by a
college or university to meet the needs of its students and faculty,
and others by agreement."

Maine: "'Media center' means any library utilizing print as well as
extensive nonprint resources and materials."

Pennsylvania: "'Local Library.' Any free, public, nonsectrian library,
whether established and maintained by a municipality or by a private
association, corporation or group, which serves the informational,
educational and recreational needs of all the residents of the area
for which its governing body is responsible, by providing free access
(including free lending and reference services) to an organized and
currently useful collection of printed items and other materials and
to the services of staff trained to recognized and provide for these
needs."

South Dakota: "'Public library materials,' the various forms in which
knowledge, information, and humanity's cultural heritage
are recorded that a public library might acquire, organized and
make available to its clientele;"

Washington State: "'Resources' are library materials which include but
are not limited to print, nonprint (e.g., audiovisual, realia, etc.),
and microform formats; network resources such as software, hardware,
and equipment; electronic and magnetic records; data bases;
communication technology; facilities; and human expertise."

[According to the OED II, "realia" are " Objects which may be used as
teaching aids but were not made for the purpose."]
-- 
Carl Kadie -- kadie@eff.org or kadie@cs.uiuc.edu
I do not represent EFF; this is just me.

------------------------------