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Georgia Statutes, Title 20

Georgia/Statutes

← All Georgia coverage

Title 20

17 chapters · 1,343 sections in this title.

All chapters in Title 201,343 Ch 2, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION668 Ch 3, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION411 Ch 14, EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY50 Ch 4, VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDU…43 Ch 5, LIBRARIES37 Ch 1A, EARLY CARE AND LEARNING36 Ch 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS27 Ch 16, GEORGIA HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES …18 Ch 13, GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO…12 Ch 12, MARINE RESOURCES EXTENSION CENTERS A…9 Ch 2A, STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATIONS8 Ch 8, CAMPUS POLICEMEN7 Ch 11, GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH INSTITUTE7 Ch 6, EDUCATION COMPACTS6

37 sections·Filtered byTitle 20✕Ch 5✕

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-1 State policy
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It is declared to be the policy of the state, as a part of the provisions for public education, to promote the establishment of public library service throughout the state. (Ga. L. 1943, p. 385, § 3; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 85.)
O.C.G.A. § 20-5-1.1 Board of regents defined
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As used in this article, the term ‘‘board of regents’’ means the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. (Code 1981, § 20-5-1.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 85.)
O.C.G.A. § 20-5-2 Powers and duties of the board of regents and director of University of Georgia Libraries; abolition of State Library Commission and transfer of functions; reports of state publications; electronic su
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(a) The board of regents shall give aid, advice, and counsel to all libraries and to communities which may propose to establish libraries as to the best means of establishing and administering them, the selection of books, cataloging, and other details of library management and s…
O.C.G.A. § 20-5-3 Disbursement of funds
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In order to effectuate the purposes of this article there shall be made available to the board of regents whatever funds may be duly allocated to it by the proper authority, either by specific appropriation or otherwise as now provided by law, and the board of regents shall be au…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-4 Annual reports by public libraries

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All public libraries in the state shall submit reports annually to the board of regents. (Ga. L. 1943, p. 385, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 167, § 8; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 85.)

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-5 Internet safety policies in public libraries

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(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Acceptable-use policy’’ means a policy for Internet usage adopted by the governing board of a public library that meets the requirements of this Code section. (2) ‘‘Child pornography’’ means any computer depiction or other materia…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-20 Power of city to tax and appropriate for library purposes; election of trustees to control library funds

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Any city, through its properly constituted municipal authorities, may raise by taxation from year to year and permanently appropriate money for the purpose of establishing, erecting, maintaining, or assisting in maintaining a public library. Any such sum or sums of money so appro…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-21 Disbursement of library appropriations; annual reports by trustees

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In any city in which an appropriation shall be made under this part, the money so appropriated shall be drawn from the treasury of such city on the warrant of the board of trustees of the public library and shall be paid out from time to time for salaries, purchase of books, and …

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-22 Acceptance of donations by trustees

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The board of trustees of the public library of a city is authorized to accept and receive donations, either in money, land, or other property, for the purpose of erecting or assisting in the erection of suitable buildings for the use of such public library, for maintaining it, or…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-23 Powers of trustees over library; librarian and assistant librarian or officers

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The board of trustees of the public library of a city shall exercise a strict and rigid supervision over such public library; shall pass all necessary rules and regulations for the government and control of it; and shall elect a librarian and, if necessary, an assistant librarian…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-24 City may bind itself to accept donation and make annual payments for library

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The municipal government of any city in which an appropriation shall be made under this part shall have authority to enter into a legal and binding agreement to accept and receive any donation offered by any person or persons, and any such agreement shall be legal and binding upo…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-40 Power of local governments to establish public libraries; procedures for establishment

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(a) The governing authority of any county or municipality may establish a public library system. Any public library established pursuant to this part shall be a tax-exempt institution. (b) A public library may be established in the following manner: (1) By resolution or act, at t…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-41 Establishment of boards of trustees to govern libraries

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Each library system shall be governed by a board of trustees. Each system shall have a governing board of trustees but may have other affiliated boards of trustees for member libraries. The county board of library trustees shall exercise authority in a county system. The regional…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-42 Membership of boards of trustees

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(a) A county board of trustees shall consist of at least one appointee from each governmental agency financially supporting the library on a regular basis. Appointments shall be made in writing pursuant to the constitution and bylaws of the library system, shall be transmitted to…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-43 Duties and responsibilities of boards of trustees

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The board of trustees shall have duties and responsibilities which include but are not limited to the following: (1) To employ a library director who meets state certification requirements and such other employees as necessary upon the recommendation of the library system directo…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-44 Compensation of trustees

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Members of the board of trustees shall receive no compensation; provided, however, that such members may be reimbursed for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of library business or if stipulated in terms of any bequest or gift. Dues or fees for memb…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-45 Directors of library systems; duties and responsibilities

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Every public library system shall have a director. Any person appointed as director of a public library system must hold at least a Grade 5(b) Librarian’s Professional Graduate Certificate, as defined by the State Board for the Certification of Librarians; provided, however, that…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-46 Reports of the library system

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The library system shall make such reports as deemed necessary by local and state funding agencies. In every case at least an annual report of activities, income, and expenditures shall be filed with each funding agency. (Code 1981, § 20-5-46, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1005, § 1…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-47 Written constitution

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(a) The board of trustees of each county and regional library shall have a written constitution and bylaws stating policy which shall be approved by the board. Such constitution and bylaws shall be drafted in accordance with the current edition of the Handbook on Constitutions, B…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-48 Ownership of library property

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(a) A clear title in fee simple to an approved site on which a library facility is to be located shall be held by either the library board of trustees or the county or municipality. Title to property used for library purposes shall be vested in the library board of trustees or in…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-49 Authorization of library systems to enter into contracts

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Library systems are authorized to make and enter into such contracts or agreements as are deemed necessary and desirable. All such contracts or agreements entered into shall: (1) Detail the specific nature of the services, programs, facilities, arrangements, or properties to whic…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-50 Requirement of finance bond

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Each library board which handles finances must keep a current bond for an adequate amount determined by the board of trustees and recorded in the minutes on the library director, the treasurer of the board of trustees, or other officials and employees authorized to handle funds. …

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-51 Dissolution of or withdrawal from a library system

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(a) A library system shall be dissolved by a reversal of procedures followed in its original organization. A majority of the board members in a majority of the counties must agree to the dissolution of the system. One county in a multicounty system may withdraw by a reversal of t…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-52 Prohibition of theft or damage of library property

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Any person who shall steal or unlawfully take or willfully or maliciously write upon, cut, tear, deface, disfigure, soil, obliterate, break, or destroy or who shall sell or buy or receive, knowing it to have been stolen, any book, pamphlet, document, newspaper, periodical, map, c…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-53 Procedures following failure of library patron to return borrowed property

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Any person who borrows from any public library any book, newspaper, magazine, manuscript, pamphlet, publication, recording, video product, microform, computer software, film, or other article or equipment necessary to its display or use belonging to or in the care of such public …

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-54 Prohibition of concealing or removing library property

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Any person who, without authority and with the intention of depriving the public library of the ownership of such property, willfully conceals a book or other public library property, while still on the premises of such public library, or willfully or without authority removes an…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-55 Immunity of library agents and employees from civil actions arising from part

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An agent or employee of a public library or of any department or office of the state or local government causing the arrest of any person pursuant to the provisions of this part shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention, slander, malicious prosecution, false impriso…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-56 Requirement of certification of librarians

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All persons holding professional positions with the title of librarian must be certified by the State Board for the Certification of Librarians. (Code 1981, § 20-5-56, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1005, § 1.)

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-57 Penalty

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Any failure to comply with the provisions of this part shall result in the forfeiture of all state and federal library aid to the system. (Code 1981, § 20-5-57, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1005, § 1.)

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-58 Time requirement for existing library systems to conform with part

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A library system existing prior to July 1, 1984, shall have until July 1, 1989, to comply fully with the provisions of this part, and any provision to the contrary within Chapter 24 of Title 43, relating to libraries, shall be superseded by the provisions of this part. (Code 1981…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-59 Exemption of municipal public libraries from part

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This part shall not apply to any municipal public library. (Code 1981, § 20-5-59, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1005, § 1.) ARTICLE 3 INTERSTATE LIBRARY COMPACT

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-60 ‘‘State library agency’’ defined

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As used in the Interstate Library Compact, ‘‘state library agency,’’ with reference to this state, means the Office of Public Library Services of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. (Ga. L. 1972, p. 872, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 167, § 13; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, §…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-61 Compact enacted; terms

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The Interstate Library Compact is enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows: ‘‘INTERSTATE LIBRARY COMPACT ARTICLE I. POLICY AND PURPOSE. Because the desire for the services provided by libraries tra…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-62 Participating political subdivisions to comply with laws on capital outlay and pledging of credit

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No municipality, county, or other political subdivision of this state shall be a party to a library agreement which provides for the construction or maintenance of a library pursuant to Article III, subdivision (c), paragraph (7) of the compact, or pledge its credit in support of…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-63 State and federal aid to interstate library districts

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An interstate library district lying partly within this state may claim and be entitled to receive state aid in support of any of its functions to the same extent and in the same manner as such functions are eligible for support when carried on by entities wholly within this stat…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-64 Appointment of compact administrator and deputy administrators

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The board of regents shall appoint an officer of this state to be the compact administrator pursuant to Article X of the compact. The board of regents shall also appoint one or more deputy compact administrators pursuant to such article. (Ga. L. 1972, p. 872, § 5; Ga. L. 2000, p.…

O.C.G.A. § 20-5-65 Notices of withdrawal from compact

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In the event of withdrawal from the compact, the board of regents shall send and receive any notices required by Article XI(b) of the compact. (Ga. L. 1972, p. 872, § 6; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 92.)