Title 27

The State Librarian is authorized to apportion funds appropriated by the Legislature for the support of regional library systems.

1. Confidentiality. A record maintained by any public library, as defined in section 110, subsection 10, the Maine State Library, the Law and Legislative Reference Library or a library of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System or the Maine Maritime Aca…

Because the desire for the services provided by libraries transcends governmental boundaries and can most effectively be satisfied by giving such services to communities and people regardless of jurisdictional lines, it is the policy of the states party to this compact to coopera…

As used in this compact: "Public library agency" means any unit or agency of local or State Government operating or having power to operate a library. "Private library agency" means any non-governmental entity which operates or assumes a legal obligation to operate a library. "Li…

1. Interstate library districts. Any one or more public library agencies in a party state in cooperation with any public library agency or agencies in one or more other party states may establish and maintain an interstate library district. Subject to this compact and any other l…

1. Governing board. An interstate library district which establishes, maintains or operates any facilities or services in its own right shall have a governing board which shall direct the affairs of the district and act for it in all matters relating to its business. Each partici…

Any 2 or more state library agencies of 2 or more of the party states may undertake and conduct joint or cooperative library programs, render joint or cooperative library services, and enter into and perform arrangements for the cooperative or joint acquisition, use, housing and …

1. Library agreements. In order to provide for any joint or cooperative undertaking pursuant to this compact, public and private library agencies may enter into library agreements. Any agreement executed pursuant to the provisions of this compact shall, as among the parties to th…

1. Approval of attorney general. Every library agreement made pursuant to this compact shall, prior to and as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the attorney general of each state in which a public library agency party thereto is situated, who shall de…

Nothing in this compact or in any library agreement shall be construed to supersede, alter or otherwise impair any obligation imposed on any library by otherwise applicable law, nor to authorize the transfer or disposition of any property held in trust by a library agency in a ma…

1. Funds. Any public library agency party to a library agreement may appropriate funds to the interstate library district established thereby in the same manner and to the same extent as to a library wholly maintained by it and, subject to the laws of the state in which such publ…

Each state shall designate a compact administrator with whom copies of all library agreements to which his state or any public library agency thereof is party shall be filed. The administrator shall have such other powers as may be conferred upon him by the laws of his state and …

1. Force and effect. This compact shall enter into force and effect immediately upon its enactment into law by any 2 states. Thereafter, it shall enter into force and effect as to any other state upon the enactment thereof by such state. 2. Withdrawal. This compact shall continue…

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the Unite…

The Interstate Library Compact is enacted into law and entered into by this State with all states legally joining therein in the form substantially as provided in this chapter.

No municipality of this State shall be party to a library agreement which provides for the construction or maintenance of a library pursuant to Article III, subsection 3, paragraph G, of this compact, nor pledge its credit in support of such a library, or contribute to the capita…

As used in the compact, "state library agency," with reference to this State, means the Maine State Library.

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…

The State Librarian shall be the compact administrator pursuant to Article X of the compact. The deputy state librarian shall be deputy compact administrator pursuant to said article.

In the event of withdrawal from the compact, the Governor shall send and receive any notices required by Article XI, subsection 2, of the compact.

The Governor shall appoint the State Historian. The State Historian must be a resident of the State, a member of an historical society in the State and distinguished as a researcher, writer, lecturer or teacher of Maine history. In making the appointment, the Governor shall consi…

The actual cash expenses of the State Historian incurred while in the discharge of official duties, including any sum necessarily contracted by the State Historian for clerical assistance, must be paid from the State Treasury but may not exceed $3,500 a year. Any portion of said …

The duties of the State Historian are: [PL 1999, c. 706, §7 (NEW).] 1. History and heritage. To enhance the knowledge of Maine citizens of the State's history and heritage; 2. Teaching of history. To encourage the teaching of Maine history in the public schools; 3. Consult. To se…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Artist" means the creator of the work of fine art. [PL 1985, c. 382 (NEW).] B. "Conservation" means acts taken to correct deterioration and altera…

The Legislature, in recognizing the importance of Maine's cultural heritage of the distant past to our understanding of Maine's people, declares that it is the policy of this State to preserve and protect archaeological sites for proper excavation and interpretation. [PL 1981, c.…

1. Transference of custody. The several departments of the State are authorized to transfer any archaeological objects, materials or specimens in their possession to the custody and trusteeship of the State Museum. 2. Museum responsibility. The State designates the State Museum t…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1981, c. 55, §5 (NEW).] 1. Artifact. "Artifact" means a physical entity which has been worked or modified by human action. 2. Authorized representative. "Authoriz…

1. Purpose. The people of this State benefit only when a protected site is systematically excavated, analyzed and interpreted by a qualified principal investigator. 2. Permit procedure. The procedure for obtaining a permit to excavate a protected site is as follows. A. Any person…

1. Definition of unlawful excavation. "Unlawful excavation" means unauthorized excavation at a protected site, unless: A. A demonstrable emergency situation existed relating to the survival of the protected site; and [PL 2013, c. 89, §5 (AMD).] B. An excavation permit is immediat…

1. State-owned artifacts to remain in Maine. No artifacts, objects, specimens or materials originating from a protected site on state-controlled land may be authorized to leave the State permanently without written permission of the permittors. They may be loaned for a term speci…

In order to protect the site or protected site from unlawful excavation or harm, any information in the possession of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the State Museum, the Bureau of Parks and Lands, other state agencies or the University of Maine System about the loca…

In the case of an area containing archaeological materials or artifacts that is directly threatened with unauthorized excavation, the Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, with the written permission of the landowner, may designate the area as a protected site t…

A state commission, to be known as the "Maine Arts Commission," as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 7-B, must consist of not more than 15 members, each of whom must have a continuing interest in the fields of art and culture in the State, to be appointed by the…

The term of office of each member shall be 3 years; provided that of the members first appointed, 1/3 shall be appointed for terms of one year, 1/3 for terms of 2 years and 1/3 for terms of 3 years. Other than the chairman, no member of the commission who serves 2 full 3-year ter…

The Director of the Maine Arts Commission must be qualified by training or experience and is appointed by the Maine Arts Commission. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the Maine Arts Commission. The Maine Arts Commission shall fix compensation for the director within sal…

The duties of the commission shall be: [PL 1965, c. 499, §1 (NEW).] 1. Encouragement. To take such steps as may be necessary and appropriate to encourage and stimulate public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and programs of our State and to expand the state's c…

The Maine Arts Commission is authorized and empowered to hold public and private hearings; to enter into contracts, within the limit of funds available, with individuals or organizations and institutions for services furthering the educational objectives of the commission's progr…

The commission is the official agency of the State to receive and disburse any funds made available by the Federal Government for programs related to the purposes of the commission.

The Maine Arts Commission may adopt rules pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, to implement this chapter.

1. Designation of private support organization. The Director of the Maine Arts Commission shall designate a nonprofit organization as the private support organization for the Maine Arts Commission. The designated organization must be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under …

The Maine Arts Commission shall establish the Arts Education Program, referred to in this subchapter as "the program."

The Maine Arts Commission shall provide leadership in developing and sustaining an agenda for arts education throughout the State in partnership with federal, state and local entities. The commission shall lead efforts to make the arts a part of the core education for all student…

Under the program, each participating school district shall: [PL 1997, c. 762, §1 (NEW).] 1. Committee. Establish a local arts education committee to develop a 3-year plan to increase arts opportunities in the school district. Members of the committee may include teachers, art te…

1. Appointment. During Maine Cultural Heritage Week as established in Title 1, section 118, the Governor shall appoint a poet to serve as State Poet Laureate, nominated by an advisory selection committee created in subsection 3-A. 2. Term. The State Poet Laureate is appointed for…

Acceptance of the honor of serving as State Poet Laureate does not constitute state employment and does not preclude an individual from election, appointment or service as an employee or official in state or local government.

Upon the request of a State Poet Laureate, space must be made available at the State House complex for the public display of the State Poet Laureate's work.