Agency overview | |
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Jurisdiction | State of Rhode Island |
Headquarters | One Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 |
Agency executive |
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Parent agency | Rhode Island Department of Administration |
Website | olis |
The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services is the state library agency of Rhode Island, located in Providence, Rhode Island. [1] It creates and maintains plans for library development statewide, administers the interlibrary loan program, and plans resource sharing to serve the libraries of the state. [1] OLIS also offers services to the public including through the Talking Books Library, the Statewide Reference Resource Center (AskRI), and directories of government and library services in Rhode Island. [1] The Library Board of Rhode Island, made up of citizens and representatives from all types of libraries and appointed by the Governor, advises OLIS. [2]
Rhode Island also has a State Library which is a Federal Depository Library as well as a non-circulating library with a collection that is collection that is primarily legislation-related. [3] It is housed inside the Rhode Island State House. [3]
The State Board of Education in Rhode Island was created in 1870 which disbursed some funds to public libraries. [4] By 1935, the Rhode Island State Library was administering state aid for community libraries and library extension service. [4] The Department of State Library Services (now OLIS) was founded in 1964 as a result of legislation initiated by the Rhode Island Library Association, taking over some of these roles from the State Library. [4]