The Act of 20 December 1985 No. 108 on Public libraries

Chapter I. The objectives and activities of public libraries.
Section 1. Objectives
Public libraries shall be responsible for promoting knowledge, education and other cultural activities by providing accessto information and by making available books and other suitable material, free of charge, to everyone residing in Norway. Each library shall in its services to children and adults stress the importance of providing high-quality, comprehensive and up-to-date material. Library activities shall be directed towards the public and the services shall be publicized. Public libraries are a part of a national library system.

Section 2 . The scope of the Act
This Act applies to the activifies of public libraries, including the local public libraries for which the municipality is responsible
Chapter In, the county libraries for which the county is responsible)
(Chapter III) and central library and advisory services for which the central government is responsible
Chapter I. The activities of public libraries also include services for pafients inhospitals and
health institutions, and others who have particular difficulty in using a public library.
1 Cf. secfion 4 and the Act of 25 September 1992 No. 107

Section 3. Lending cooperation, bibliographical control, etc
Libraries shall follow standardized rules for lending cooperation and bibliographic control, and for the compilation of stabstics and annual reports. The Ministry may
issue further regulations.
1 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs
2 Cf. the Act of 10 February 1967, secfion 2 and Chapter VII.

Chapter II . Municipal public libraries.

Section 4 . General provisions
To fulfil the objectives specified in Chapter I, all municipalitiesg shall have a public library. A public library may be operated by a municipalityg alone, or wholly or partly in
cooperafion with another municipality, a county or a central government institution. The Ministryp may grant exemptions from the first paragraph for experimental
activities.

The municipality shall lay down regulations for public libraries based on recommended guidelines issued by the Ministryg for the operation of libraries.

1 Cf. the Act of 25 September 1992 No. 107.
2 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs

Section 5 . Staff
Each municipality shall have a professionally qualified head librarian. The Ministryg may grant exemptions from the provision in this section and shall
issue further regulations concerning qualification requirements and transitional arrangements.

1 Cf. the Act of 25 September 1992 No. 107.
2 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs

Section 6. Cooperation with schools
There shall be organised cooperation between public libraries and school libraries in the municipality. The Ministry shall issue recommended guidelines for such cooperation.
1 Cf. the Act of 17 July 1998 No. 61, section &2, second paragraph.
2 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs

Section 7. (Repealed by the Act of 11 June 1993 No. 85.)
CR III. County libraries

Section 8. General provisions.
To fulfil the objectives at county level which are specified in Chapter I, all counties shall have a county library headed by a professionally qualified head librarian.
For experimental activities, the Ministryg may grant exemptions from the requirement that all counties shall have a county library.
The county shall lay down regulations for the county library based on recommended guidelines issued by the Ministryg for the operation of libraries.
1 Cf. the Act of 25 September lØ No. 107.
2 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs

Section 9. Interlibrary lending.
The county library shall attend to interlibrary lending within the county, organize lending cooperation between libraries, and assume responsibility for its part of the joint
plan for the acquisition and storage of books, periodicals, etc. The county library may operate direct lending services from book vans/book boats, either alone or in cooperation with other county and/or public libraries.
The county may enter into agreements on joint library operations with one or more municipalities.

Section 10 . Advisory services, etc.
The county library shall advise local authorities, provide professional librarian advice and assistance , and arrange meetings and courses on library matters.
there shall be organised cooperation between the county library and the school leadership in the county. Cooperation between the county library and the county school
authorities shall be ensured through agreements placing the library's professional expertise at the disposal of the school authorities.

Section 11 . Special duties.
In addition to the duties that follow from section 3, the countyg shall give opinions as regards the distribution of central government funds and assist central government
authorities with research and planning.
1 Cf. the Act of 25 September lØ2 No. 107.

Section 12. (Repealed by the Act of 11 June 1993 No. 85 J CR IV. Central government duties

Section 13. The Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority(ABM-Utvåkling) The duties of the central government pursuant to this Act shall be carried out by
the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority (ABM-Utvikling) on behalf of the Ministry.

Section 14. Special central governmentgrants
Special central government grants maybe given for specific library purposes which do not naturally fall within the sphere of responsibility of individual
municipalities, or which are of special significance for the maintenance of a nafional library system. The Ministryp shall issue further provisions.
1 The Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs

Section 15 . (Repealed by the Act of 27 May 1987 No. 23.)

Chapter V. Commencement of the Act. Amendments to other statutes.

Section 16.
This Act shall come into force from the date decided by the King.g From the same date the following Acts shall be amended as follows: -
1 From 1 January 1986 pursuant to the Royal Decree of 20 December 1985 No. 2236.