| New York State Library |
Ensuring that all New Yorkers get the information they need regardless of where they live, work or go to school.
WHAT IS A REFERENCE AND RESEARCH LIBRARY RESOURCES COUNCIL?New York State's 9 reference and research library resources councils (3Rs) are State-funded regional library systems chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and designated to support improved access to information for the people of New York through resource sharing among 23 public library systems, 41 school library systems and over 900 academic, hospital, law, business, large public and special libraries. Reference and research library resources councils provide electronic database access, interlibrary loan, delivery, database development, reciprocal access, professional development and training and other services to meet the reference and information needs of library users of all ages, including students and faculty of institutions of higher education, the professions, and others. The reference and research library resources councils also coordinate and administer State Aid programs such as the Hospital Library Services Program, the Medical Information Services Program, the Coordinated Collection Development Program for Academic Libraries, and the Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Program for all types of libraries and library systems. |
Reference and research library resources councils provide a wide range of direct support services to academic, medical, law, business, other special libraries, large public libraries, public library systems and school library systems, enabling them to serve their patrons better. A sampling of the many services offered by reference and research library resources councils to their member libraries include, but are not limited to —
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON REFERENCE AND RESEARCH LIBRARY RESOURCES COUNCILSIn 1966, the New York State Legislature authorized the establishment of reference and research library resources councils in Education Law. Governance and function are established in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Each reference and research library resources council is governed by a board of trustees and has a variety of advisory committees to help carry out its work. The State created reference and research library resources councils to expand the availability of the resources of academic, medical, law, business and special libraries to more New Yorkers and to enable libraries of all types to buy services and share resources cooperatively in order to strengthen programs and services. All nine of the reference and research library resources councils are supported by a combination of State Aid to libraries and membership dues. Councils qualify for aid based on an approved five-year plan of service, annual budgets and reports. |
For more information on and links to Reference and Research Library Resources Councils:
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Visit the New York State Library's NOVELNY web site |