10Requirements as to services to be provided by local libraries

10 Requirements as to services to be provided by local libraries

10 Requirements as to services to be provided by local libraries

(1) A local authority must comply with and observe the following requirements in relation to any local library that is provided, controlled or managed by the local authority (either directly or under an agreement or other arrangement to which it is a party)—

(a) Residents and ratepayers entitled to free membership

Any person who is a resident of the area of the local authority or a ratepayer of the local authority is entitled to membership of the library free of charge.

(b) Free access to certain materials on library premises

Any person (whether or not a member of the library) is entitled free of charge to access any library material of the library and any information forming part of the information service of the library (other than information excepted from free access by guidelines issued by the Council) for use on the library premises.

(c) Free loans of certain library material to members

Any person who is a member of the library is entitled to borrow free of charge from the library for use away from the library premises any library material of the library which has been classified by the librarian of the library as being of literary, informative or educational value or as being fiction.

(d) Free delivery to sick or disabled members

No charge is to be made for the delivery to a member of the library of any library material or information that the member is entitled to borrow free of charge if the member for reasons of ill health or disability cannot reasonably be expected to attend the library in person.

(e) Free basic reference services to members

Any person who is a member of the library is entitled to be provided free of charge with basic reference services (being any service classified by guidelines issued by the Council as a basic reference service), including assistance in locating information and sources of information.

(f) Restriction on use of State subsidy

Any subsidy paid to the local authority under this Act must be expended in providing the services that are required by this section to be provided free of charge.

(2) An entitlement under this section to borrow library material from a library for use away from the library premises does not apply to any library material that is classified by the librarian of the library as reference material.