1. A. The board of public library trustees for each county, including Washington County and Baltimore City, shall develop and submit to the Maryland State Library Agency a statement of its policies relating to the provision of free library services to the public. Each statement shall state the board's policies with respect to:

   1. (1) Limits to be placed on the amount of free services, such as limits on the number of books or other materials borrowed at one time, or time limits on borrowing;

   2. (2) Online database searches, including a statement of:

      1. (a) Reasonable time limitations on Internet or database searches; and
      2. (b) Charges to users for additional online searches;
   3. (3) Charges for utilities or conveniences available to library users, such as copying machines, printers, fax machines, or other equipment.
2. B. The Maryland State Library Agency shall report to the Maryland State Library Board any statements submitted pursuant to this regulation which are not in compliance with State laws and regulations regarding free library services.
3. C. “Free library services” is defined to include the use of all library materials and services available for reference/information and for circulation to library users regardless of format, including printed materials, media, computer software, Internet, online databases, or other forms of electronic storage of information.
4. D. A public library may not charge usage fees for circulation or use of any materials, excluding late return and excess use charges authorized in this regulation.

Authority: Education Article, §5-206 and Title 23, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: April 3, 1964

Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective July 28, 1986 (13:15 Md. R. 1735)

Regulation .01 amended effective September 12, 1994 (21:18 Md. R. 1511); April 3, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 643)

Regulation .02 effective September 1, 1954

Regulation .02 repealed and new Regulation .02 adopted effective January 1, 1987 (13:24 Md. R. 2561)

Regulation .02 amended effective November 8, 2004 (31:22 Md. R. 1596)

Regulation .02B amended effective June 30, 2008 (35:13 Md. R. 1181)

Regulation .02C amended effective December 14, 1987 (14:25 Md. R. 2661); October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 975)

Regulation .03 adopted effective February 26, 1979 (6:4 Md. R. 278)

Regulation .03 amended effective June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 915); November 8, 2004 (31:22 Md. R. 1596)

Regulation .03D, F amended effective October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 975)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 22, 1980 (7:4 Md. R. 350)

Regulation .05 amended effective September 12, 1994 (21:18 Md. R. 1511); October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 975)

Regulation .06 adopted effective May 30, 1988 (15:11 Md. R. 1331)

Regulation .06 amended effective June 30, 2008 (35:13 Md. R. 1181)

Regulation .06A amended effective September 12, 1994 (21:18 Md. R. 1511)

Regulation .06A, B amended effective October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 975)

Regulation .07 adopted effective September 4, 1989 (16:17 Md. R. 1886)

Regulation .07 amended effective October 4, 1999 (26:20 Md. R. 1547); September 25, 2006 (33:19 Md. R. 1561)

Regulation .07B, D amended effective October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 975)

Regulation .08 adopted effective August 27, 2007 (34:17 Md. R. 1509)

Regulation .08 amended effective October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 976)

Annotation: COMAR 13A.05.04.06 cited in Attorney General Opinion No. 87-057 (December 9, 1987)

Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective May 25, 2026 (53:10 Md. R. 455)

Regulation .02 repealed and new Regulation .02 adopted effective May 25, 2026 (53:10 Md. R. 455)

Regulation .03 repealed and new Regulation .03 adopted effective May 25, 2026 (53:10 Md. R. 455)