Implications of Library State Laws on Information Services in Public Libraries

Abstract

The National Network of Public Libraries (RNBP, for its abbreviation in Spanish) was established in 1983 and the General Law on Libraries was published in 1988. This law is of national observance. It indicates the tasks and obligations that each of the three levels of government (federal, state, and municipal) has regarding the establishment of public libraries, as well as the general principles for the network operation. During the first decade of RNBP existence, library infrastructure (buildings) has increased notably, from 351 in 1983 to 5,120 libraries in 1994. The first state to elaborate its own library law was Puebla in 1978. However, some states in Mexico begin the task of developing their own library laws until 2001. Currently, 10 states have their own law. Thus, the importance of knowing about services offered by the libraries and their situation in states with their own law; of realizing if the situation before having their own law changed or remained the same; and of analizing library state laws, to verify if they are a copy of the General Law on Libraries or they have been adapted to the local context of each state. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be applied to answer these issues.