N.Y. Education Law Section 249
State library, when open

  • use of books
The state library shall be kept open at least eight hours each day on five days every week in the year except the legal holidays known as Independence day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the regents from opening the state library on other days and times. Members of the legislature, judges of the court of appeals, justices of the supreme court and heads of state departments may borrow from the library books for use in Albany, but shall be subject to such restrictions and penalties as may be prescribed by the regents for the safety or greater usefulness of the library. Under such rules and conditions as the regents may prescribe, the state library may lend its books and printed material for a limited time to other individuals and institutions conforming to said rules and conditions. Such service shall be free to residents of this state as far as practicable, but the regents may, in their discretion, charge a proper fee to nonresidents or for assistance of a personal nature or for other reason not properly an expense to the state, but which may be authorized for the accommodation of users of the library.

Source: Section 249 — State library, when open; use of books, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/EDN/249 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed May 24, 2025).

245
State library, how constituted 246
State medical library 247
State law library 248
Manuscript and records “on file” 249
State library, when open 249–A
Libraries of public institutions of higher education 250
Duplicate department 251
Transfers from state officers 252
Other libraries owned by the state 253
Public and association libraries and museums 254
Standards of library service 255
Establishment of a public library 256
Contracts 257
Acceptance of conditional gift 258
Closing of museum 258–A
Purchases by museums, historical societies, zoological gardens, aquariums, botanical gardens and arboreta through office of general services 259
Library taxes 260
Trustees 260–A
Meetings of board of trustees 260–B
Reduction of salaries for purchase of annuities 260–C
Reduction of salaries for tax-deferred annuities 260–D
Board of trustees continuing education 261
Incorporation 262
Use of public and Indian libraries 263
Reports 264
Injuries to property 265
Detention 265–A
Defense of lawful detention 266
Transfer of libraries 267
Local neglect 268
Abolition 269
Library extension service 270
Acceptance of surplus library books or property 271
Apportionment of state aid to Indian libraries 272
Conditions under which library systems are entitled to state aid 273
Apportionment of state aid to libraries and library systems 273–A
State aid for library construction 274
Use and care of school library 275
Librarians of school libraries 276
Existing rules continued in force 277
Authority to raise and receive money for school library 278
Authority to transfer school library property to a free library 279
Fees 280
Penalty for disobedience to library law, rules or orders 281
Loans and extensions of credit to infants 282
Establishment of school library systems 283
Functions of school library systems 284
State aid for school library systems 285
State aid for cooperation with correctional facilities
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
May 24, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 249’s source at nysenate​.gov

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