Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19140. Section 19140.
Upon the establishment of a county free library, the board of supervisors shall appoint a county librarian.
ARTICLE 2. County Librarian [19140. - 19150.]
Cal. Education Code - EDC 2.
in effectCal. Education Code - EDC § 19141. Section 19141.
If any county adopts a civil service system or a limited civil service system for county officers and employees, the county librarian shall be entitled to the benefits of such civil service system.
This section does not limit any powers conferred on any county by charter.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19142. Section 19142.
No person may be appointed to the office of county librarian on or after January 1, 1987, unless he or she possesses both of the following qualifications:
(a)
Graduation from a graduate library school program accredited by the American Library Association.
(b)
Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, including county government, and of the laws applicable to library service in this state.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19143. Section 19143.
At the time of his or her appointment, the county librarian need not be a citizen of the State of California.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19145. Section 19145.
The county librarian shall, prior to entering upon his duties, file the usual oath, and he shall be required to file an official bond in an amount determined by the board of supervisors, unless he is covered by a master bond pursuant to Section 1481 of the Government Code.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19146. Section 19146.
The county librarian shall, subject to the general rules adopted by the board of supervisors, build up and manage, according to accepted principles of library management, a library for the use of the people of the county, and shall determine what books and other library equipment shall be purchased.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19147. Section 19147.
The salary of the county librarians shall be paid by each of the counties in equal monthly installments, at the same time and in the same manner and out of the same fund as the salaries of other county officers are paid.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19148. Section 19148.
The board of supervisors of a county over 400,000 population, as determined by the 1960 decennial census, maintaining a county free library may provide that the salary of the county librarian be paid from the same fund used for maintaining and operating the county free library.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying the status of the county librarian as a county official pursuant to Section 24000 of the Government Code.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19149. Section 19149.
The county librarian and his assistant shall be allowed actual and necessary traveling expenses incurred on the business of the office.
Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19150. Section 19150.
Except when the county librarian is temporarily absent, no person shall serve in the position of county librarian under the title of acting county librarian, or assistant librarian in charge, or any other such title, unless the person meets the qualifications set forth in Section 19142.
In the event qualified candidates for the position of the county librarian cannot be found, the county supervisors shall secure a written permission from the State Librarian to appoint an unqualified person to the position. This written permission may be granted by the State Librarian for a period of time up to but not exceeding one year. The State Librarian may from time to time in his or her discretion renew the permit.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026