House Education committee hears request to study retention of original library materials

Senator Keith Boehm asked the House Education Committee to request a Legislative Council study on retaining original library materials under Senate Bill 2278, saying the study should also analyze how artificial intelligence is changing the updating and preservation of published works.

The proposal would not itself change library policy but would ask the Legislative Council to examine whether state agencies that maintain libraries should be asked to retain original editions when publishers issue revised versions. "We can ensure North Dakota's libraries remain institutions of learning, discovery and truth," Boehm said in opening remarks.

The study request responds to concerns that modern editions sometimes alter language or content — for inclusivity or other reasons — and that automated tools may be used to update texts. Boehm cited examples such as updated editions of classic works and warned about AI-driven edits that could make original context harder to access.

State Librarian Mary Susie told the committee the State Library and other agency libraries already follow collection-development policies that guide additions and withdrawals. "The State Library has 26.75 staff. 13 of us are professional librarians, so we would be able to assist without adding any additional staff," she said. She described typical withdrawal reasons as usage, condition, relevancy and availability at other libraries, and said much of the State Library's collection is housed in the Liberty Memorial Building with some additional shelving and 10 book machines distributed around the state.

Susie said she saw limited current use of AI specifically for altering retained materials; collection-development policies remain the standard. "Publishers are exploring AI technologies to improve the process and outcomes without replacing the human touch," she told the committee, noting pilots such as AI-assisted translation and audiobook testing.

Jerry Rastad, vice chancellor for strategy and strategic engagement for the North Dakota University System, told members the system supports a study to evaluate feasibility, auditing and enforcement questions, and potential financial implications of retaining multiple versions of titles. He said the study could examine who would be responsible for compliance and how retention would affect storage, staffing and archival strategies.

Committee members asked whether the study would apply only to the State Library and higher-education libraries or to all libraries maintained by state agencies; Susie said her understanding was that the bill would apply to libraries that are part of state agencies, including higher-education libraries and agency libraries such as the state hospital and Department of Corrections, but that impacted collections would be relatively small and often research- and nonfiction-focused.

No committee vote was recorded on SB 2278 during the hearing; the committee closed the hearing on the bill and moved on to the next item on the agenda.