All library systems in Alberta operate under Part 2 of the Libraries Act.  This gives a municipality, improvement district, special area, Metis settlement or school jurisdiction the authority to be a party to an agreement establishing a library system.

The Libraries Act covers the following:

• how a municipality or school authority may join a library system
• appointments to the library system board
• budget process
• withdrawing from a system agreement
• dissolving a system board
• details about meetings
• disqualifying board members
• bylaws

See the complete Alberta Libraries Act

The Libraries Regulation provides guidance to library boards in terms of:

• policies
• needs assessments
• planning
• annual reporting

See the complete Alberta Libraries Regulation

See Alberta Provincial Resource Sharing Network Policy