A. The rural single county library system board shall appoint a librarian of the library system on the basis of merit and experience. In counties with a population of twenty thousand (20,000) or more, the librarian shall be a graduate of a library school accredited by the American Library Association. In counties with a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000), during the first two (2) years after formation of a system the board may appoint a librarian who is not a graduate of a library school accredited by the American Library Association; provided, within five (5) years of formation of the system the librarian must graduate from a library school accredited by the American Library Association in order to continue as librarian. Subsequent librarians appointed in counties with a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000) must be graduates at the time of appointment of a library school accredited by the American Library Association.

B. The librarian shall be the administrative, executive and supervisory officer of the library and secretary to the system board. The librarian shall serve at the discretion of the system board.

C. The librarian may appoint and remove staff members and other employees.

D. The librarian and other employees of the system board may participate in employee retirement and health insurance programs offered by the county for county employees or the state for state employees. The costs of employee participation in the county or state programs shall be paid by the system board from library funds.