R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-8-12: Distribution of state publications to libraries.

The secretary of state is hereby authorized and empowered to distribute to public and reference libraries within the state copies of any books published by state aid that are in the secretary’s custody and that in the secretary’s judgment are available for distribution. The secretary may also distribute in like manner to libraries outside of the state that have deposited in the state library publications of a similar character.