The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an executive officer to be known as the state librarian, who shall report to the superintendent and must receive a salary within the amount appropriated for salaries by the legislative assembly. The state librarian shall control the work and is the director of the state library. The position of state librarian is included in the classified service, as provided in section 54-44.3-20. The state library is an autonomous agency and retains a budget and staff separate from that of the superintendent of public instruction.