diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 97d63a4..a2ae5f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,7 +107,12 @@ import "$base_bash_libs_dir/lib/bash/str/lib_str.sh"
 
 After `lib_std.sh` is sourced, `BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION` contains the package
 version from the repository/package `VERSION` file. Downstream scripts can use
-that readonly constant when they need to require a minimum library version.
+that readonly constant when they need to display the loaded library version.
+Use `base_bash_libs_require_version` to require a minimum library version:
+
+```bash
+base_bash_libs_require_version 1.1.0
+```
 
 See `examples/std-usage.sh` for a small standalone script that sources the
 stdlib, imports the file helpers, logs progress, and runs a checked command.
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/README.md b/lib/bash/std/README.md
index 993ef94..d46f3dd 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/README.md
+++ b/lib/bash/std/README.md
@@ -82,6 +82,19 @@ When a Base wrapper preloads the stdlib for another command, it can set
 `BASE_BASH_BOOTSTRAP_SOURCE` so `__SCRIPT_DIR__` still points at the command
 script rather than the wrapper.
 
+## Version Requirements
+
+Use `base_bash_libs_require_version` when a downstream script depends on APIs
+added after the first public release:
+
+```bash
+base_bash_libs_require_version 1.1.0
+```
+
+The helper compares dotted numeric versions, returns silently when the loaded
+library is new enough, and exits with a clear fatal error when the loaded
+`BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION` is too old.
+
 ## Logging
 
 Use structured logging for operational messages:
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh b/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
index 464ed2f..4579231 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 #   std_command_path var cmd     # Resolve an external command path without exiting.
 #   std_function_exists fn       # Predicate for defined Bash functions.
 #   assert_variable_name name    # Validate Bash variable-name arguments.
+#   base_bash_libs_require_version min_version
+#                                # Exit clearly if the loaded library is too old.
 #   add_to_path [-n] [-p] dir    # Append/prepend unique PATH entries.
 #   set_log_level [LEVEL]        # Adjust default logger (FATAL..VERBOSE).
 #   log_info/debug/... msgs      # Structured logging (color in interactive shells).
@@ -121,6 +123,64 @@ BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION="$(__lib_std_read_package_version__ "$__BASE_BASH_LIBS_RO
 readonly BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION
 unset -f __lib_std_read_package_version__
 
+__base_bash_libs_is_dotted_numeric_version__() {
+    local version="${1-}" version_re='^[0-9]+([.][0-9]+)*$'
+    [[ "$version" =~ $version_re ]]
+}
+
+__base_bash_libs_version_at_least__() {
+    local actual_version="$1" minimum_version="$2"
+    local -a actual_parts=() minimum_parts=()
+    local index max_parts actual_part minimum_part actual_number minimum_number
+
+    IFS=. read -r -a actual_parts <<<"$actual_version"
+    IFS=. read -r -a minimum_parts <<<"$minimum_version"
+
+    max_parts="${#actual_parts[@]}"
+    if ((${#minimum_parts[@]} > max_parts)); then
+        max_parts="${#minimum_parts[@]}"
+    fi
+
+    for ((index = 0; index < max_parts; index++)); do
+        actual_part="${actual_parts[$index]:-0}"
+        minimum_part="${minimum_parts[$index]:-0}"
+        actual_number=$((10#$actual_part))
+        minimum_number=$((10#$minimum_part))
+
+        if ((actual_number > minimum_number)); then
+            return 0
+        fi
+        if ((actual_number < minimum_number)); then
+            return 1
+        fi
+    done
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+#
+# base_bash_libs_require_version - Requires a minimum base-bash-libs version.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   base_bash_libs_require_version 1.1.0
+#
+base_bash_libs_require_version() {
+    local minimum_version="${1-}"
+
+    assert_arg_count "$#" 1
+
+    if ! __base_bash_libs_is_dotted_numeric_version__ "$minimum_version" ||
+        ! __base_bash_libs_is_dotted_numeric_version__ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION"; then
+        fatal_error "base_bash_libs_require_version expects dotted numeric versions."
+    fi
+
+    if ! __base_bash_libs_version_at_least__ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION" "$minimum_version"; then
+        fatal_error "base-bash-libs $minimum_version or newer is required; loaded version is $BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION."
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
 #
 # Memorize the original script arguments at the very beginning.
 # This allows the library to parse global options before the main script does.
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats b/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
index ca6f150..ec77f3b 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
+++ b/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
@@ -174,6 +174,46 @@ EOF
     readonly -p BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION >/dev/null
 }
 
+@test "base_bash_libs_require_version accepts the loaded version and older versions" {
+    local stdout_file="$TEST_TMPDIR/version-check.out"
+
+    base_bash_libs_require_version "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION" >"$stdout_file"
+    base_bash_libs_require_version "0.1.0" >>"$stdout_file"
+
+    [ ! -s "$stdout_file" ]
+}
+
+@test "base_bash_libs_require_version exits when the loaded version is too old" {
+    local script="$TEST_TMPDIR/version-too-old.sh"
+
+    create_script "$script" <<EOF
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source "$STDLIB_PATH"
+base_bash_libs_require_version "999.0.0"
+EOF
+
+    bats_run bash "$script"
+
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"base-bash-libs 999.0.0 or newer is required"* ]]
+    [[ "$output" == *"loaded version is $BASE_BASH_LIBS_VERSION"* ]]
+}
+
+@test "base_bash_libs_require_version exits for invalid version strings" {
+    local script="$TEST_TMPDIR/version-invalid.sh"
+
+    create_script "$script" <<EOF
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source "$STDLIB_PATH"
+base_bash_libs_require_version "1.two.0"
+EOF
+
+    bats_run bash "$script"
+
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"base_bash_libs_require_version expects dotted numeric versions"* ]]
+}
+
 @test "stdlib exposes readonly loaded marker" {
     [ "${BASE_BASH_LIBS_STDLIB_LOADED:-}" = "1" ]
     readonly -p BASE_BASH_LIBS_STDLIB_LOADED >/dev/null