Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-27
AN ACT to provide for tho establishment and
maintenance Of free public libraries and read

AN ACT to provide for tho establishment and
maintenance Of free public libraries and read
ing r0Oms. .o.g5 ...g % g -
Section !. That the city council of any in
corporated city, or village council Of any incOr-
porated village, shall have power to establish
and maintain public library and reading
room. Q. either of them, for the use and
benefit Of the inhabitants Of such city or
village. and may levy tax, not to exceed one
mill ON the dollar annually, and in cities Of
over thirty thousand inhabitants, not to exceed
one half Of one mill on the dollar annually, ON
all the taxable property in the city, such tax to
be levied and collected in like manner, with
other general taxe~ of said city or village and
to be known ~ the Library fund.-"
Sec. 2. When any city or village council
shAll have decided to establish and maintain =
public library aud reading room, or either of
them, under this act, the mayor of such city or
president of such village, shall. with the ap-
prevail of the city or village council, proceed to
appoint board of nine directors for the same,
chosen from the citizens ut large, with refer
ence to their itness for such Office. and not
more than one member of the city or village
council shau be at any time . member of said
board.
Sec s.. Said directors shall hold Office: One
third for one year, une-tbird for two years, and
one-thi1d for three years from the first of May
following their appointment, and at their first
regular meeting shall cast lots for the respec-
tive terms, and annually thereafter the mayor
of such city, or president of such village shall,
before the fret day of May in each year, ap-
point a. before. three directors t. take the
place of the retiring directors, wh" shall hold
Office for three years. and until their successors
are appointed. Such mayor or president may
by and with the consent of the council, re-
move any director for mlsconduct or neglect
Of duty.
Sec. 1. Vacancies in the board of directors
occasioned by removals. resignatiors, or other
wise, shall be reported to the city village
council, aud be filed in like manner origi-
nal appointments, and no director shall receive
compensation as such.
Sec. S. Said directors shall Immediately af-
Ter appointment meet aud or"au'z' nv g." ~
ton of one of their number president, and by
the election of such other officers they may
deem necessary. They shall make and adopt
such bylaws, rules and regulations for their
own guidance and for the government of the
library and reading room, or either of them,
us NAV be expedient, not inconsistent with this
act. They shall have the exclusive control of
the expenditure of ali moneys collected and
placed to the credit of the library fund, and of
the construction of any library building, and
Of the supervision, care and custody Of the
grounds, rooms or buildings constructed, leased
all moneys received for such library shall be
deposited in the treasury of said city village,
to the credit OF the library fund, aud shall be
kept separate and apart from other money of
said city Or village, and shall be paid out only
upon the pror eriy authenticated vouchers Of
the library board. SAID board snali have pow
Ell to lease and appropriate rooms for the use Of
said library; shall have power to appoint a
suitable librarian and necessary assistants, and
fix their compensation. and shall also have
power to remove such appointees; and shall in
general carry ont the spirit and intent Of this
act. Said board shall have power. when ap-
proved by such city or village council. to pur-
chase ground and erect thereon suitable
building for the nse Of said library.
Sec. 6. Every library and reading rOOra, Of
either of them, established under this act shall
be forever free to The use of tne inhabitants
the city o. village whe,e located, always sub
;ect to such reasonable rules and reguEt5iuns
she library board nav adopt, in order to rem
.ler the of said library and reading room,
or either Of them, Of che greatest beneht to the
greatest nucSe-, aud said board may exclude
from the use of the laid library and reading
room, or either Of them. any and all persons
who shall Wii!fuljy violate such rules.
Sec. Z. The said board Of directors shall
make, OF OF before the first day of April in
each year, an annual report to the city or viii
laye council, stating the conditions of their
trust on the first day of March of that year;
the various sums OF money received from the
library fund, and other sources, and how such
moneys have been ex penled and for what pur
poses; the number Of books aud periodicals on
hand; the number added by purchase, gift, OF
otherwise, during the year; the number lost or
| missing; the number of persons attending;
the number of books loa,esi ont, and the gen
eral character and kind Of such books, with
such other statistics, information sild sugges
tions "a they may deem Of general Interest.
Sec. 3. The council Of said city or village
shall have power to pass ordinances impusi, (.
suitable penalties for the punishment OF per
sons committing injury upon such library or
other property thereof, and for injury to or
failure to return any book belonging to such
library.
Sec. 9. Any person desiring to make dona-
lions of money, personal property, real e.
tate for the benefit Of such library, shall have
the right to vest the title to the money, prop
erty or real estate so donated in the board of
directors, created un:ler this act, to be held
and controlled by such board when accepted,
according to the terms of the deed, gift. devise
or bequest of such properly, and as to such
property the board shall be held anu consid-
cred TO- be special trustees.
Sec. 10. Any library already existing, or
which shall establish free library and read
ing room, or either Of them, under the pro.
visions of this act may be transferred by the
society, association or individuals owning the
same, to the board of directors created under
this act, on such terms not inconsistent with
the objects of this act, a. may be mutually
agreed upon; and a. to such property the said
beard Of directors shall be held and considered
to be special trustees. Provided, also, that
any incorporated city may establish one OK
more reading rooms to accommodate the in
habitants thereof, in different parts of said
city, under the provisions of this act.
Sec. IL. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after it's Daassspa.
Approved March 4, 1879.
-