Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-27

AN ACT to provide for the establishment and
maintenance of free public libraries and read
Be it enacted by the Legislature Of the State of
Minnesota:
Section l. That the city council of any in
corporated city, or village council of any incor-
porated village, shall have power to establish
and maintain q public library aud reading
room, OF either of them, for the and
benefit of tho 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 Oh the dollar annually. ON
all the taxable property in the city, such tax to
be levied and collected in like manner, with
other general taxes Of said city village and
to be known the library fund.-"
Sec. z When any city or village council
shall have decided to establish and maintain q
public library and reading room, or either of
them, under this act, the mayor OF such city or
president Of such village, shall, with the APP
prevail of the city village council, proceed to
appoint board of nine directors for the same,
chosen from the citizens at large, with lefer-
ence to their fitness for such Office. and not
more than one member of the city or village
council shall be at any time d member of said
board.
Sec 8. Said directors shall hold office: One
third for one year, une-tbird for two years, and
One-third for three years from the first of May
following their appointment, and at their first
regular meeting shall cast lots for the rrsper-
tive terms, and annually thereafter the mayor
Of such city, or president of such village shall,
before the first day Of May in each year, ap
point as before. three directors t. take the
place of the retiring directors, wh" shall hold
office for three years. and until their successor
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. 4. Vacancies in the board of directors
occasioned by removals, designations, other
wise, shall be res.nrted to the city or village
council, and be filed III like manner orisi-
nal appointments, and director shall rccei'c
compensation az such.
Sec. S. Said directors shall Immediately af-
Tor appointment n'.rr and nrnn'2'' ''vt''> ~
tion of one of their number president, and by
the election of such other officers as they may
t'-cm necessary. They snail 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,
may be exredient, not inconsistent with this
act. They shall have the exclusive control of
the expenditure Of ali moneys collected and
III iced to the credit OF the library fund, and Of
the construction of any library building, and
Ut the supervision, care and custody uf the
grounds. rooms or buildings constructed leased
or sci apart for that puipuse. Provided. that
all moneys received for suoh 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 rnouey of
svd city or vill:g", aud shall be paid out only
upon the pro- erly authenticated vouchers of
the library hoard. Sad hoard sail have pow
E, to lease and appropriate rooms Tor the Use OF
said library; shall have power 10 appoint a
suitable librarian and necessary assistants, and
fix their com ensatiou. ant. shall also have
power to remove such api~'nrcas; ant: shall in
General carry ont the SPIRIT and lntent of this
act. Said board shall have poy>,:. when APP
proved by such city or village council. to pur-
chase grou,d aud erect thereon suitable:
building FOE he rf said library.
Sec. 6. Every library ind reading rooru. Of
I'll: her Of them, established under this act shall
be forever iec to The USE of oe inhabitants ol
he city village whe:e located, always sub
get TO such bic rules am; r2,ul si,ns as
she library board NAV adopt, in or;icr to
ir: he use Of said i,t.r4r: and reading room,
cit her Of hem, of The grea est beueit to the
greatest nnZc5.-, au.l said h,'ari moy exclude
fro,n the use of the sa,d Hu.ary ANA reading
room, OF either If them. any and all persons
ws,u e..;,ll wii!fuly Violate such rules
Sec. Z. The said board If directors ahall
make, OF o1 before che first day Of April in
each wear, an annual report to the city or viii
la.e council, stating the conditions Of their
trust on the first day OF March Of that year; ;
the various SUMS Oi money received from the
library fund.- and other sources, and how such
moneys have been expended and for what pnr-
poses; the number of books aud periodicals on
hand; the number added by purchase, gift,
otherwise, during the year; the number lost or
missing; the number OF persons attending;
the number of books l"s,. e.: o::t, and the gen
eral character and kind OF such bucks. with
such other statistics, information Pad suyge5
lions IA they may deem Of general latereet
Sec. 8. The council of said CITY Or village
shall have power to pass oidint.nces im2Uai! <
suitable penalties FOX the punishment Of per
sons committing injury upon sucn 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-
.ions of money, personal property, real es.
tate for the benefit uf euch 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:ier this act, to be held
and controlled by such board when accepted,
according to the terms Of the defd. gift. devise
OF bequest of such properly, and as to such
cred to he special trustees.
Sec. 10. Any library already existing, or
| hereafter established in any city or village.
which shall establish free library and read
ing room, or either Of them. u,dcr 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, as may be mutually
agreed upon; and az to such property the said
board Of directors shall be held and considered
to be special trustees. Provided, also, that
more reading rooms to accommodate the in
hatitapts thereof, in different parts OF said
city, under the provisions of this act.
Sec. III. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after it's passage
Approved March 4, 1879.