Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-20

AN ACT to provide for the establishment and
maintenance of free public libraries and read
ing rooms.
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 and reading
room, or 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
une 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 taxes of said city or village and
to be known as the library fund.-"
Sec. 2. When any city or village council
shall have decided to establish and maintain
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 ap-
prevail of the city village council, proceed to
appoint board of nine directors for the same,
chosen from the citizens at large, with refer
ence to their fitness for such Office, and not
more than one member of the city or village
council shall be at any time member of said
board.
Sec 8. Said directors shall hold Office: One
third for one year, One-thlrd for two years, and
One-third for three years from the first of May
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 first day of May IN each year, ap-
point before, three directors to take the
place of the retiring directors, who 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 misconduct or neglect
of duty.
Sec. 4. Vacancies in the board of directors
Occasioned by removals, designations, or other
wise, shall be reported to the city or village
council, and be filled in like manner as origi-
nal appointments, and no director shall receive
compensation as such.
Sec. 5. Said directors shall Immediately af-
ter appointment meet and organize by the cleo
ton of one of their number president, and bv
the election of such other officers as 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,
as may be expedient not inconsistent with this
act. They shall have the exclusive control of
the expenditure of all 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
set apart for that purpose. Provided. that
all moneys received for such library shall be
deposited in the treasury of said city or village
to the credit of the library fund, and shall be
kept separate and apart from other money of
said city or village, and shall be paid out only
upon the prov erly authenticated vouchers of
the library board. Said board snail have DOW
er 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 out the spirit and intent of this
act. Said board shall have power. when APP
proved by such city or village council, to pur-
chase ground and erect thereon a suitable
building for the use of said library.
Sec. 6. Every library and reading room, of
either of them, established under this act shall
be forever free to the use of the inhabitants or
the city village where located, always sub
ject to such reasonable rules and regulations as
the library board may adopt, in order to rem
der the use of said library and reading room
or either of them, of the greatest benefit to the
greatest number; and said board may exclude
| from the use of the said library and reading
room, or either of them, any and all persons
| who shall willfully violate such rules.
| Sec. 7. The said board of directors shall
make on or before the rirst day of April in
| each year, an annual report to the city or viii
| lage 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 expended and for what pur-
| poses; the number of books and periodicals on
hand; the number added by purchase, gift, or
| otherwise, during the year; the number lost or
missing; the number of persons attending;
| the number of books loaued out, and the gem
| eral character and kind of such books, with
| such other statistics, information and sugges-
| lions as they may deem of general interest.
Sec. &. The council of said CITY or village
shall have power to pass ordinances imposing
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-
| tions of money, personal property, or real es.
| 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 under 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 property, and as to such
! property the board shall be held and consid-
| cred to be 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, 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, as may be mutually
| agreed upon; and as to such property the said
board of directors shall be held and considered
| to be special trustees. Provided, ALSO that
any incorporated city may establish one or
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 passage.
Approved March 4, 1879.