Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-05-22
township and District Libraries.

The Superintendent OF Public lnStruc-
tiOn, C. A. Cover, in sending to school in
spectOrs and district officers the list of
library books recently contracted for by
the state board of education with MeSsrs.
E. B. Smith & Co., Detroit, takes occasion
to call special attention to the duty of
maintaining libraries, and also gives a
cOndens I'd statement of the laws prOvid-
ing for libraries. We quote from the
cir ,ular:
The maintenance of school libraries is
duty imposed not only by legislative
enactment, but by the organic law Of
the state (sec. II art. 13 of the cOnStitu-
tiOn), and school officers, in disregard
ing this duty, thereby violating the
laws, have no excuse. Good books are
great blessings, and are among the
cheapest and most efficient educational
agencies known; consequently, the
school library is justly esteemed a need
full auxiliary to our public school sys-
tenn. Recognizing these facts it was a
subject of deep Importance to the franz
erS of our constitution to secure the per-
manent establishment of these libraries,
beyond the reach of dissolution and de-
structiOn, and it has been the aim of our
Legislators to make them means of use
fulness to our citizens and our children.
In the face of all this, it is deplOrable
fact that in many Of our townships and
districts, owing to TIE culpable neglect
of school officers, and in direct violation
of law, no care has been taken in the
matter and in consequence not even
vestige of library can now be found,
while the moneys provided for their sup
port have been unlawfully appropriated
for other purposes. If proper attention
and care has not been given to this sub
ject in your township or district, earn
estly hope that you will not delay in Sc
curing strict compliance with the law.
1t is sometimes urged as reason for
neglect in this matter that the public
sentiment i'm the community is not suf-
ficiently enlightened to appreciate prop
erly the benefits to be derived from a
school library. This is no excuse. AS a
school officer you have undertaken to
perform the duties required of you by
law, and iu the performance of these du-
| ties you are obligated to execute faith
fully the law regardless of any proposed
violation.
Previous to 1859 the law provided for
the maintenance of but one library in
each township the legislature of that year
however, passed an act giving authority
to townships, that might so elect, to di-
vide their respective township Libraries
into district libraries. Under this act
the authority to vote division of the
township library by the electors at the
township meeting was restricted to the
year of its enactment. Since that year
the power to divide the township library
| into district libraries has been and is
now vested in the township board of
school inspectors, whenever requested
by majority of the districts in the
tOwnship,-actiOn having been taken
relative to making such request by each
district. In townships where no town.
ship or district libraries have ever been
established the board of school inspect.
Ors should meet aud take action under
the law providing for township libra
ries. Each township library is under
the control of the township board OF
school inspectors, the township clerk be-
ling ex-Officio librarian. The manage
ment of each district library is placed
i'm charge of the district board, and the
director acts as librarian unless thu
district board appoints librarian. If
it is desired i'm any township where tht
library has been divided into district Ii
braries, to re-establish the the township
library, the board of school inspectors
may, by resolution, order the question Il
be submitted to the legal voters at any
regular township meeting.
The library fund includes all money:
arising from fines, penalties, forfeited
recOgnizances, etc., that may be collect.
ed by the county treasurer, and alS(
! whafpver NAV no voted from the Ona-mill
tax, at the annual township elections
In addition to the above, in township:
having district libraries, the qualified
electors of each district at their annual
district meetings, may vote to impose &
spectlve libraries. In any township thai