New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-11
THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY LAWS.
CONDITIONS ON WHICH STATE AID CAN BE
RENDERED TO PUBLIC AND SCHOOL
COLLECTIONS

COLLECTIONS.
Albany, Sept. 10 (specal).-The Regents ofhoe
has prepared in convenient form. an abstract OF
the laws relative 20 libraries passed by the last
LEGISLATURE. They are general library law, law
authorizing library trusts-that no more trusts like
the Tlden fund shall be lost through legal techni-
caltes-and a school library law. There are three
State FUNDS from which aid Is granted TO noranes'
l. The annual appropriation Of $4,000 for school
Libraries administered by the superintendent OF
Public Instruction.
.. part OF the academic fund Of 100000 which
the Regents annually apportiOn for the benefit OF
academies.
3. The public library money (ths year $4,000
TO be apporoned by the Regents for the benefit OF
free Libraries.
Six distinct types Of libraries receive money from
one or more Of these funds; follows: School
libraries consisting Of pedagogic and reference
books for OF teachers and pupils OF the public
schools; net to be used by the public. as the law
makes them part OF the school equipments
academy libraries, owned and administered by any
academy In the university. There are at present
no ordinances limiting their the character ~
the books, except that the books bought must bs
approved by the Regents office; district librarieS
the old school district libraries turned over to their
own boards OF trustees, and thereafter entirely
Independent Of the sc lool authorities and designed
TO circulate books among the general public; public
libraries proper established by vote or by the proper
by public money Joint libraries, maintained Jointly
w two or more Districts villages, towns or other
bodies, each OF which might legally maintain a
library independently; subsidized Libraries, not
owned or controlled by the public, but maintained
Tor It's welfare and free use. Under the new law
these may receive assistance If the taxpayers 50
vote
With two supervisory departments, three State
funds and six kinds OF Libraries, there will be moro
or les, confusion. The school libraries and the
school library fund OF $4,000 year are wholly
under the direction Of the State superintendent OF
Public instruction. The state library and Regents
office have nothing whatever to do with the SCHOOL
libraries or the school library fund. The academic
fund and the public library money, with the other
four kinds Of libraries district pubic, Joint ana
subsdized-are all under the supervision OF the
Regents and are related to the state library as
depsrment OF the University Of the State OF New
York and the Department Of Public Instruction has
nothing whatever 10 do with them.
The money apporoned for books from the academic
h,nd OF SlO6 900 can be drawn by any academy high
school or academic department OF union school which
IS admitted to University and can be spent only
for books approved by the Regents Office. Neither
district public, Joint nor subsidized libraries have
any share in this apportionment unless the academy
shall have transferred It's library and Its right TO the
apportionment to public library by permission OF the
Regents as provided In section As Of the University
law.
The public library money cannot be used for the
school libraries for the academy libraries. unless
the latter should be open the free OF the general
public The public library money will be apportioned
by the Regents. they shall think most useful, In
supplying public libraries TO the people OF the
state This money becomes available october !. The
main benefit 10 be derived from state aid VIII be
through the travelling libraries or loans. 10 any
public library duly chartered by the hesens ana con-
forming 10 certain simple ordinances. VIII be loaned
select collections Of recent desirable books ABOUT loo
volumes In each, TO be retained not exceeding SIX
months without charge beyond a nominal Zee OF 20
10 cover cost Of transportation bOth ways. sWtaos
cases printed catalogues and necessary blanks anu
records These travelling Libraries may also be Sc
cured by communities that are trying 10 establish
nnhIc library but have not yet got II In operation
Puhlic money NAV be voted 10 libraries not owned
ny the public but maintained FOR It's welfare ana iree
| nsc This law has been working successfully ior
savarI years In New York City the four free clrci-
atinr libraries have all been built and equipped by
ths work of public library. II the subsidy Is grantee
4 IN tho basis OF circulation, II must not exceed ~
cents for each volume Of circulation certhed Dy 'ns
| Regents library Inspector as deserving grant vi
In cases OF local neglect provide for the saiety
and public usefulness OF the books, the ght 10 S."s
cranis Is forfeited. While the establishment OK
"a n requires a majority vote ratified by se,ynS
minority vote at the next annual election, mus snSs
hasty or III considered action impossible n% IT,
impossible for a community which has reesivcv s eli
for library 70 reduce Its own taxes by vOuns Wshsa
| the library No library be awmlv anonhs "rs
iii the Regents grant certificate that It's asse's
been properly distributed In the Interests Oh uas