Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-27
STATE LIBRARY LAW.
IT'S Provisions Set Forth by COMMISSIONS
Maulove Hayes.


Maulove Hayes.
An informal meeting OF tho Della
ware State Library Commission was
held at the Wilmington Institute Free
Library on Saturday afternoon. Those
present we're: Mrs. Ella y. Marshall of
Dover; Mrs. Charles II. Nutter of Will
mington; Manlove Hayes OF Dover
George +. Bowerman OF Wilmington,
and q. A. Frear, Jr., State Librarian,
the latter being ex otiicio secretary of
the commission.
Manlove Hayes was chairman OF the
meeting and read a summary which he
had prepared of the new free public
at length and formal meeting was
at Dover, on Friday, June 28th, at
meeting will be Ind. The other mem
already mentioned are Mrs. H. A..
Richardson, Dover; Miss Margaret II.
Truxton, Georgetown; Daniel q. Cor
bit, Odessa; Joseph k. Holland, Mil.
ford, and John Barkley, Clayton.
The following summary Of the act
to establish free public libraries, PASSED
by the last session of the Delaware
Legislature, end entitled can act pro-
viding for the establishment of free
public libraries, :" was prepared by Mr..
Hayes:
Section provides for the appoint
ment by the governor of board con
sisting Of rine commissioners to be
known as 1.-THE State Library Commits
sion for the State of Delaware. 80
= Three~of the members first appointed
shall hold office for the term of one
year, three for the term of three years
and three for five years-and all va
cancies caused by expiration of the
term of office or otherwise shall be filled
by the governor No person shall be
ineligible by reason of sex to serve on
said commission.
Section 2 provides that the commits.
sion shall organize by the election of a
chairman and other officers as may be
advisable. The State Librarian shall
| by virtue of his Office be secretary OF
| the commission. The commission ers are
to serve without pay, reasonable and
4 proper bills for printing and postage to
be paid by the State Treasurer.
Section 3 defines the powers and
duties of the commissioners to whom
shall be given general supervision OF
all the libraries in this State established
under this act and control of all circu-
lating libraries established under the
provisions of chapter 900, Vol. XXI,
Laws of Delaware. Shall require re-
ports from all town library commits.
sions, as hereafter provided, and certify
to the State Treasurer when any town
| library is entitled to State aid, make
all rules and by laws for its own gov
eminent. 1t shall make report of its
doings to the Legislature in January oil
each year OF the regular biennial ses-
sions.
Section authorizes any incorporated
city or town In its corporate capacity
to hold any devise, bequest or donation
for the maintenance or use of 'fFree
Public Libraries. -
Section s authorizes any incorporated
city or town in the State to establish
free public library, and readingroom,
provided majority of the qualified
electors, present and voting, shall vote
in favor thereof.
Section G. Incorporated cities and
towns are divided into three classes fol
the purpose Of this act.
Towns, the assessed value of whose
real estate shall not be less than
81. 800, 900 shall be doomed of the first
class.
Towns assessed at less than 81, 500, 00(
| and not less than $3.50, 600, shall be
deemed of the second class, and towns
Of less than $3.50, 600 snail be of the
third class. Notice of the submission
OF the question shall be issued by the
| Town Council and posted in five public
| places in said town at least 10 days be
fore the election. by advertisement il
one or more newspapers If published In
said town.
Section provides for the submission
of the question OF free library" tC
the voters the following year if there
should not be majority in favor
thereof, when the question is first sub
mitted.
| Section 10 authorizes, empowers and
directs the Town Council of any city
or town that has voted in favor o.
establishing free public library, Il
levy and raise by taxation for thai
purpose, sum as follows: II the city
or town be of the first class, a sum mol
less than a sum equal to one-eighth Of
"a mill nor more than ONE half Of mil
for each dollar of the assessed value o.
lis real estate for the year then next
preceding.
And II the town be of the second OF
third class the Town Council shall levy
and raise for the purpose aforesaid Q
sum not less than sum equal to one
quarter of mill nor more than one hal
mill on each dollar OF tho assessablt
value of it's real estate. Provided thai
no town of the second class shall levy
and raise for this purpose, by taxation
a sum less than 500, or of the thir6
class sum less than $50. vt
Section II provides for the election Of
town library commission, composed o.
nine members to hold office for the term
OF three years, or until their successors
are qualified, provided that at the frs
election. three members shall be elected
for one year, three for two years ant
three for three years, and annually
thereafter three for the term OF three
years.
Provided further, that the Towr
Council in any uity or town wherein
the question has been first submitted
and carried in favor Of free public
library, shall elect nine persons moi
members of the Town Council to com
pose the first town library commission,
to act until their successors are regu'
larly elected. No person shall be in.
eligible to serve by reason of sex.
Section IL provides for the organiza
tion of the town library commission. Il
shall meet on the evening OF the Tues.
day next succeeding the. election, shall
elect from its members a chairman and
secretary. The town treasurer shall
hold the office of treasurer of said com
mission and out of the moneys derived
by virtue of this act shall pay all bills
directed to be paid by said commission.