HonorableI. Rcdecki Cmmty Auditor CalvestcmCouuty Calveston,Teus
Dear Sir: opiuioulo. O-1316 Rex Doe8 the ~06mi*hmer8' court have the authorityto arrangewith the Rosenberg Library to serve as a countylibrary?
Your requestfor our opinionon the above stated questionhas been received by this department.
Your letterreads, in part, as follows:
@WE Comslssioners' Court of CalvestonCounty have been consideringthe establishingof a County Library. They a la o h a veu nderc o mlder a tio an lggertlon that the County arrangewith the Trusteesof the RosenbergLibrary,located in the City of Calveston,to render the servicethat a County Librarymight renderby contributingor paying to the RosenbergLibrarya compensationfor this service.
"The RosenbergLibrary~0s not establishedby the City of Calvestonand is not mintmined by the City. The Libraryvas a gift of the late Henry Rosenberg.who among numerousbequests,also bequethedthe library,and which has been maintainedby au end-nt providedfor in his vill."
This departmenthas held in OpinionRo. 0-6g0 that the commissioners court does not have the authorityto donate money to privateendovedlibraries. Complyingvith your requestasking for a copy of this opinion,ve enclose he~etrithacopy of the same for your convenience.
Article 1677 of Vernon'sCivil Statutesreads as follows:
"The Commissioners'court of mny countymay establish, maintain,and operatewithin their respectivecounties, countyfree libraries'inthe manner and with the functions prescribedin this title. The said court shall also have the power and authorityto establishin co-operation with anothercounty or countiesa joint free county libraryfor the benefitof theco-operative counties." .
L.
BcmorableI. Redeckl, Page #S (O-1316)
Article 1694, Vernon'sCivil Statutea,reada as follows:
'Iuateadof eatabliahlnga aeprate countyfree llbrsry,upm petitionof l majorityof the votera'ofthe couuty,the cdalonera court nuy contrectfor libraryprivilegeafran aoae alreadyeatabllahedlibrary. Such contractahall provida that au& eatabliahedlibraryahall laauaa the functions of a couuty free libraryvithlu the countywith vhich the contractis as&, ipcludingIncorporatedcitiesand tovna therein,and shall alao providethat the librarianof such eatabllahedlibrarylhallhold or secure a couuty librarian's certlflcatefroa the Stak Board of LibraryExamInera. Said court may contractto pay amually into the libraryfund of said establlahedlibrarysu c h lua ma msy be agreed upon, to be paid out of the county libraryfund. Either prty to such coutractaaytermiuatethe laae by givingllxaouths notice of intentionto do so. Propertyacquiredunder such contractahallbe rubject to divisionat the termlnatlon of the contractupon such tema as are specifiedIn such contract."
In viev of the foregoingstatutes&w are respectfullyldvlaedthat it ia WopFnlon of this departmentthat the c~laalonera' court of Galveston Couuty can ccutractvith the RoaeubergLibrary for libraryprlvilageain the nunuer prescribedby Article 1694, Vernon'sCivil Statutea,provided there are no reatrictiona the will of Mr. Henry Roaeubergprohlbltiug ,,iu the auue.
Trustingthat the foregoingfully auaverayour inquiry,we remin.
Yours very truly,
ATl'ORRRIGEI?EBALOPTEXAS
a/ Ardell William6
w Ardell Wllliaaa Assistant
AmRovm cm. 14, 1939 APPROVEDOPIHIORCOMMITTE a/ ROBBRT E. KBPKR BY B. W. B. ACTIRG ATIORRRIGRRERALOP TEXAS CHAIRMAR