may be sufficient to meet the demands of the system established. [Approved March 30; in effect July 6, 1874.] SEC. 2296. Books may be taken from the library by the members of the legislature during the sessions thereof, and by other State officers at any time. SEC. 2297. Books taken by members of the legislature must be returned at the close of the session; and before the controller draws his warrant in favor of any member of the legislature for his last week's salary he must be satisfied that such member has returned all books taken by him and paid for any injuries thereto. SEC. 2298. The controller, if notified by the librarian that any officer has failed to return books taken by him within the time prescribed by the rules, and after demand made, must not draw his warrant for the salary of such officer until the return is made or three times the value of the books, or of any injury thereto, has been paid to the librarian. SEC. 2299. Every person who injures or fails to return any book taken is liable to the librarian in three times the value thereof. SEC. 2300. The State library fund consists of the fees collected and paid into the State treasury by the secretary of state and surveyor-general. [Approved March 30; in effect July 6, 1874.] SEC. 2301. During the session of the legislature and of the supreme court the library must be kept open every day from nine o'clock a. m. until nine o'clock p. m., and at other times, during such hours as the trustees may direct. SEC. 2302. The annual salary of the librarian is three thousand dollars. SEC. 2304. The librarian must execute an official bond in the sum of three thousand dollars. SEC. 2305. This chapter shall be in force and effect from and after the first day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Chapter CXXȚI. AN ACT to establish free libraries and reading rooms. (Approved April 26, 1880.) The people of the State of California, represented in scrate and assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. For the purposes of this act cities of this State are classified as follows: 1. Cities of less than one hundred thousand population. 2. Cities of more than one hundred thousand population. SEC. 2. The municipal authorities of any incorporated city of this State are authorized and empowered, by a resolution duly passed for that purpose, to levy and collect as in other cases annually, a tax not to exceed one mill on the dollar, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in such city free public libraries and reading rooms and purchasing such books, journals, and other publications, purchasing and leasing such real and personal property, and erecting such buildings as may be necessary therefor. SEC. 3. All money and revenue paid, collected, or received by authority of anything herein contained, whether by taxation, gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, shall belong to and be known and designated as the “ Library fund," and shall be paid into the proper city treasury, and there kept separate and apart from other funds, and be drawn therefrom as hereinafter provided, but only to be used and applied to the purposes herein authorized. SEC. 4. All property, real and personal, acquired by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, under the provisions of or for any purpose authorized by this act, shall vest, be, and remain in the proper city, and may be protected, defended, and sued for by action at law, or otherwise, in the name of such city as in other cases. SEC. 5. In a city of less than one hundred thousand population five trustees shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as the other town officers are elected. They shall hold office the same length of time to carry into effect the provisions of this act. SEC. 6. In a city of more than one hundred thousand population the mayor or chief executive officer, during his continuance in office, and eleven citizens thereof, to be appointed by the governor of this State, shall constitute the first board of trustees of any library or reading room established or acquired in such city under this act. SEC. 7. The office of trustee shall be honorary, without salary or other compensation, and shall continue during good behavior; but for good cause a trustee may be removed from office by proceedings in the supreme court in behalf of the proper city in manner provided for the removal from office of other city officers. SEC. 8. The trustees of any library or reading room established or acquired by authority of this act shall take charge of the same and of all real and personal property thereunto belonging, or that may be acquired by loan, purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise. They shall meet for business purposes on the first Tuesday of each month, and at such other times as they may appoint, at a place to be provided for the purpose, and a majority of all their number shall constitute a quorum for business. They may appoint one of their number to act as president of the board, and may elect a librarian. They shall also elect a secretary, who shall keep a full statement and account of all property, money, receipts, and expenditures, and a record and full minutes in writing of all their proceedings. The secretary may certify to such proceedings or any part or portion thereof, under his hand, verified by an official seal adopted and provided by the trustees for that purpose. SEC. 9. Such trustees by a majority vote of all their members, to be recorded in the minutes with the ayes and noes at length, shall have power: 1. To make and enforce all rules, regulations, and by-laws necessary for the administration, government, and protection of such library and reading room, and all property belonging thereto, or that may be loaned, devised, bequeathed, or donated to the same. 2. To exercise and administer any trust declared or created for such library or reading room, and to provide memorial tablets and niches to perpetuate the memories of those persons who may make valuable donations thereto. 3. To remove any trustee who may neglect to attend the meetings of the board of trustees, or who may absent himself from such meetings, or without the consent of the board, from the State for three consecutive months; and to fill all vacancies that may from any cause occur in the board. 4. To define the powers and describe the duties of any and all officers, determine the number and elect all necessary subordinate officers and assistants, and at their pleasure remove any officer or assistant. 5. To purchase necessary books, journals, publications, and other personal property. 6. To order the drawing and payment, upon properly authenticated vouchers, duly certified by the president and secretary, of money from out of the library fund for any liability or expenditure herein authorized; and generally to do all that may be necessary to fully carry into effect the provisions of this act. 7. To fix the salaries of the librarian, secretary, and other subordinate officers and assistants, and by and with the consent and approval of the legislative or other proper authority of the proper city, expressed by resolution duly passed, to purchase said real estate, erect and equip such buildings as may be necessary for such library and reading room. SEC. 10. The orders and demands of the trustees of any such library or reading room of any city, when duly made and authenticated as above provided, shall be verified and audited by the auditing officer, and paid by the treasurer of such city out of the library fund properly belonging thereto, of which full entry and record shall be kept as in other cases. SEC. 11. The trustees of such library or reading room on or before the first Monday of July of each year shall make an annual report to the municipal authorities of their city, giving the condition of their trust, with full statements of all property and money received, whence derived, how used and expended; the number of books, journals, and other publications on hand, the number added by purchase, gift, or otherwise during each year, the number lost or missing, the number and character of those loaned, and such other statistics, information, and suggestions as may be of general interest. A financial report showing all receipts and disbursements of money shall also be made by the secretary of the board of trustees, duly verified by his oath. SEC. 12. The proper municipal authorities of any city wherein a public library or reading room may be established shall have power to pass ordinances for the protection of the same and all property thereto belonging, and for imposing penalties for the punishment of persons committing injury to such library or reading room, or the property or books thereof, or for failure to return any book or other property belonging thereto. They shall also have power, by a resolution duly passed for such purpose, to grant, donate, or authorize the use of, either in whole or in part, any land, square, or real estate belonging to such city or town, or dedicated to public use therein, for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a building to be used only for a public library and reading room, as herein authorized. SEC. 13. The words "city or cities" wherever used in this act are intended to and shall include all incorporated cities and towns, and cities and counties with consoli dated government, and shall be construed accordingly. SEC. 14. An act entitled "An act to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading rooms," approved March the eighteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy is hereby repealed. All libraries and reading rooms heretofore established by ity of the last-mentioned act in any city or town, or city and county, and all property, real and personal, thereto belonging, shall be turned over to the charge, custody, and administration of such trustees as may be continued or appointed therein respectively under the provisions of this act, with like powers and liabilities as if such library had been established under this act. SEC. 15. This act shall take effect on the first day of May, A. D. eighteen hundred and eighty. [Code of California, p. 126.] COLORADO. [From Public Library Handbook, Denver, Colo.] Colorado's library law is not in a very satisfactory condition. Statutes and parts of statutes passed at different times seem in part to contradict and in part to duplicate one another. Just what may and may not be done under the existing laws it would probably be impossible to determine except through judicial interpretation. The following digest may serve a good purpose in making it plain that our present library law is very obscure. The establishment and maintenance of free public libraries is declared to be a proper object of municipal expenditure. The trustees of any city or incorporated town may appropriate money for a public library if at a previous election a majority of the people have voted in favor of such action: Provided, No such appropriation shall exceed one mill upon the dollar. Every city or incorporated town in which such a library shall be maintained shall be entitled to receive a copy of the laws, journals, and all other works published by the authority of the State after the establishment of such a library, for the use of such library, and the secretary of state is authorized to furnish the same from year to year to such city or incorporated town. (Mills's Annotated Statutes, sec. 4403, par. 76.) The clear proceeds of certain fines and penalties may be applied to the establishment and support of a public library. (Mills, 2815.) The council or trustees of any city or town may, if they see fit, apply any part of the clear proceeds of certain fines in aid of any library association for the benefit of the public Provided, Such library association give the council or trustees such representation in its board of management as the latter may ask. (Mills, 2821.) The city council of any incorporated city may establish and maintain a public library and reading room, and may levy a tax for such purpose of not to exceed one mill on the dollar annually; in cities of over one hundred thousand inhabitants this tax is not to exceed one-half of one mill on a dollar annually. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 1.) When any city has established a library under the foregoing section, the mayor shall appoint six persons, who, together with the mayor, shall constitute the library board. The appointments must be approved by the city council. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 2.) One-half of these directors hold office for one year and one-half for two years from the first of July following their appointment. The mayor shall annually thereafter appoint three directors, and shall fill all vacancies. Any director may be removed by the mayor and council for cause. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, secs. 3 and 4.) No directors shall receive compensation. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 4.) Each director shall give a bond of five hundred dollars. (Mills, 2×19.) The mayor is president of the board. The board elects other officers, and makes rules and by-laws, has exclusive control of the expenditure of all money, and the management of all grounds, buildings, rooms, etc., owned, leased, or set apart for library purposes. The library fund must be deposited in the city treasury. The board has power to appoint a suitable librarian and assistants and to fix their compensation. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 5.) All libraries established under this act shall be forever free. The board may exclude any person who wilfully violates the library rules. The use of the library may be extended to persons residing outside of the city, but within the State. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 6.) The board of directors must make an annual report to the city council. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 7.) (Sess. The city council of any city has power to pass ordinances imposing suitable penalties for the punishment of persons injuring any book or other property of the library, or for the failure to return books borrowed. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 8.) Any person may make any gift, donation, ete., to the library, by vesting the title of the same in the library board, as special trustees. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 9.) If fifty legal voters of any incorporated town present a petition asking that an annual tax be levied to establish and maintain a free public library, and a majority of the legal voters vote in favor of such action at the next annual election the tax mentioned in the petition shall be collected and known as the "library fund." Such tax shall cease whenever the majority of legal voters so determine. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 10.) At the next regular election after any town shall have voted to establish a free public library, a board of six directors shall be elected, one-half to serve one year and one-half to serve two years. The board shall have the same powers as are conferred on the library board in a city. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, sec. 11.) The board of any school district may order a levy of not to exceed one-tenth of one mill, the proceeds of which shall be used exclusively for the purchase of books for a library which shall be open to the public. (Mills, 4032.) Any library association can sell or lease its property in any manner it may desire to the board of directors of any public library upon the vote of the majority of its subscribers or stockholders. (Sess. Laws, 1893, Chap. CXV, secs 12 and 13.) Public libraries are exempt from taxation. (Mills, 3766; constitution of Colorado, Art. X, sec. 4.) The State librarian is directed to turn over to the librarian of any free public library in this State, if desired for public use therein, and to take the receipt of such librarian therefor, one copy of each and every such book, pamphlet, or periodical published by the State as can be spared, now on hand, or which shall be published by the State from time to time hereafter. (Mills, 2822.) THE STATE LIBRARY. The State superintendent of public instruction is ex officio librarian for the State. The State library is open to the public from ten a.m. to twelve m., and from two p.m. to four p. m. each day, except Sundays and holidays. (Mills, 2802.1 The librarian has charge of all books, etc., and keeps a regular file of all such State newspapers as may be donated. (Mills, 2803.) He may employ an assistant librarian who shall have charge of the State library, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the State librarian or by law. The salary of the assistant librarian is one thousand dollars per annum. (Mills, 3979.) All books sent by other States are received and properly labeled and arranged by the librarian. (Mills, 2804.) Receipt of each book, etc., is acknowledged and a record kept. (Mills, 2805.) Statutes, journals, legislative documents, and other books are to be exchanged with other legislative bodies and State libraries as the librarian deems proper. (Mills, 2807.) All persons are permitted to visit the library, examine and read the books therein, and may take out any book and retain the same three weeks on depositing with the librarian, to insure its safe return, a sum of money equal to double the value of the book. State and county officers have free access to the library, but they may not obtain books for persons not engaged in public work. (Mills, 2808.) The State librarian makes a full and complete report to the general assembly. (Mills, 2809.) The librarian must file a bond. (Mills, 2814.) SCHOOL LIBRARIES. The qualified electors of any district of the third class, when assembled at any regular or special meeting, may order a sufficient levy on all the taxable property of the district to procure libraries for the schools. (Mills, 4027. See also p. 159, Mills, 4032.) [Section 67 of the school laws of the State of Colorado as amended to date, 1893.] SECTION 67. On or before the day designated by law for the commissioners of each county to levy the requisite taxes for the then ensuing year, the school board in each district shall certify to the county commissioners the number of mills per dollar which it is necessary to levy on the taxable property of the district to raise a special fund for any of the purposes specified in section fifty-one of this chapter, and the county commissioners shall cause the same to be levied at the same time that other taxes are levied, and the amount of such special tax which shall be assessed to each taxpayer of such district shall be placed in a separate column of the tax book, which shall be headed "Special school tax:" Provided, That a school board of a district of the third class shall not certify, as above, to a higher rate than fifteen mills per dollar. There shall also be a column in said tax book in which shall be designated the number of the school district in which the property is listed. This tax shall be collected in cash only, and placed to the credit of the proper district as fast as collected, and the amount placed to the credit of each district shall be reported to the secretary of such district at the end of every month, and shall be subject to the order of the district board. It is hereby made the duty of the county assessor and county treasurer to so arrange their tax schedules and books as to conform to the above provisions: Provided, That the county assessor shall list all property, both real and personal, in the school district in which the same may be on the first day of May: And provided further, That the board of any district may order the levy of not to exceed one-tenth of one mill, the proceeds of which shall be used exclusively in the purchase of books for a library, to be open to the public, under such rules as the district board may deem needful for the proper care of the said library. CONNECTICUT. Below will be found the law relating to libraries passed by the general assembly of 1893, and found on page 321 of the Public Acts: SECTION 1. Any town, borough, or city may establish a public library, the use of which, under proper regulations, shall be free to its inhabitants. Any town, borough, or city may expend such sum of money as may be necessary to provide and furnish suitable rooms or a suitable building for the library so established, or for a previously existing public library, the use of which is free to its inhabitants. SEC. 2. Any town, borough, or city may annually expend such sum of money as shall be necessary for the proper maintenance and increase of a public library within its limits whose use is free to its inhabitants. Any town shall have power at any meeting, duly called for the purpose, to fix by a proper by-law the amount which shall be annually expended for the public library therein. The treasurer of such town shall thereafter annually pay upon the order of the officer designated by the directors or trustees managing its public library the bills incurred for the maintenance and increase of said library, not exceeding in the aggregate the sum specified in said by-law. The town clerk may deposit in a public library within his town any books other than records placed by law or otherwise in his custody. SEC. 3. Any town, borough, or city may receive, hold, and manage any devise, bequest, or donation for the establishment, increase or maintenance of a public library within its limits. SEC. 4. In the absence of any other lawful provision for the management of a public library in any town or borough, the said town or borough shall elect a board of directors who shall manage said public library. Said board may, from time to time, make by-laws not inconsistent with the laws of this State for its own government and may adopt rules controlling the use of the library and the administration of its affairs. Sail board shall have the exclusive right to expend, according to its best judgment, all money appropriated by the town or borough for the library, and shall have control of the grounds, buildings, and rooms used for the purposes of the library. SEC. 5. The first election of directors may take place at any meeting of the town or borough called for that purpose. It shall first be determined by a by-law of the town to be adopted at this meeting what the number of directors constituting said board shall be, such number to be in all cases one divisible by three. One-third of this number shall then be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting, one-third until the second annual meeting, and the remaining one-third until the third annual meeting thereafter. At each annual meeting of said town or borough, one-third of the directors shall be elected by ballot to hold office for three years. SEC. 6. No director of a public library elected as above provided shall receive compensation for any services rendered as director. SEC. 7. The State board of education shall annually appoint five persons who shall be known as the Connecticut Public Library Committee. SEC. 8. No member of said library committee shall receive any compensation for his services as such member, but the board may expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars annually for clerical assistance and incidental and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of its duties. SEC. 9. The librarian or director of any public library and the teachers of any public school may ask said committee for advice and assistance in regard to the selection and purchase of books, the cataloguing of books and any other matters pertaining to the maintenance or administration of the library, and the committee shall give advice and assistance in regard to said matters so far as it shall find it practicable to do so. The committee shall biennially make a report of its doings to the general assembly. SEC. 10. If any town having no free public library shall establish a free public library and shall provide for the care, custody, and distribution of books and for the future maintenance and increase of such library in a manner satisfactory to said library committee, said committee is hereby authorized to expend for books to be selected by the said committee a sum not to exceed the amount expended by the said town for the establishment of such library and not to exceed two hundred dollars. SEC. 11. The treasurer of the State shall pay the bills incurred under this act upon |