PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 4452, 21 May 1875, Page 3

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

The Bill for aU Ordinance to be intituled “The Public Libraries Ordinance,' 1875, ’’ was passed through committee last, evening. Wlureac, by authority of " The Public Reserves Act 1854 ’ ? a«d also by conveyances for that purpose certain;; lands have been and are! now or may hereafter be vested in the Superintendent of the province of Canterbury upon ■ frnst ! for public libraries And whereas it xsi expedient to make provision for the manage-, * meat .'and administration of all a uoh and bnildingt' erected thereon and the hbrariestberwcohtai|ied-7-; ; , , :4 _ i Be itr therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the said province with the advice and, consent*'of tye Provincial Council thereof as follows s-rrV ! 7 ■' " ■. ! I. This Ordinance shall have no force in any district in whieh “ The Public Libraries Act, 1889,” shall have been adopted in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. , |I; Itshallhe lawful for the Superintendent Witir the advice of the Executive Council on the requisition of the managing body of any Library contained in any. building erected on any land vested in or leased for a period of not less than ten JearS to the said Superintendent ‘to appoint from amongst the subsoribers to the’same so many persons as he shall -think fit being not less than three nor more thaunipeto be managers of such laUd and of the buildings erected thereon and of the Library and ' furniture contained therein such managers iball continue in office 'ihritlf the election of thett successors .as hereinafter provided. 111, The managements snob Libtary shall forthwith be vested UT suCh and their successors and the purposes foe which they shall maiiitaiu thc-same-shall be to form or provide and carry on— '. ; t (1) A lending and a 1 ; A Reading-room with a supply bf '* newspapers and periodicals. Meetings for sOciaL and’ intellectual V t improvement. Eji” /t(4)< Educational classes and lestures. ■5 The'collection of scientific apparatus ■" , o? .other things illustrative of *7. * j science or useful for education. (8) The . providing • rational amdsement ttcasta I?; .t t <tod?frejiti|>ii. ;;; i Under such regulations as may from time to "7 ’ kMI of the iriimisbaV n r / '7 i: ‘- I ’ l 1

subscribers to such library in the month of .Aprilin eaoh year or, so soon thereafter as may be found convenient and a committee of management for the > bntuihglyear shall be sleeted at snob meeting; Provided that until such electjons have taken place the managers appointed*by the Bupbrintendent shall continue to hold office.

V. TheßuUs contained in the Schedule to this Ordinance shall be the Buies for the government and management of such Library i|ntil altered amended varied or rescinded by two-thirds of the -subscribers present at the ainnual general meeting.: Provided that no sjuoh alterations or amendments shall have Ony force until approved by the Superintendent in Council. • VI. The term Library shall be taken to mean and - include “ Mechanics' Institute” “ Athenesum” “ Reading-room.” VII. Tbo short title of this Ordinance shall be “The Public Libraries Ordinance 1875.” Schedule, 1. The general management of the Library shall be vested in a Committee consisting of a President Treasurer Secretary and Committeemen four of whom shall form a quorum. 2. The objects of the Committee of Management shall be to provide a suitable Library and Reading-room and by every other attainable means to promote the diffusion of information and instruction in literature science and art. 3. An annual meeting of the members shall take place on the second Monday in April in each year or as soon thereafter as may be found oonvenietat for the election,' of officers and for general business. Eight members shall form a quorum at these meetings. 4. The office-bearers shall be elected annually. Out-going' members of the committee shall be eligible for re-election. 5. It shall be competent for any three of the office-bearers or any ten of the members by a written requisition stating the proposed object to require the secretary to convene a special general meeting of the members of the committee of management and the secretary bn receiving such a requisition shall be bound .to such a meeting forthwith by advertisement in the newspapers at least eight days previous to the meeting. Only the subject stated in the requisition shall be. discussed at such meetings. 6. The committee shall meet quarterly or more frequently if necessary and the secretary and treasurer shall take their instructions at these meetings The secretary shall have charge of the property of the Library and of all correspondence The treasurer shall attend to the collection of money and the payment of ,accounts Auditors shall be chosen annually one by the committee and one by the members at the annual general meeting. 7. No building for the purpose of the Library shall be erected or purchased or enlarged unless authorised by a resolution of two-thirds of the members present at a general meeting of the subscribers. 8. All persons desirous of becoming members must be approved of by the Managing committee. The annual subscription shall not be leas than 10s or 2s 6d per quarter payable in advance. , 9. Strangers visiting the district when introduced by a member shall be allowed the use of the reading-room gratuitously for one month.

10. A life membership may be purchased by the payment of not less than £5.