PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 205, 27 November 1869, Page 5

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT.

The Public Libraries Act, 1869, which was introduced by Mr. O’ Rorke during the last session, enables a rate of not more than one penny in the pound on the annual value of the property rateable within any city, town, or district, to be levied yearly, the proceeds of such rate to be applied to the establishment of free libraries. The Act provides that the mayor or chairman of any governing body, on being requested by such body so to do, or on the request in writing of ten ratepayers residing in the city, town, or district, shall publish in some local newspaper an advertisement stating the place and the time at which votes on the subject will be taken. The votes are to be taken in the same way as at the election of members of the governing body of the city, town, or district; and every ratepayer entitled to vote at any such election is to be entitled to vote for or against the adoption of the Public Libraries Act. The mayor or chairman is to examine-the votes,

and to publish the result. If the majority of votes is in favor of adopting the Act, it will take effect at once, and is to be “carried into execution in accordance with the laws for the time in force relating to the governing body of such city, town, or district..” The governing body may then levy the rate of not more than Id. in the pound, and may also, subject to any borrowing powers possessed by it, borrow money for the purposes of the Act, any lands vested in it, or may purchase or rent lands, and erect, furnish, and maintain necessary buildings. All such property, and any other real or personal property presented to the library, is to be vested in the governing body. The management, &c., of a library is also to be vested in the governing body of the ciiy, town, or district ; and the powers may be exercised by that body, or by a committee appointed by it, and the members of such committee need not be members of the governing body. If, in any city, town, or district, a decision against the adoption of the Act shall be come to, there shall be no further voting or proceeding as under the Act, until at least a year after the date of that decision.