Chapter 315. To establish and provide for the maintenance of a free public library and reading room in the District of Columbia
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CHAP. 315.— An Act To establish and provide for the maintenance of a free public library and reading room in the District of Columbia.June 3, 1896. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That a free public library and District of Columbia. Free library and reading room established. reading room is hereby established and shall be maintained in the District of Columbia, which shall be the property of the said District and a supplement of the public educational system of said District.
All actions relating to such library, or for the recovery of any penalties Actions. lawfully established in relation thereto, shall be brought in the name of the District of Columbia, and the Commissioner of said District are Acceptance of gifts, etc. authorized on behalf of said District to accept and take title to all gifts, bequests, and devises for the purpose of aiding in the maintenance or endowment of said library; and the Commissioner of said District are further authorized to receive as component parts of said library collections of books and other publications that may be transferred to them.
Sec. 2. That all persons who are permanent or temporary residents Privileges. of the District of Columbia shall be entitled to the privileges of said library, including the use of the books contained therein, as a lending or circulating library, subject to such rules and regulations as may be lawfully established in relation thereto. Sec. 3. That the said library shall be in charge of a board of library Trustees. trustees, who shall purchase the books, magazines, and newspapers, and procure the necessary appendages for such library.
The said board of Composition. trustees shall be composed of nine members, each of whom shall be a taxpayer in the District of Columbia, and shall serve without compensation. They shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the District Appointment. *Proviso.* Division for first service. of Columbia and shall hold office for six years: *Provided,* That at the first meeting of the said board the members shall be divided by lot into three classes. The first class, composed of three members, shall hold office for two years; the second class, composed of three members, shall hold office for four years; the third class, composed of three members, shall hold office for six years.
Any vacancy occurring in said board shall be filled by the District Commissioners. Said board shall have power to provide such regulations for its own organization and government as it may deem necessary. Sec. 4. That the said board shall have power to provide for the proper Powers of trustees. care and preservation of said library, to prescribe rules for taking and returning books, to fix, assess, and collect fines and penalties for the 245FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 315, 316. 1896. loss of or injury to books, and to establish all other needful rules and regulations for the management of the library as the said board shall deem proper.
The said board of trustees shall appoint a librarian to Librarian, etc. have the care and superintendence of said library, who shall be responsible to the board of trustees for the impartial enforcement of all rules and regulations lawfully established in relation to said library. The said librarian shall appoint such assistants as the board shall deem necessary to the proper conduct of the library. The said board of library Annual report. trustees shall make an annual report to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia relative to the management of the said library.
Sec. 5. That said library shall be located in some convenient place in Location. the city of Washington to be designated by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia upon the recommendation of the trustees of said library: *Provided,* That in any municipal building to be hereafter erected *Proviso.* Public building. in said District suitable provision shall be made for said library and reading room sufficient to accommodate not less than one hundred thousand volumes. Approved, June 3, 1896.