[1899 S., p. 134. Approved February 24, 1899.]

3805d. Public library commission. 1. That there is hereby created a Public Library Commission, which shall be composed of three members, appointed by the Governor, who shall serve without compensation except as herein provided, each for the term of four years, except that one of the members first so appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for a term of two years only, and one for one year. The State Librarian shall be ex officio Secretary of said Commission. 3805e. Traveling libraries, management. 2. Said Public Library Commission shall have the control and management of the traveling libraries hereinafter provided for, shall purchase the books and collection of books therefor and equipment for the same; shall adopt rules and regulations for loaning such books and collection of books to library associations and to the persons entitled to borrow the same, and shall provide for and require such security or guaranty for the safe return of such books or collection of books as may be deemed advisable; shall prepare lists of books suitable for public libraries and obtain prices for the same and furnish such lists whenever required; shall furnish information or advice as to the organization, maintenance or administration of any library in the State whenever requested so to do by the librarian or trustees. The Public Library Commission shall keep a complete record of library associations and other organizations and persons entitled to borrow books of such traveling libraries and of transactions therewith, and he shall include in his biennial report a summary of the facts of public interest and value in relation thereto.

3805f. Appropriation. 3. There is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise specifically appropriated the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for the purchase of books and collections of books and the equipment for traveling libraries. The books so purchased shall be in the care of the State Librarian, but shall be kept separate from the other books of the State Library. The books so purchased shall be divided into sets or libraries of said commission and loaned to library associations and other organizations and persons as herein provided.

3805g. Organization. 4. Any five or more citizens may organize a library association, which on furnishing security satisfactory to

said commission, shall be entitled to the use of the traveling libraries under the rules and regulations of said commission, and without charge further than all expenses of transportation of said libraries. Any local library, literary or other club, agricultural or other society, grange, college, seminary, university extension center, study circle or other association, shall have the use of said traveling libraries on furnishing satisfactory security and complying with the rules and regulations as aforesaid.

3805h. Appropriation. 5. There is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) annually, to be expended under the direction of said commission for clerical assistance to the State Librarian and other expenses of said commission made necessary by this act, including traveling expenses of the members of said commission in the discharge of their duties. [As amended, 1901 S., p. 171. Approved March 8, 1901.

38051. Advice from commission. 6. The librarian or trustees of any free public library may apply to said Public Library Commission for advice as to all matters pertaining to the organization, maintenance or administration of their library; and said commission shall give such advice and personal attention as may be necessary.

3805j. Township libraries, establishing. 7. On the written petition of fifty legal voters of any township filed with the county clerk not less than fifteen days prior to a township election, the County Board of Election Commissioners shall cause to be printed on the township ballots for such township the words: "For a township library tax" "yes" "no." If in the election a majority of the votes cast on said question shall be in the affirmative the township trustee shall thereafter levy annually a tax of one-fifth of a mill on each dollar of the property taxable in said township for the establishment and support of a township library free to all inhabitants of such township, which tax shall be levied, assessed, collected and paid as other township taxes are levied, assessed, collected and paid: Provided, That, after such library has been established such tax levy shall be discontinued when, under the above provision, the question of discontinuing such levy shall have been submitted to a vote and the majority of the votes cast on said question shall be in the nega

tive: Provided further, That if there be located in said township a public library open to the use of all the inhabitants thereof, then the proceeds of said tax shall be paid to said public library. Provided further, That in any township in which there has been or may hereafter be established by private donations a library of the value of twenty-five thousand dollars or more, including the real estate and buildings used for said library for the use and benefit of all the inhabitants thereof, the township trustee of such township shall annually levy and collect not more than six cents on the hundred dollars, upon the taxable property within the limits of such township which shall be paid to the trustees of such library and be applied by them to the purchase of books for said library and to the cost of the maintenance thereof, and said trustee may with the consent of the Board of Commissioners of the County, when it shall become necessary to purchase additional ground for the extension or protection of library buildings already established by such private donation, annually levy and collect not more than five cents on the hundred dol lars upon all taxable property of said township for not more than three years successively, which shall be expended by said trustees in the purchase of said property, and the erection and enlargement of library building thereon.

In any township

3805k. Board, one member to be woman. where a free public library is established as above provided there shall be established a township library board composed of the school township trustee and two residents of the township, to be appointed by the Judge of the Circuit Court (one of whom shall be a woman). Of the first two members of such board so appointed one shall be appointed for a term of two years and one for four years and thereafter the term of office shall be four years. Such library board shall have control of the purchase of books and the management of such library and shall serve without compensation. Said library shall be the property of the school township, and the School Township Trustee shall be responsible for the safe preservation of the same. Said board shall be entitled to the possession and custody of any books remaining in the old township library in such township; and such board shall be empowered to receive donations, bequests and legacies for and on behalf of such library, and shall be entitled to re

ceive from the Public Library Commission and State Librarian, copies of all documents of this State available for distribution. Before the purchase of any books the Township Library Board shall consult the Public Library Commission.

38051. Public documents to. 9. The State Librarian and the Public Library Commission, shall supply any library of this State with copies of official documents and publications of the State in his custody available for distribution within the State.

3805m. Member of commission must not be book seller. 10. Νο member of the Public Library Commission shall be in any way connected with the business of publishing or selling books.

3806. Incorporation. 1. Whenever any number of persons, not less than seven, shall desire to associate themselves together for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a public library in any city or county in this State, for the general benefit and advantage of all the inhabitants of such city or county, it shall be lawful for such persons to become incorporated under this act in the manner hereinafter provided.

3807. Instrument of association. 2. Whenever any persons shall desire to become incorporated under this act, for the purposes aforesaid they shall, by an instrument in writing, set forth the objects of the association, the corporate name to be adopted, the names and places of residence of the incorporators, and a description of the corporate seal; and they shall also, in said instrument, provide the manner in which, in case of the death, resignation, or removal for any cause of any of the original incorporators, their successors shall be selected, so that the number of the members of such incorporation shall never be less than the original number. They shall, also, provide, in said instrument, what officers shall be elected by such corporation, and the time and manner of their election; and shall, also, provide therein, generally, in what manner the business of said corporation shall be conducted. Which instrument shall be signed by all the proposed incorporators, and filed in the office of the Recorder of the county in which such library or reading room is proposed to be established.

3808. Recording-Powers - Exemption from taxation. 3. Upon the filing of such instrument in the proper Recorder's office it shall be the duty of the Recorder to record the same in the miscellaneous records of such county; and from the time of the recording thereof, as aforesaid, the said association and their successors shall be deemed and held a corporation, and shall have, possess, and enjoy all the rights, powers, and privileges given to corporations by common law; to sue and be sued; to borrow money and secure the payment of the same by notes and mortgages, bonds, or deeds of trust, upon the person or real estate of such association; to purchase, rent, lease, hold, sell, and convey real estate for the benefit of such corporation; and to erect and maintain suitable buildings for the purposes aforesaid and for other objects properly connected therewith. Such corporation shall, also, have the right and power to receive and accept donations, either of money or real estate, either by gift or devise, and to hold, use, enjoy, mortgage, sell, and convey the same, for the benefit of such corporation, in the manner provided in the deed of gift or devise by which the same was received. And the real estate and personal property of any such corporation which shall have established a public library for the purposes aforesaid, and shall have put the same into operation, shall be exempt from taxation for State, county, and all municipal purposes, and shall remain exempt, as aforesaid, so long as the same is used exclusively for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the city or county in which such library may be located.

3809. Gallery of art - Reading room - Park. Park. 4. Whenever any such corporation shall be established as in this Act provided, it shall be lawful, and such corporation shall have the power, to establish and maintain, in connection with its library, a gallery of art and public reading rooms, and may also maintain, either in connection with its library building or separate therefrom, a public park.

[1873, p. 176. In force March 8, 1873.]

3810. Stock. 2. All stock in such library association shall be deemed personal estate, and shall be transferred in the manner and under the conditions prescribed by the by-laws of the same; and such stock shall be exempt from the levy of any State, county, township, or municipal tax, and shall not be liable to execution for the debts of the owners of the same.

3811. Voting stock. 3. At all meetings of shareholders, each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him; and provision shall be made by the by-laws by which absent shareholders may vote by proxy.

3812. Museum. 4. Library associations may make such provisions as the board of directors may deem proper, for maintaining, in addition to the library, a reading room and museum.