Chap. 316.—An ACT to provide for the establishment of libraries in the public
schools of the rural districts, and to appropriate money therefor.

Approved March 14, 1908.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That when-
ever the patrons and friends of any public free school shall raise by
private subscription and tender to the clerk of the district school board,
for the establishment of a library to be connected with the said school,
the sum of fifteen dollars, the district school board shall appropriate,
from money belonging to that school district, the sum of fifteen dollars
for this purpose, and shall appoint one intelligent person in the school
district the manager of said library. The district board shall also
appoint one competent person well versed in books to select books for
the libraries that may be established under the provisions of this act
from lists of books approved by the State board, of education and at such
prices and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by
said board of education; provided, that no district school board shall
be obliged to appropriate money for more than five libraries, as aforesaid,
in any one year.

As soon as any district school board in any county shall have made
an appropriation for a library in the manner prescribed, the division
superintendent of schools shall inform the State board of education of
the fact, whereupon the said State board of education shall remit to the
treasurer of the county in which such school is situated the sum of ten
dollars for the purchase of books; provided, that the treasurer shall have
no commission for receiving and disbursing this fund; and provided,
further, that the State board of education shall fix rules and regulations
looking to as wide a distribution of this fund as may seem practicable.

Within thirty days after the payment of the money to the clerk of
the district school board, the person appointed to select the books shall
submit the list of books to be purchased and prices of the same to the
clerk, who shall order the books at once. The clerk shall .receive no
compensation for such services. ‘I'he district school board shall furnish,
at the expense of the district school fund, a neat bookcase, with lock
and key, to each library upon application of the manager of the library.

The local manager of every library shall carry out such rules and
regulations for the proper use and preservation of the books as may be
enjoined by the State board of education.

The local managers of two or more libraries may by agreement ex-
change libraries; provided, that no exchange shall be made oftener than
once in six months, and that no part of the expense of exchanging
libraries shall be borne by the public.

__ The sum of five thousand dollars, payable out of any funds in the
State treasury, not otherwise appropriated, is hereby appropriated and
set apart to be expended by the State board of education under the pro-
visions of this act.