CHAPTER 504

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 42-4, 42-5, 42-6, 42-7, 42-9, 42-10 and
42-12 of the Code of Virginia, relating to county and regional library
systems, so as to set certain standards for such libraries, to permit the
inclusion of cities within such systems, and to prescribe the method
of selection of boards of trustees.

[S 448]

Approved April 2, 1952

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 42-4, 42-5, 42-6, 42-7, 42-9, 42-10 and 42-12 of the Code of
Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 42-4. Establishment of county library system.—The governing
body of any county shall have the power to establish a county free library
system for the use and benefit of the residents of such county; or, upon
petition of one hundred taxpayers of the county, shall submit to a vote of
the qualified voters of the county at the next general election held therein
whether a county free library system shall be established; and if a majority
of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of the establishment
of a county free library system, the governing body shall forthwith estab-
lish one which meets at least the minimum public library standards of the
State Library Board.

§ 42-5. Establishment of regional library system.—Two or more
counties, or any city or cities and the contiguous county or counties, by
action of their governing bodies, may join in establishing and maintaining
a regional free library system under the terms of a contract between *
such political subdivisions; provided, that in the case of established county
or city free library systems the boards of trustees shall agree to such action.

§ 42-6. Expenses and funds of regional library system.—The ex-
penses of the regional free library system shall be apportioned between
the * political subdivisions concerned on such basis as shall be agreed upon
in the contract. The treasurer of one of the counties or cities, as shall be
provided in the contract, shall have the custody of the funds of the regional
free library system; and the treasurers of the other counties or cities con-
cerned shall transfer quarterly to him all moneys collected or appropriated
for this purpose in their respective counties or cities. .

§ 42-7. Withdrawal from regional library contract.—The withdrawal
of any county or city from a regional library contract may be effected by
petition and vote in the manner prescribed in § 42-4, and the county or
city shall be entitled to a division of property in the same proportion as
expenses were shared.

42-9. Board of trustees generally.—The management and control
of a county free library system * shall be vested in a board of five trustees.
In a county free library system they shall be appointed by the judge of the
circuit court of such county, chosen from the citizens at large with refer-
ence to their fitness for such office, one of whom shall be the superintendent
of public schools of such county. * Such trustees, other than the superin-
tendent of * schools, shall be appointed in the beginning for terms of one,
two, three and four * years, respectively, and thereafter for terms of four
years. In a regional free library system they shall be appointed by the
judge or judges of the circuit court or courts in such region, one member
being a superintendent of public schools. Such trustees other than the
superintendent of public schools shall be appointed in the beginning for
terms of one, two, three and four years, respectively, and thereafter for a
term of four years; but in the case of a regional library the judge or judges
may provide for the service in rotation of each of the several superin-
tendents of public schools. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms
as soon as possible in the manner in which members of the board are
regularly chosen. No appointive member shall be eligible to serve more
than two successive terms. A trustee shall not receive a salary or other
compensation for services as trustee but necessary expenses actually in-
curred shall be paid from the library fund. A library trustee may be
removed for misconduct or neglect of duty by the judge or judges making
the appointment. The trustees shall, immediately after appointment, meet
and adopt such by-laws, rules and regulations for their own guidance
and for the government of the county free library system or regional free
library system as may be expedient. They shall have control of the ex-
penditures of all moneys credited to the county free library fund or the
regional free library fund. The board of trustees shall have the right to
accept donations and bequests of money, personal property or real estate
for the establishment and maintenance of such county free library systems
or regional free library systems or endowments for same.

§ 42-10. Appropriations for library systems.—After a county free
library system or regional free library system shall have been established
or library service contracted for, the governing body or bodies of the
governmental subdivision or subdivisions for which the library was estab-
lished or the service engaged shall appropriate money annually for the sup-
port of the library which shall at least meet the minimum public library
standards of the State Library Board. All funds appropriated or con-
tributed for library purposes shall constitute a separate fund and shall not
be used for any but library purposes.

§ 42-12. County contracting for library service.—The governing body
of any county in which no such free library system as provided in this
chapter shall have been established, may in its discretion, contract for
library service with an adjacent city, * or State-supported institution of
higher learning, or with a library not owned by a public corporation but
maintained for free public use, and in such event shall appropriate such
sums of money at a minimum as is necessary for providing library service
to the county according to standards of the State Library Board for county
library service. Such governing body shall, as a part of such contract, re-
ceive representation on the board of trustees or other governing body of
the library contracting to give such library service. Any county or coun-
ties thus contracting for library service shall be entitled to the rights and
benefits of county or regional free library systems established as provided
in this chapter.