Chap. 214.—An ACT to provide additional accommodations for the
Library.

Approved March 1, 1884.

Whereas the want of space in the library room and its
annexes, has caused an accumulation of books, in masses,
which wholly prevent their use, although many have been
boxed and deposited, as a matter of necessity, in insecure
places beyond the limits of the capitol, and the large and con-
stantly increasing supply of books received, in exchange,
from congress and the states of the Union, forming an un-
manageable mass, covering the floors, which they endanger
by their weight, and so crowded as to baffle the correct enu-
meration, which, in a well conducted library, should always
be practicable; and whereas, many of the books are of the
utmost importance to the legislator, public officer, and public
man; and whereas the portraits now in the library room,
which are so interesting to the people of the state, are un-
suited to the library room, as they obstruct the side lights,
now insufficient for the use of the books, and require for their
proper exhibition, more dome-light than the library room can
furnish. For these and other reasons—

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the present offices of the secretary of the commonwealth and
the governor, shall be fitted up under the direction of the
superintendent of public buildings, for the use of the library,
in addition to the present room, in such manner as the secre-
tary of the commonwealth may prescribe, and that the offices
of public instruction and public printing be fitted up under
the direction of the superintendent of public buildings, for the
use of the governor, in a style, and with an extent of accom-
modations fully equal to that of the governor’s present office.

2. The present office of the southern historical society,
shall be appropriated to the use of the secretary of the com-
monwealth, as his office, and fitted up under the direction of
the superintendent of public buildings, in such manner as the
secretary of the commonwealth may prescribe. The present
adjutant-veneral’s office shall be appropriated to the use of
the southern historical society.

3. The secretary of the commonwealth may direct the
transfer of the portraits, or any part of them, now or here-
aftor in the library room, to the upper quadrangle of the
capitol, or to any of the rooms added to the library, and shall
have such control over the quadranyle as may be necessary
to the safe custody of the portraits.

4. Thesecretary of the commonwealth is hereby authorized
to employ an architect to aid him in carrying out the pro-
visions of this act.

5. The expense which may be incurred in the execution
of this act, shall be paid out of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated, upon the certificate of the secre-
tary of the commonwealth.

6. The superintendent of public instruction, the superin-
tendent of public printing, and the adjutant-general, are
hereby authorized and directed to select and rent rooms,
within the limits of the city of Richmond, to be used as offi-
ces, for their respective departments, the rent of which shall
be paid upon the warrant of the auditor of public accounts,
out of the public treasury. Neither of said officers sball
exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars per month for an office.

7. This act shall take effect from its passage.