Chap. 233.—An ACT to incorporate the Norfolk public library.

Approved February 12, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That William
Lamb, John L. Roper, A. B. Seldner, W. W. Old, Richard C. Tay-
lor, Charles Borum, C. Whittle Sams, C. Billups, B. A. Marsden,
James A. Kerr, Newton Fitz, B. P. Loyall, A. B. Bagnall, John B.
Jenkins, W. H. Sergeant and Barton Myers, and such other person
aud persons as may hereafter be associated with them, be, and they
are, created and constituted a body politic and corporate under the
uame and style of the Norfolk public library, and as such to have per-
petual succession, be capable of suing and being sued, to have a
common seal and the same to renew and alter at pleasure, and shall
be able and capable, in law and in equity, to take and hold for the
use of said corporation any real estate, goods, chattels and sum or
sums of money, by gift, grant, bargain, sale, will, devise, bequest or
otherwise, from any person or persons, corporation or corporations
whatsoever, and the same to grant, bargain, sell and a good convey-
ance-make for the use of said corporation, and generally to do all
and singular the matters and things which may be lawful and neces-
sary for if to do for the well-being and due management of the
affairs thereof: provided, however, that the real estate held by said
corporation shall at no one time exceed five hundred acres.

2. The purposes and objects of said corporation shall be generally
the estalishment and maintenance of a reference and circulating
library, reading-rooms, literary and scientific lectures and other
means of promoting the moral and intellectual improvement of its
members.

3. The control and disposal of the funds, property and estate and
the direction and management of the affairs and concerns of said
corporation shal] vest in a board of sixteen directors. Five mem-
bers of this board of directors shall constitute and form a quorum
for the transaction of business. Said board of directors shall annu-
ally elect from their own number a president, vice-president, secre-
tary and treasurer, who shall be the officers of the corporation, and
shall serve for one year from the date of their election and until
their successors shall have been duly elected.

4. The board of directors shall, as soon as practicable after this
charter shall have been granted, divide themselves in the three equal
classes, consisting of five members each. The first class shall hold
office until the next annual election, the second class until the sec-
ond annual election, and the third class until the third annual elec-
tion thereafter. And at each annual election after the granting of
this charter there shall be elected five directors to serve for three
years and until their successors shal! have been duly elected.

5. The annual election shall take place some time during the
month of February of each and every year, at such time and day as
may be fixed by the board of directors. The board of directors
shall have power to fill vacancies in their own body or in the offices
aforesaid.

6. The funds of said corporation shall be raised by annual dues
from its members and by such other lawful means as may be pro-
vided by its constitution or by-laws. And the board of directora
is authorized and empowered to make and adopt such constitution
and by-laws prescribing the duties of the officers and members of
said corporation and for the government thereof, which said consti-
tution and by-laws may be changed, modified and amended as from
time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the said board of
directors: provided, however, that the same be not inconsistent with
the constitution and laws of the United States or the state of Virginia.

7. And the said corporation shall be entitled to take any gift,
grant, devise or bequest embraced in any will or any other instru-
ment made to it, and no misnomer or misdescription of said cor-
poration in any such will or other instrument shall vitiate or defeat
the said gift, grant, devise or bequest: provided that it be suffi-
ciently described to ascertain the intent of the parties.

&. The following shall compose the first board of directors, subject to
the terms, conditions and provisions contained in paragraph four of
this act: William Lamb, Jobn L. Roper, A. B. Seldner, W. W. Old,
Richard C. Taylor, Charles Borum, C. Whittle Sams, C. Billups, B. A.
Marsden, James A. Kerr, Newton Fitz, B. P. Loyall, H. B. Bagnall,
John B. Jenkins, W. H. Sergeant and Barton Myers.

9. It shall be lawful for the councils of the city of Norfolk, Vir-
ginia, to contribute a sum of money, not exceeding five thousand
dollars in any one year, to said Norfolk public library, to be used
towards the maintenance and support of the same upon such terms
and conditions as the said councils may prescribe.

10. It shall be lawful if hereafter one or more citizens, by deed,
gift, bequest or otherwise, shall establish a free library in the city of
Norfolk, Virginia, for the directors of this corporation by a two-
thirds vote to consolidate with or merge into said library: provided,
however, that said library is chartered by the general assembly of
Virginia aud makes as liberal provisions for the use of its reading-
rooms, books and other property for and by the public as may be
mude by this corporation.

11. All the property, both real and personal, which may belong to
sald corporation shall be exempt from all taxes, levies and assess-
nents, both city and state.

12. This act shall be in force from its passage.