CHAPTER 507

An Act to amend and reenact § 42-9, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to board of trustees of county and regional library systems
generally.

[H 694]
Approved April 4, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 42-9, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 42-9. The management and control of a county free library system
shall be vested in a board of not less than 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 reference to their
fitness for such office, one of whom shall be the superintendent or the
assistant superintendent of public schools of such county. Such trustees,
other than the superintendent or the assistant superintendent 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, provided, how-
ever, that in any county having the county executive form of organization
and government provided for in §§ 15.1-588 through 15.1-621, such ap-
pointments may be made by the governing body of such county. The council
of any city entitled to representation on a board of trustees of a county
free library system pursuant to § 42-2 shall appoint a trustee to serve for
a term of four years, or until the contract is terminated, whichever is
shorter. 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 mem
being a superintendent or the assistant superintendent of public schools.
Such trustees other than the superintendent or the assistant 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 superintendents or the
assistant superintendents 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 incurred shall be paid from the library fund. A library trustee
may be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty by the judge, judges
or governing body making the appointment. The trustees shall, immediately
after appointment, meet and adopt such bylaws, 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 expenditures 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 prop-
erty, or real estate for the establishment and maintenance of such county
free library systems or regional free library systems or endowments for
same.