HE last report on library legislation was

THE

made at the Lake George Conference in 1885. This report covers the three succeeding years, but makes no reference to legislation during the present year; as any memoranda, if attainable, would be incomplete, since many of the legislative bodies are in session at the present time.

ARIZONA. In 1887, the Legislative Council passed a general school act, which, among other things, authorizes boards of school trustees of

cities or school districts to establish and maintain libraries, and to appropriate school funds therefor. These libraries are to be kept in schoolhouses, where practicable, and are to be free to all pupils, and to all residents of the district, upon payment of a prescribed annual or monthly fee.

CALIFORNIA.- An act was approved March 5, 1887, to encourage and provide for the dissemination of the arts, sciences, and general literature, and the founding and maintaining of public libraries. It provides that any person intending, in his lifetime, or by will or trust deed, to operate after his death, to found and perpetuate a public library, etc., may convey to trustees named, and to their successors, any collection of books, and such gift shall be construed to be a conveyance of the future additions and accretions thereof. He may, in like manner, convey real estate and other property, which shall vest in the trustees, who thereby become a body corporate, and subject

*11. Not officially.

12. Small attendance.

*13. Useless expense.

14. Attendance less than 1 per cent of membership.

to the trust. The person making the grant is given full power to name the institution, its nature and purposes, and prescribe the manner in which successors to the trustees shall be appointed, designate places where buildings shall be erected, No suit shall be commenced to set aside such gift, or to affect the title to the property conveyed, unless commenced within two years after filing the grant for record. A like bequest may also be made to the State, and it will carry out the wishes and intentions of the grantor.

etc.

COLORADO.- An act approved March 17, 1887, authorizes the State librarian to turn over to the

librarian of every free public library one copy of every book, pamphlet, or periodical published by the State. It also authorizes school district boards to levy a tax, not exceeding one tenth of a mill, to purchase library books.

DELAWARE. A joint resolution was approved April 13, 1887, accepting plans and specifications for a new building for the State library, and making provision for erecting the same.

ILLINOIS. An act approved June 17, 1887, amends an act authorizing cities and towns to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading rooms, passed in 1872, by increasing the amount that may be levied for library purposes, in the annual tax levy of cities of less than 100,000 inhabitants, to 2 mills on $1. It was formerly 11⁄2 mills; which still remains the rate in cities of over 100,000 population, with the proviso that the library taxes shall not be included in the aggregate amount of taxes limited in the act relative to the incorporation of cities.

KANSAS.- An act was approved Feb. 19, 1886, to authorize cities to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading-rooms. It provides that, upon the written petition of fifty tax payers, the mayor and common council of any city shall submit to the legal voters the question of the establishment and maintenance of a free public library and reading-room by such city; and if a majority favor such establishment the mayor and common council shall annually thereafter levy a tax, not exceeding 1 mill on $1, in cities of the first and second class, and 11⁄2 mills in cities of the third class. The mayor, with the approval of the common council, shall appoint a board of thirteen directors, the mayor being a member ex officio. These directors are divided into classes of three each, a class being appointed annually for a term of four years. The board is given entire control over the library and its funds, and is required to report annually to the common council. Every library and reading-room established under this act is to be free to the use of the inhabitants of the city where located, and the use may be extended to persons living outside the city upon such terms as may be prescribed. Library associations previously organized under the laws of the State are authorized to turn over their property to the directors of free public libraries, upon the written consent of two thirds of the stockholders.

By an act passed March 2, 1887, the Board of Education of Osage City was authorized to turn over the school district library books, furniture, and funds to the free public library of that city.

KENTUCKY.- An act approved April 7, 1886, to incorporate the public library of the city of Paducah, provides that the trustees may accept gifts of money, books, etc., and maintain a library, which shall be free, under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the trustees. No provision is made for other income.

MAINE. January, 1887, the statutes were amended to increase the amount of annual appropriations for maintaining town libraries from 25 to 50 cents for each of ratable polls.

February, 1887, they were further amended to require each county treasurer to pay to the treasurer of each county law library 10 per cent of the fines actually paid for violations of chap. 27 (prohibitory liquor law), and section 1, of chap. 17 (relative to lewd and tippling houses), not exceeding $100.

March, 1887, an act was passed authorizing any city or town to accept donations of land, buildings, books, or other property for a public library or art gallery, or funds to be used for the purchase of books, etc., and to maintain the same in order.

MASSACHUSETTS.- By act approved May 4th, 1888, every town which raises or appropriates money for the support of a free public library owned by the town, shall, at its annual meeting, elect a board of trustees, except in cases where a town has acquired a library in whole or part by donation or bequest, with other provisions for election of trustees. The board shall consist of any number divisible by three, not exceeding nine, and one third of the number shall be elected annually for a term of three years. No person is ineligible for trustee by reason of sex. These trustees are to have entire control and management of the town library, and the disposition of its funds. The trustees are required to make an explicit report at each annual town meeting. This law does not interfere with libraries managed under special legislative acts.

MICHIGAN. In 1887 a previously existing law was amended to provide that, when a free public library has been established in any village or town,