Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Court of Massachusetts/1851/Statutes/Chapter 305

An Act to authorize Cities and Towns to establish and maintain Public Libraries.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Any city or town of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized to establish and maintain a public library within the same, with or without branches, for the use of the inhabitants thereof, and to provide suitable rooms therefor, under such regulations for the government of such library as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the city council of such city, or the inhabitants of such town.

Any city or town may appropriate for the foundation and commencement of such library, as aforesaid, a sum not exceeding one dollar for each of its ratable polls, in the year next preceding that in which such appropriation shall be made ; and may also appropriate, annually, for the maintenance and increase of such library, a sum not exceeding twenty-five cents for each of its ratable polls, in the year next preceding that in which such appropriation shall be made.

Any city or town may receive, in its corporate capacity, and hold and manage, any devise, bequest or donation, for the establishment, increase, or maintenance of a public library within the same. [Approved by the Governor, May 24, 1851.]