agreement. General management vested in Council or Board or Town Commissioners.

Amended by 40 and 41 Vict., c. 15 [XIII.]; 40 and 41 Vict., c. 54 [XIV.]; and 47 and 48 Vict., c. 37 [XV.].

VII. 18 and 19 Vict., c. 70. An Act for further promoting the establishment of Free Public Libraries and Museums in Municipal Towns, and for extending it to Towns governed under Local Improvement Acts and to Parishes. [30th July, 1855.]

Repealed II. This is the principal Act for England. For the text with subsequent alterations see below. (1) In places of more than 5000 population a Town Council or District Board may authorise a public meeting of burgesses or ratepayers, and a two-third vote of those present shall determine the adoption of the Act. Expenses shall be paid out of the Borough Fund or Improvement Rate. (2) In Parishes of 5000 population overseers, on requisition of ten ratepayers, shall call a meeting, and twothirds vote determine adoption by the Parish. If the population be 8000 a poll may be demanded by ten ratepayers. The Vestry shall appoint three to nine Commissioners, who shall be a body corporate, one-third to retire annually. They shall meet monthly; two a quorum. Minutes signed by two shall be taken in evidence. Accounts are to be kept and annually audited. Expenses to be paid out of a rate levied in like manner as a Poor Rate. Certain agricultural and horticultural lands are subject to one-third of assessment. Vestries of adjoining Parishes may co-operate in adoption and execution of the Act. Penny limit of rate. Accounts to be open to inspection. Similar regulations to VI. as to borrowing powers, lands, buildings (including buildings suitable for Schools of Science and Art). "Companies Clauses Consolidated Act, 1845," incorporated. General management vested in Council or Board or Committee thereof (who need not be members), or in Commissioners. (3) Case of the City of London, special. Libraries and Museums to be free.

Amended by 29 and 30 Vict., c. 114 [IX.]; 34 and 35 Vict., c. 71 [XII.], 40 and 41, c. 54 [XIV.]; 50 and 51 Vict., c. 22 [XVI.]; 52 Vict., c. 9 [XIX.]; 53 and 54 Vict., c. 68 [XX.].

Repealed so far as relates to Scotland by 50 and 51 Vict., c. 42 [XVIII.).

VIII. 28 and 29 Vict., c. 108. An Act to confirm certain provisional orders under "The Local Government Act, 1858," relating to the Districts of Nottingham, Rusholme, Plymouth, Redcar, Cardiff, Kingston-upon-Hull, Guildford, Ramsgate, Ryde, Workington, and Oxford, and for other purposes relative to certain Districts under the said Act [5th July, 1865.]

This is called "The Local Government Supplemental Act, 1865 (No. 5)". Section 22 provides "that the custody, care, and management of the Public Library in the City of Oxford shall be vested in the Local Board".

IX. 29 and 30 Vict., c. 114. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Act. [10th August, 1866.]

Repealed Section 15 of VII. as to Municipal Boroughs, and Section 5 of same Act, except as to keeping distinct accounts. Expenses in Municipal Boroughs were to be paid out of Borough Rate, except in Oxford (see VIII.); and in same places a meeting might be called on request of ten ratepayers, as well as by the Council. Parish of any population might co-operate in execution of the Act with an adjoining Borough, District, or Parish. Majority of more than one-half determined adoption. Population limit removed in all cases. Right to demand poll withdrawn.

After negative vote a new meeting might be held after one year. Parts of "Companies Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act, 1845," incorporated. Museum may add Library, or Library, Museum, without further proceedings.

Repealed so far as relates to Scotland by 30 and 31 Vict., c. 37 [X.].

Amended by 47 and 48 Vict., c. 37 [XV.].

X. 30 and 31 Vict., c. 37. An Act to amend and consolidate the Public Libraries Acts (Scotland). [15th July, 1867.] Repealed IV. and IX. so far as related to Scotland. Public meeting might be called at request of ten householders. A majority vote determined adoption. Expenses charged on the Police Rate (with a special proviso for Glasgow). Limit of rate, inclusion of Clauses Acts, provisions as to borrowing (loan limited to thirty years), property, general management, nearly as in previous Acts. Committee was to consist of ten members of

Board or Count and ten non-members, and to be elected anomaly: to meet once in three months, except in Parishes; three to be a quorum After rejection no meeting to consider adoption ler two years. Museum or Art Gallery might be alled to a Library without further proceedings.

Atended by 34 and 35 Vict. e. 52 "XL"; 40 and 41 Vict., c. 54 (XIV); and 47 and 45 Viet, &. 37 ́XV. Repealed by 50 and 51 Viet, &. 42 (XVEL,

Libraries Sectland Art IT." and to give additional facilities to the local authorities entrusted with carrying the same io execution Fist July, 1871.)

Repealed Sections 7 and 8 of X relating to borrowing powers). Incorporated parts of the Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847 ". Powers of borrowing limited to a quarter part of rate capitalised at twenty years' purchase. One-fiftieth part of borrowed money to be pui annually mio a sinking fund for extinction of loans. Annual estimates in advance to be made out. Annual rate not to exceed one penny on the yearly rewral Accounts to be audited ani ̧ visadannually. Fewer to make bye-laws given. Penalties and forfeitures to be recovered by an ordinary small delt action, and all actions to be brought in the name of the clerk. Provision made as to supplying vacancies on the Committee. Power given to lend out bocks, to make and issue catalogues, and to issue bocks to certain institutions.

Repealed by 50 and 51 Vict., &. 42 (XVII),

XII. 34 and 35 Viet, &. 71. An As to amend the Public Libraries Act, 1555. 14th August, 1871.7

Local Boards under -Public Health Act, 1548,” and “Local Government Act, 1858" may carry into execution the Acts. They are exempt from the regulations in Section 15 of VII, so far as refers to the Towns Improvements Clauses Acts, 1547," and may borrow upon mortgage of District Rate or separate rate. Not applicable where boundary of Local Board District overlaps or is included in Municipal Borough or Improvement Act District.

XIII. 40 and 41 Viet, e. 15. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Act, Ireland, 1855. [(98th June, 18772

Allows the establishment of Schools of Music.

Non-members

of Council or Board and others than Commissioners may serve on the Committee. Gives power to borrow on mortgage of Borough or Town Fund, or rates levied under the Act. Incorporates part of the "Companies Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845".

XIV. 40 and 41 Vict., c. 54. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Acts. [14th August, 1877.]

Provides alternative method of adoption by "voting papers," and for the limitation of the rate below one penny where ratepayers vote to that effect.

Repealed, so far as concerns England, by 53 and 54 Vict., c. 68 [XX.].

XV. 47 and 48 Vict., c. 37. An Act to amend the Public Libraries Acts. [28th July, 1884.]

Provides that Library authorities may accept Parliamentary grants in aid from the Committee of the Privy Council on Education for purposes connected with the teaching of Science and Art. Makes clear that buildings may be erected for Public Libraries, Public Museums, Schools for Science, Art Galleries, Schools for Art, or for any or more of these objects. Where the Acts have been adopted for one of these purposes, others can be carried out without further proceedings. Repeals Sections 10 of IX. and 17 of X.

Repealed, so far as concerns Scotland, by 50 and 51 Vict., c. 42 [XVIII.].

XVI. 50 and 51 Vict., c. 22. An Act to amend the Public - Libraries Acts. [8th August, 1887.]

Does not apply to Scotland, Ireland, or City of London. Allows establishment of a Lending Library " without providing any separate building, and in a building or room not appropriated for the purposes of the Act, or erected, purchased, or rented by the Library authority". Repeals Section 15 of VII., so far as incorporation of "Towns Improvement Clauses Act, 1847". Incorporates Sections 233, 234, 236, to 239 inclusive of the "Public Health Act, 1875," mutatis mutandis. This places the Library Authority on a footing with the Urban Sanitary Authority as to borrowing. Section 17 of VII., as to incorporation of parts

of the Companies Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845,” is repealed. Transfers powers and duties of the Treasury under the English Library Acts to the Local Government Board. In a Parish partly include 1 in a Borough or District, the part without is to be deemed a separate Parish for the purposes of IX. In the Metropolis power is given to a District under the “Metropolis Management Act, 1855," to adopt on the same lines as a Parish, and Sections 8, 9, 15, 21, and 22 of VII. amended accordingly; also Sections 13 and 14 are amen led to suit Metropolitan District arrangements. Precautions prescribed in cases where a Parish that has previously adopted the Acts is included in a District. Where a District has adopted the Acts no included Parish can take proceedings as to adopt without consent of the Local Government Board.

Amended by 53 and 54 Vict., c. 68 [XX.].

XVII. 50 and 51 Viet., e. lxxxv. An Act to provide for the levying of the assessments under the Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts in the City of Edinburgh, and for other purposes. [5th July, 1887.]

Amends the general Acts, to harmonise with certain local Municipal and Police Acts. This Act is referred to in XVIII.

XVIII. 50 and 51 Vict., c. 42. An Act to amend and consolidate the Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts. [16th Sept., 1887.]

Repeals previous Library Acts, so far as they concern Scotland. This is the principal Act for Scotland, and has not been amended (for the text see below). On requisition of the Magistrates and Council in any Borough, or of ten householders in any Parish or Borough, the opinions of the householders must be ascertained as to adoption of the Act: in places of more than 3000 population by voting papers; in other places that way, or by public meeting. A majority determines. No new effort under two years. Expenses to be paid, in a Burgh, out of the Burgh general assessment; in a Parish, out of the assessment for the relief of the poor, or by a rate levied for the purpose; but, if adopted, in any case out of the Library Rate, which is authorised to be levied, but may not exceed one penny in the pound of yearly rent. Where any Act allows differential rating on lands or premises, it is not to apply