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nefits and privileges conferred by the regulations relative to district libraries. Minors, will draw in their own names, but on the responsibility of their parents or guardians.

6th. Where there is a sufficient number of volumes in the library to accommodate all residents of the district who wish to borrow, the librarian should permit each member of a family to take books as often as desired, so long as the regulations are punctually and fully observed. But where there are not books enough to supply all the borrowers, the librarian should endeavor to accommodate as many as possible, by furnishing each family in proportion to the number of its readers of borrowers. IV. Every book must be returned to the library within twenty days after it shall have been taken out, but the same inhabitant may again take it, unless application has been made for it, while it was so out of the library, by any person entitled, who has not previously borrowed the same book, in which case such applicant shall have a preference in the use of it. And where there have been several such applicants, the preference shall be according to the priority in time of their applications, to be determined by the librarian. Upon application to the Superintendent, the time for keeping books out of the library will be extended to a period not exceeding twenty-eight days, where sufficient reasons for such extension are

shown.

V. If a book be not returned at the proper time, the librarian is to report the fact to the trustees; and he must also exhibit to them every book which has been returned injured by soiling, defacing, tearing, or in any other way, before such book shall be again loaned out, together with the name of the inhabitant in whose possession it was when so injured.

VI. The trustees of school districts being, by virtue of their office, trustees of the library, are hereby authorized to impose the following fines:

1st. For each day's detention of a book beyond the time allowed by these regulations, six cents, but not to be imposed for more than ten days' detention.

2d. For the destruction or loss of a book, a fine equal to the full value of the book, or of the set, if it be one

of a series, with the addition to such value of ten cents for each volume. And on the payment of such fine, the party fined shall be entitled to the residue of the series. If he has also been fined for detaining such book, then the said ten çents shall not be added to the value. 3d. For any injury which a book may sustain after it shall be taken out by a borrower, and before its return, a fine may be imposed of six cents for every spot of grease or oil upon the cover, or upon any leaf of the volume; for writing in or defacing any book, not less than ten cents, nor more than the value of the book; for cutting or tearing the cover, or the binding, or any leaf, not less than ten cents, nor more than the value of the book.

4th. If a leaf be torn out, or so defaced or mutilated that it cannot be read, or if any thing be written in the volume, or any other injury done to it, which renders it unfit for general circulation, the trustees will consider it a destruction of the book, and shall impose a fine accordingly, as above provided in case of loss of a .book.

5th. When a book shall have been detained seven days beyond the twenty days allowed by these regulations, the librarian shall give notice to the borrower to return the same within three days. If not returned at that time, the trustees may consider the book lost or destroyed, and may impose a fine for its destruction in addition to the fines for its detention.

VII. But the imposition of a fine for the loss or destructhen of a book, shall not prevent the trustees from recovering such book in an action of replevin, unless such fine shall have been paid.

VIII. When, in the opinion of the librarian, any fine has been incurred by any person under these regulations, he may refuse to deliver any book to the party liable to such fine, until the decision of the trustees upon such liability, be had.

IX. Previous to the imposition of any fine, two days' written or verbal notice is to be given by any trustee, or the librarian, or any other person authorized by either of them, to the person charged, to show cause why he should

not be fined for the alleged offence or neglect; and if within that time good cause be not shown, the trustees shall impose the fine herein prescribed. No other excuse for an extraordinary injury to a book, that is for such an injury as would not be occasioned by its ordinary use, should be received, but the fact that the book was as much injured when it was taken out by the person charged, as it was when he returned it. As such loss must fall on some one, it is more just that it should be borne by the party whose duty it was to take care of the volume, than by the district. Negligence can only be prevented, and disputes can only be avoided by the adoption of this rule. Subject to these general principles the imposition of all, or any of these fines, is discretionary with the trustees, and they should ordinarily be imposed only for wilful or culpably negligent injuries to books, or where the district actually sustains a loss, or serious injury. Reasonable excuses for the detention of the books beyond the twenty days, should in all cases be received.

X. It is the special duty of the librarian to give notice to the borrower of a book that shall be returned injured, to show cause why he should not be fined. Such notice may be given to the agent of the borrower who returns the book; and it should always be given at the time the book is returned.

XI. The librarian is to inform the trustees of every notice given by him to show cause against the imposition of a fine; and they shall assemble at the time and place appointed by him, or by any notice given by them, or any one of them; and shall hear the charge and defence. They are to keep a book of minutes, in which every fine imposed by them, and the cause, shall be entered and signed by them, or the major part of them. Such original minutes, or a copy certified by them, or the major part of them, or by the clerk of the district, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact that a fine was imposed as stated in such minutes, according to these regulations.

XII. It shall be the duty of trustees to prosecute promptly for the collection of all fines imposed by them. Fines collected for the detention of books, or for injuries to them, are to be applied to defray the expense of repair

ng the books in the library. Fines collected for the loss or destruction of any book, or of a set or series of books, shall be applied to the purchase of the same or other suitable books.

XIII. These regulations being declared by law "obligatory upon all persons and officers having charge of such libraries, or using or possessing any of the books thereof," it is expedient that they should be made known to every borrower of a book. And for that purpose a printed copy is to be affixed conspicuously on the case containing any library, or on one of such cases, if there be several and the librarian is to call the attention to them of every person, on the first occasion of his taking out a book.

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The offices of trustee and librarian are incompatible; and cannot be held by the same person.

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