Private Acts of 1973 Chapter 15

SECTION 1. A Commission is hereby created for McNairy County, to be known as the "McNairy County Governmental Library Commission." This Commission shall be composed of five members to be appointed, one by the Judge of the Circuit Court, one by the Judge or Chancellor holding the Chancery Court, one by the Judge of the County Court, and two by the President of the McNairy County Bar Association. These Commissioners are to be appointed for a term of two years or until their successors are appointed, but they shall serve without compensation and shall themselves elect a Chairman and Secretary from their members. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Commissioner by death, resignation, refusal to serve or otherwise such vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the term by the official, or his successor in office, who made the original appointment.

SECTION 2. The purpose of the Commission shall be to establish, acquire, maintain and operate a County Governmental Library for the assistance of the Courts, Judges, public officials, attorneys and the public of McNairy County, and the Commission shall have full power and authority to acquire by purchase, gift, loan or otherwise such law books, codes, treatises and other works of law, government, medicine, history or literature that it may deem necessary or beneficial to the Courts, public officials of the State, County or City, members of the Bar and the public for study on questions of law of Government; also, in like manner, to acquire all furniture and equipment necessary to establish, maintain and operate the County Governmental Library, together with the right to employ and discharge Librarians and assistants, if necessary, and to fix the salary of such employers, and in their discretion to make all reasonable rules and regulations governing the operation and use of the library; to lease, rent or acquire by any means other than purchase, space in which to house the County Governmental Library provided space in the Court House or other public building is insufficient, but so long as sufficient space can be given in the Court House or other public buildings of the County, this space shall be furnished to the library without charge. All books, furniture, and equipment purchased or acquired for the library, other than by loan, shall become the property of McNairy County. If necessary to provide sufficient operating funds for this library the Commission is empowered to fix, assess and collect reasonable dues for its use from all persons using the Library except Judges or other public officials.

SECTION 3. For the purpose of financing the County Governmental Library, there shall be taxed, as costs, in each suit, civil, or criminal in the Court of General Sessions of McNairy County and of each suit, criminal, civil, or equitable, now pending or hereafter filed in or arising in any court of record in McNairy County in which a litigation tax is now charged and collected, the sum of one dollar. The costs taxes in pursuance of this section shall be collected as other costs in such cases are collected and the same shall be designated "County Governmental Library Tax." On or before the last day of each month the clerks of the respective courts shall pay to the County Trustee all amounts collected as County Governmental Library Tax in the preceding calendar month. The sum paid to the County Trustee shall be designated "County Governmental Library Fund," and used only for the purposes set out in this act. On approval of the majority of the Commission the Chairman and Secretary shall draw warrants on the County Trustee for expenditures of the Commission, indicating on each warrant the fund against which it is drawn, and the County Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to make payment out of this fund upon the presentation of warrants so issued in compliance with the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4. All dues, charges and other funds received by the McNairy County Governmental Library Commission directly shall be paid into the office of the County Trustee in a like manner, and at like times, as money collected hereunder shall be paid by the Clerks of the various Courts to said County Trustee.

SECTION 5. The Commission shall keep written minutes of its meetings, at which meetings a majority of the Commission then serving shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and shall keep a record of all money received and disbursed, purchases, loans or destruction of books and other property, and a proper inventory with reasonable accuracy.

SECTION 6. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

SECTION 7. This Act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Quarterly County Court of McNairy County before December 31, 1973. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Quarterly County Court of McNairy County and certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 8. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this Act, it shall be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 7.

Passed: March 8, 1973.