of the viewers shall be entitled to receive a sum not exceeding five dollars per day; or such compensation as the said court shall decide upon, not exceeding five dollars per day, for every day necessarily employed in the performance of their duties.23 School directors may extend aid to libraries already established. Taxes. 513. In any school district, except cities of the first and second class, wherein there is or shall hereafter be established, otherwise than under the provisions of the act to which this is a supplement, a free non-sectarian public library, the school directors, board or organization having control of the common schools of said district may, instead of establishing another public library and providing for its government, extend aid to such library on such terms as to control and management as shall be agreed upon between the managers thereof and the school authorities, and for that purpose may levy the taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement in the manner provided therein.24 Managers' annual report. Accounts to be audited. 514. The managers of any public library receiving aid under this act shall annually report to the school board furnishing such aid an account of the expenditure of the money so received, under the oath of the managers or their secretary and treasurer, and such account shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the auditors by whom the accounts of the school board are audited in like manner as their accounts. 25 Adjoining townships may establish libraries. Aid to existing library. Agreement. Tax levy. 515. When any township surrounds and immediately adjoins any borough within this Commonwealth, within either of which there is or shall be hereafter established, otherwise than under the provisions of the act to which 23. Act May 11, 1901, Sec. 4, P. L. 169. 24. Act March 30, 1897, Sec. 1, P. L. 10. Note. This act is a supplement to the Act June 28, 1895. P. L. 411. 25. Act March 30, 1897, Sec. 2, P. L. 10. this is a supplement, a free, non-sectarian, public school library, the school directors, boards or organizations having control of the common schools of said districts, may, instead of establishing another public library and providing for its maintenance, join in extending aid to such library, already established, guaranteeing such aid, in such proportion, and on such terms as to control and management, as shall be agreed upon between the managers thereof and the school authorities of said respective districts; and for that purpose may levy the taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement, in the manner therein provided. 26 Annual report. Audit of account. 516. The managers of any public library receiving aid under the provisions of this act, shall annually report to to the school boards furnishing such aid, an account of the money so received, under the oath of the managers, or of their secretary and treasurer, and such account shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the auditors by whom the accounts of their respective school boards are audited, in like manner as their own accounts.27 Borough councils may aid free public libraries. 517. For the purpose of establishing and maintaining free public libraries on a permanent basis throughout the Commonwealth, authority is hereby given to the town councils of the boroughs of this state to make appropriation or appropriations for or in aid of the establishment or maintenance, or either, of a free public library or libraries now incorporated, or that may hereafter be incorporated, for the use of the residents within any of the said boroughs, upon condition that the municipal authorties shall be represented to the satisfaction of said councils in the management of such library or libraries. 28 26. Act April 2, 1903, Sec. 2, P. L. 133. Note. This act is a supplement to the Act of June 28, 1895, P. L. 411. Supra Sec. 501. Act April 2, 1903, Sec. 3, P. L. 133. 27. 28. Act May 25, 1897, Sec. 1, P. L. 84. Appropriation, limit. 518. The councils may appropriate annually from the taxes levied and collected for borough purposes for the establishment and maintenance of such library or libraries, not to exceed one mill on a dollar on all taxable property in such boroughs.29 Library trustees, powers and duties. Election and term of members. Vacancy. 519. The public library of each district shall be under the general management of nine trustees acting as the agents and appointees of the school board who shall approve all plans for its storage and accommodation, purchase and take charge of all books, maps, documents, relics and literary, historical or other contributions, appoint all employees and make all regulations, and do all things necessary to its government, preservation and maintenance, subject to the approval of the board. The president and treasurer of the board and the superintendent of the district (or if there is no such officer, the secretary of the board), shall be ex-officio members of the board of trustees. The other six members shall be elected by the school board, two each for one, two and three years, and annually thereafter two members shall be chosen by said board for the term of three years. Each trustee shall serve until his successor is elected and in case of a vacancy it shall be filled by the school board for the unexpired term. The trustees shall make a report to the school board once each year or oftener if called upon of such subjects and in such manner as may be required by said board.30 When election of trustees may be dispensed with. 520. Any board of school directors of any township or borough, or any other organization having control of the common schools of any township or borough, may, when decided upon by resolution duly passed by a majority of the members of said board of school directors or other organi 30. Act May 11, 1901, Sec. 1, P. L. 180. This act amends Sec. 4, Act June 28, 1895, P. L. 411. . zation having control of the common schools, as aforesaid, prior to the establishment of any library authorized by this act, dispense with the election of trustees, as herein before provided; in which case the powers given, and duties imposed by said act to said trustees shall be assumed and exercised, by said school directors and other organization having control of the common schools of said township or borough.31 Supervision of libraries. 521. All public libraries established as above shall be under the general supervision and subject to the inspection of the State Librarian, who is hereby empowered to require reports thereof to be made by the trustees at such time and in such manner as he may see proper.32 Adjoining school districts may join in establishing and maintaining free public libraries, or join in aiding those otherwise established. 522. When any township surrounds or immediately adjoins any borough within this Commonwealth, the school directors, boards, or organizations having control of the common schools of said borough and township, may join in the establishment and maintenance of a free, non-sectarian, public library in said borough or township, or partly in both, the expense of such establishment and maintenance to be borne by said borough and township, in such proportions as may be agreed upon by the school authorities of said respective school districts, and for that purpose may levy the taxes provided for in the act to which this is a supplement. 33 31. Act May 11, 1901, Sec. 1, P. L. 180. This act amends Sec. 4, Act 32. Act June 28, 1895, Sec. 5, P. L. 411. 33. Act April 2, 1903, Sec. 1, P. L. 133. Note. This act is a supplement to the act of June 28, 1895, P. L. 411. Supra. Sec. 501, 503. SCHOOL TERM. 523. School term........ 524. Days for improvement of teachers............... 525. President of board to certify the whole number of months the 526. School month........ schools have been kept open and in operation 527. Legal holidays... PAGE 223 223 224 ... 224 225 225, 528. Teaching on legal holidays forbidden....... School term. 523. The minimum school term shall be seven months, and after the close of the school year ending on the first Monday of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninetynine, school directors or controllers shall keep the schools of their respective districts in operation at least seven months each year: Provided, That the length of the annual term may remain as at present in districts where the maximum amount of tax allowed by law to be levied for school purposes, together with the amount of state appropriation to which the said districts are entitled, shall be found insufficient to keep the schools open a greater length of time than six months.' Days for improvement of teachers. 524. Two Saturdays in each month, as the proper board shall designate, which two Saturdays shall be held to be a part of the school month, may at the discretion, and by an affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the board of directors or controllers, be appropriated to institutes for the improvement of the teachers of the said district: Provided, That in districts, in which the schools are or shail be, kept open, and in operation the maximum term now allowed by law, and the teachers employed by the year, the foregoing clause as to the number of days in the school month shall not apply any further, than that the reports and statistics of the school shall be kept in accordance therewith, and that district institutes may be held as thereby directed.2 I. Act April 4, 1899, Sec. 1, P. L. 31. 2. Act April 17, 1865, Sec. 1, P. L. 60. |