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Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 19 of 2024
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NOTE: Dates reflect any modification to item, not necessarily a change in law.

Chapter 397 - LIBRARIES
Act 106 of 1937 ‑ Repealed-STATE BOARD OF LIBRARIES (397.1 - 397.8)
Act 540 of 1982 ‑ LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN ACT (397.11 - 397.24)
     Section 397.11 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.12 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 397.13 ‑ Library of Michigan; creation.
     Section 397.14 ‑ Library board of trustees; creation; duties; meetings; membership; terms; rules; election of chairperson and vice-chairperson; expenses; state librarian as secretary of board.
     Section 397.15 ‑ Appointment of state librarian.
     Section 397.16 ‑ State librarian; duties; coordination of library activities with department director; qualifications of state librarian and assistant state librarian.
     Section 397.17 ‑ Employment of assistants and other employees; transfer to department; exception.
     Section 397.18 ‑ Property of library.
     Section 397.19 ‑ Library as depository for public documents; exemptions.
     Section 397.20 ‑ Duties of library; maintenance and ownership of website by legislative council.
     Section 397.20a ‑ Rules.
     Section 397.21 ‑ Annual report of state librarian.
     Section 397.22 ‑ Repeal of MCL 397.51 to 397.59, 397.1 to 397.8, and 16.409.
     Section 397.22[1] ‑ Transfer and control of appropriation.
     Section 397.23 ‑ Repealed. 1986, Act 98, Imd. Eff. May 14, 1986.
     Section 397.24 ‑ Conditional effective date.
Act 59 of 1964 ‑ DISTRIBUTION OF PENAL FINES TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES (397.31 - 397.40)
     Section 397.31 ‑ Public libraries; definitions.
     Section 397.32 ‑ Penal fines; apportionment to county library boards.
     Section 397.33 ‑ County library board; duties; membership, appointment, terms; contracts for service.
     Section 397.34 ‑ County library board; powers as to new library.
     Section 397.35 ‑ County contracting for service; apportionment of funds; allocation to more than 1 public library.
     Section 397.36 ‑ Use of penal fine moneys; report.
     Section 397.37 ‑ Construction of act as to county law libraries.
     Section 397.38 ‑ Statement of eligible libraries.
     Section 397.39 ‑ Rules and regulations.
     Section 397.40 ‑ Repeal.
Act 28 of 1895 ‑ Repealed-STATE LIBRARY (397.51 - 397.65)
Act 26 of 1847 ‑ Repealed-PROCUREMENT OF UNITED STATES LAWS FOR STATE LIBRARY (397.71 - 397.71)
Act 25 of 1875 ‑ Repealed-DISTRIBUTION OF UNITED STATES STATUTES BY STATE LIBRARIAN (397.81 - 397.81)
Act 242 of 1911 ‑ Repealed-DEBATES OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1907 (397.91 - 397.92)
Act 315 of 1937 ‑ Repealed-STATE AID FOR LIBRARIES (397.102 - 397.113)
Act 234 of 1964 ‑ FEDERAL FUNDS FOR LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION (397.126 - 397.126)
     Section 397.126 ‑ Library construction; federal funds; report.
Act 371 of 1972 ‑ LIBRARY NETWORK ACT OF 1971 (397.131 - 397.136)
     Section 397.131 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.132 ‑ “Library network” defined; administrative leadership.
     Section 397.133 ‑ Eligibility of library for membership in network; connection to state library; agreement.
     Section 397.134 ‑ Administration of interlibrary loan service.
     Section 397.135 ‑ Application for inclusion in network.
     Section 397.136 ‑ Rules.
Act 250 of 1931 ‑ REGIONAL LIBRARIES (397.151 - 397.159)
     Section 397.151 ‑ Regional libraries; plan for establishment and location.
     Section 397.152 ‑ Proposal to establish regional libraries; referral to county board of supervisors.
     Section 397.153 ‑ Board of trustees; membership, appointment, term, vacancies, expenses.
     Section 397.154 ‑ Repealed. 1961, Act 116, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961.
     Section 397.155 ‑ Board of trustees; powers.
     Section 397.156 ‑ Appropriation for regional libraries; budget, disbursement.
     Section 397.157 ‑ Cities exempt from act; notification when included in proposal.
     Section 397.158 ‑ Municipal libraries; transfer to regional libraries.
     Section 397.159 ‑ Repealed. 1961, Act 116, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961.
Act 24 of 1989 ‑ THE DISTRICT LIBRARY ESTABLISHMENT ACT (397.171 - 397.196)
     Section 397.171 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.172 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 397.173 ‑ Joint establishment of district library; requirements; portion of municipality to be included in district library; excluded portion; documents to be filed with state librarian; review; approval or disapproval; amendment of boundaries; effect of excluded territory; single municipality.
     Section 397.173a ‑ Referendum on question of becoming district library or joining existing district library; filing, approval, and review of petition; approval by electors; establishment of new-district library; appointment of interim board; vote by district library board to accept or reject new proposed participating municipality.
     Section 397.173b ‑ Merging of district libraries; requirements; districtwide library tax.
     Section 397.173c ‑ Disincorporation, annexation, consolidation, or merger of municipalities.
     Section 397.173d ‑ Transfer of portion of district library to other district library; condition; effect of districtwide library tax; "transfer area" defined.
     Section 397.174 ‑ District library agreement; provisions.
     Section 397.175 ‑ Submission of agreement and amendment to state librarian; approval or disapproval of agreement, amendment, or revision; statement.
     Section 397.176 ‑ Organizational plan; revision of board structure and selection.
     Section 397.177 ‑ District library as authority.
     Section 397.178 ‑ Candidate for appointment or election as board member; qualifications; vacancy in office of board member.
     Section 397.179 ‑ Appointed board members; number; right to appoint; term; vacancy.
     Section 397.180 ‑ Repealed. 2002, Act 159, Eff. Jan. 1, 2003.
     Section 397.180a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 397.181 ‑ Election of board members of district library; provisions applicable where school district is participating municipality; amendment of agreement.
     Section 397.182 ‑ Powers of board; compensation and expenses of board members; deposit and expenditure of money in district library fund.
     Section 397.183 ‑ Determination of money necessary for establishment and operation of district library districtwide tax; payment by participating municipality; approval of tax; library tax.
     Section 397.184 ‑ Provisions governing elections.
     Section 397.185 ‑ Ballot proposal for districtwide tax; amount of millage; proposed duration; adoption by resolution; certification; authorization of tax levy; limitation on elections.
     Section 397.186 ‑ Providing ballots.
     Section 397.187 ‑ Conduct of election; list of electors.
     Section 397.188 ‑ Publication of notices of close of registration and election; canvass and certification of results of election.
     Section 397.189 ‑ Printing and providing ballots.
     Section 397.190 ‑ Conduct of election for board members or districtwide tax.
     Section 397.191 ‑ Publication of notices for election of board members or districtwide tax; publication of notices of close of registration and election; ballot language of proposal.
     Section 397.192 ‑ Canvass and certification of results of election.
     Section 397.193 ‑ Reimbursement for costs of election.
     Section 397.194 ‑ Withdrawal of municipality from district library; amendment of agreement; dissolution.
     Section 397.195 ‑ Municipality other than school district as party to existing agreement; requirements; acceptance conditioned on authorization of tax; change in number of mills based on district library agreement.
     Section 397.195a ‑ Repealed. 2003, Act 279, Imd. Eff. Jan. 8, 2004.
     Section 397.196 ‑ Repeal of MCL 397.271 to 397.276.
Act 164 of 1877 ‑ CITY, VILLAGE, AND TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES (397.201 - 397.217)
     Section 397.201 ‑ Public library and reading room; establishment and maintenance by city council; tax levy; library fund; tax additional to tax limitation.
     Section 397.202 ‑ Governing board; number; qualifications; terms.
     Section 397.203 ‑ Boards of directors; appointment; terms; removal.
     Section 397.204 ‑ Governing board; vacancy; compensation.
     Section 397.205 ‑ Governing board; president; officers; powers and duties; library fund; expenditures; establishment and maintenance of public library and reading room.
     Section 397.206 ‑ City library; free use; regulations.
     Section 397.207 ‑ Governing board; annual report; contents; affidavit.
     Section 397.208 ‑ City library; injury to property, ordinances, penalties.
     Section 397.209 ‑ Donation of money, personal property, or real estate; governing board as trustee.
     Section 397.210 ‑ Free public library in village or township; petition to levy tax for establishment; notice of election; library fund; governing board; estimate of money necessary for support and maintenance of library; report; assessment and collection of tax; powers of corporate authorities; library as authority under state constitution.
     Section 397.210a ‑ Free public library in city; establishment; petition for tax; notice; library fund; preparing and reporting estimate of money necessary for support and maintenance; tax additional to tax limitation.
     Section 397.210b ‑ Free public library established in township or village incorporated as city; continuation of library board, library, and tax.
     Section 397.210c ‑ Increasing or renewing library millage; ballot; election; validation of millage renewal.
     Section 397.211 ‑ Vote of city, village, or township to establish free public library; governing board; establishment; provisional or permanent; membership; powers.
     Section 397.211a ‑ Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
     Section 397.212 ‑ Applicability of MCL 397.210a and 397.211; exception; organization of existing public library under MCL 397.210a.
     Section 397.213 ‑ Use of library services by adjacent township, village, or city; contract; payment.
     Section 397.214 ‑ Contract with township, city, or village for use of library and reading room; procedure; tax levy; library fund.
     Section 397.215 ‑ Contract for use of library services by county; joint governing board; membership; provisions of contract; powers and duties of joint governing board.
     Section 397.216 ‑ Rights in use and benefits of library; uniform rules and regulations.
     Section 397.217 ‑ Joint municipal libraries; villages and cities.
Act 181 of 1973 ‑ TRANSFER OF CITY PUBLIC LIBRARIES (397.231 - 397.233)
     Section 397.231 ‑ Effect of repealing local act governing city public library.
     Section 397.232 ‑ Operation and maintenance of library by governing body of city.
     Section 397.233 ‑ Conveyance of library property to other governing body.
Act 305 of 1919 ‑ Repealed-PUBLIC LIBRARIES; BONDS (397.241 - 397.246)
Act 261 of 1913 ‑ LIBRARIES UNDER BOARDS OF EDUCATION (397.261 - 397.262)
     Section 397.261 ‑ Boards of education library; annual expense estimates.
     Section 397.262 ‑ Boards of education; raising money for purchase of property; bonds; issuance; approval by electors; issuance subject to revised municipal finance act.
Act 164 of 1955 ‑ Repealed-DISTRICT LIBRARIES (397.271 - 397.276)
Act 265 of 1988 ‑ DISTRICT LIBRARY FINANCING ACT (397.281 - 397.290)
     Section 397.281 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.282 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 397.283 ‑ Powers of board.
     Section 397.284 ‑ Limitation on borrowing money or issuing bonds or notes; conditions to issuance of general obligation unlimited tax bonds; ballot question.
     Section 397.285 ‑ Issuance of limited tax bonds or notes by resolution.
     Section 397.286 ‑ Repealed. 1989, Act 25, Imd. Eff. May 22, 1989.
     Section 397.287 ‑ Bonds as debt of district library; withdrawal of participating municipality from district library.
     Section 397.288 ‑ Authorization and levy of taxes to pay principal of and interest on bonds.
     Section 397.289 ‑ Bonds subject to revised municipal finance act.
     Section 397.290 ‑ Submission of proposal to issue bonds; limitation.
Act 138 of 1917 ‑ COUNTY LIBRARIES (397.301 - 397.305)
     Section 397.301 ‑ County libraries; establishment, contracts for service, tax.
     Section 397.302 ‑ Library board; purpose; appointment and terms of members; voting; vacancy; expansion of board; board as body corporate; powers; cost of service.
     Section 397.303 ‑ Contract for use of existing library; county library fund.
     Section 397.304 ‑ County library fund; disbursement.
     Section 397.305 ‑ Contract for service to municipality; tax; effect of establishment of municipal library.
Act 5 of 1917 ‑ TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE LIBRARIES (397.321 - 397.326)
     Section 397.321 ‑ Townships and villages; issuance of library bonds, approval by electors.
     Section 397.322 ‑ Referendum; notice.
     Section 397.323 ‑ Referendum; form of ballot; election process.
     Section 397.324 ‑ Library bonds; vote; issuance; subject to revised municipal finance act.
     Section 397.325 ‑ Repealed. 2002, Act 332, Imd. Eff. May 23, 2002.
     Section 397.326 ‑ Declaration of necessity.
Act 165 of 1927 ‑ CONSOLIDATION OF TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES (397.351 - 397.358)
     Section 397.351 ‑ Consolidation of township libraries; procedure.
     Section 397.352 ‑ Referendum; petition.
     Section 397.353 ‑ Referendum; form of ballot; conduct of election.
     Section 397.354 ‑ Referendum; meeting to pass joint resolution; consolidation.
     Section 397.355 ‑ Site of library; designation.
     Section 397.356 ‑ Maintenance expenses; apportionment.
     Section 397.357 ‑ Control of library.
     Section 397.358 ‑ Free public library; formation.
Act 213 of 1925 ‑ PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC LIBRARIES (397.371 - 397.371)
     Section 397.371 ‑ Privately owned libraries; public support, limitation, conditions.
Act 136 of 1921 ‑ Repealed-PUBLIC LIBRARY; GIFTS AND DONATIONS (397.381 - 397.382)
Act 26 of 1921 (1st Ex. Sess.) ‑ LIBRARY COMMISSIONS (397.401 - 397.405)
     Section 397.401 ‑ Library commission; jurisdiction.
     Section 397.402 ‑ Library commission; annual budget.
     Section 397.403 ‑ Library commission; fiscal year.
     Section 397.404 ‑ Effect of local act; continuation.
     Section 397.405 ‑ Payrolls, bills, accounts and claims; audit and approval; certificate; allowance, payment.
Act 115 of 1899 ‑ FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES (397.453 - 397.453)
     Section 397.453 ‑ Free libraries; annual report to state board of library commissioners.
Act 92 of 1952 ‑ PUBLIC LIBRARIES (397.471 - 397.472)
     Section 397.471 ‑ Public libraries; maintenance and operation, contracts; cooperation to avoid duplication.
     Section 397.472 ‑ Public libraries; contracts and arrangements; rights and privileges of residents; expenditures; political subdivisions.
Act 127 of 1959 ‑ STATE LIBRARY FOR BLIND (397.491 - 397.495)
     Section 397.491 ‑ State library for blind; transfer to state board for libraries.
     Section 397.492 ‑ State library for blind; administration, rules and regulations.
     Section 397.493 ‑ State library for blind; appropriation.
     Section 397.494 ‑ State library for blind; personnel, qualifications.
     Section 397.495 ‑ State library for blind; transfer of powers and duties to state board for libraries.
Act 286 of 1965 ‑ Repealed-STATE AID TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT OF 1965 (397.501 - 397.527)
Act 89 of 1977 ‑ STATE AID TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT (397.551 - 397.576)
     Section 397.551 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.552 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 397.553 ‑ Cooperative boards; establishment; number.
     Section 397.554 ‑ Preliminary cooperative plan for library services; contents; development.
     Section 397.555 ‑ Eligibility for membership in cooperative library.
     Section 397.556 ‑ Areas included in cooperative library.
     Section 397.557 ‑ Cooperative library board as representative of participating libraries; selection of members; existing systems.
     Section 397.558 ‑ Cooperative library board as body corporate; powers and duties; installment purchase contract, land contract, loan agreement, or lease purchase contract.
     Section 397.559 ‑ Submission and contents of plan; approval of plan; jurisdiction.
     Section 397.560 ‑ Fiscal year and funds of cooperative library.
     Section 397.561 ‑ Use of facilities and resources of member libraries; availability of services of cooperative library; appeal from refusal of service.
     Section 397.561a ‑ Nonresident borrowing fees.
     Section 397.562 ‑ Resolution requesting local board to become participating library; rights, duties, and privileges of participating library.
     Section 397.563 ‑ State aid for cooperative libraries.
     Section 397.564 ‑ Cooperative board to provide services to member libraries within area of cooperative library.
     Section 397.565 ‑ Payment for services by member libraries; cooperative library headquarters.
     Section 397.566 ‑ State aid for public libraries; reimbursing public libraries for salary of head librarian; employee wage increases; certifying salary of head librarian.
     Section 397.567 ‑ Compliance with certification requirements as qualification for state aid.
     Section 397.568 ‑ Application for state aid; certification.
     Section 397.569 ‑ Distribution of state aid; statement; vouchers; warrants.
     Section 397.570 ‑ Deposit of money in separate fund; review of expenditures.
     Section 397.571 ‑ Expenditure of state aid.
     Section 397.572 ‑ Dispute; hearing; decision.
     Section 397.573 ‑ Needs considered by state board in carrying out powers and duties.
     Section 397.574 ‑ Repealed. 1982, Act 541, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983.
     Section 397.575 ‑ Appropriation.
     Section 397.576 ‑ Repeal of MCL 397.501 to 397.527.
Act 455 of 1982 ‑ THE LIBRARY PRIVACY ACT (397.601 - 397.606)
     Section 397.601 ‑ Short title.
     Section 397.602 ‑ Definitions.
     Section 397.603 ‑ Library record not subject to disclosure requirements; release or disclosure of library record without consent prohibited; exception; procedure and form of written consent; hearing; disclosure exception.
     Section 397.604 ‑ Violation of MCL 397.603; liability; civil action; damages; attorney fees and costs; equitable relief.
     Section 397.605 ‑ Selection and use of library materials.
     Section 397.606 ‑ Restriction of internet access to minors; immunity from liability; exceptions.

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