CITY, VILLAGE, AND TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES

MCL ch. 397, subtit. Act 164 of 1877

in effect

MCL 397.201 Public library and reading room; establishment and maintenance by city council; tax levy; library fund; tax additional to tax limitation.

397.201. Public library and reading room; establishment and maintenance by city council; tax levy; library fund; tax additional to tax limitation. Sec. 1. (1) The city council of each incorporated city may establish and maintain a public library and reading room for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the city. The city council may levy a tax of not to exceed 1 mill on the dollar annually on all the taxable property in the city. If approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposal at the regular annual election, the city council may increase the tax levied by not to exceed 1 additional mill on the dollar annually on all the taxable property in the city. The tax shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other general taxes of the city, and shall be deposited in a fund to be known as the "library fund." (2) The tax levied under this section shall be in addition to any tax limitation imposed by a city charter. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5175; CL 1897, 3449; CL 1915, 3431; CL 1929, 8059; CL 1948, 397.201; Am. 1986, Act 133, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1986

MCL 397.202 Governing board; number; qualifications; terms.

397.202. Governing board; number; qualifications; terms. Sec. 2. (1) If a city council decides to establish and maintain a public library and reading room under this act, the mayor of that city shall, with the approval of the city council, appoint a governing board of 5 members for the library and reading room, chosen from the citizens at large, with reference to their fitness for that office. Not more than 1 member of the city council may be a member of the board at any 1 time. (2) If a city council decides, after the first appointment of the governing board under subsection (1), that the purposes of the library and reading room would be better served by a different number of members on the governing board, the city council may by ordinance change the number of members to an odd number not less than 5 or more than 9. (3) The term of office for each member of the governing board may be changed by ordinance to a term of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years. (4) Notwithstanding section 3, if the term of office is changed by ordinance by a city council, the term of office for subsequent appointments by the mayor shall be the same as prescribed by the ordinance. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5176; CL 1897, 3450; CL 1915, 3432; CL 1929, 8060; Am. 1931, Act 248, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 397.202; Am. 2000, Act 99, Imd. Eff. May 19, 2000; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.203 Boards of directors; appointment; terms; removal.

397.203. Boards of directors; appointment; terms; removal. Sec. 3. The offices of boards of directors appointed before July 1, 1932 under this act, consisting of 9 members, are vacant effective July 1, 1932, and a board of 5 members to succeed them or a board of 5 members for a library newly established under this act shall be first appointed as follows: 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 5 years, 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, and annually thereafter the mayor shall appoint 1 member for a term of 5 years. The mayor may, by and with the consent of the city council, remove any member for misconduct or neglect of duty. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5177; CL 1897, 3451; CL 1915, 3433; CL 1929, 8061; Am. 1931, Act 248, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 397.203; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.204 Governing board; vacancy; compensation.

397.204. Governing board; vacancy; compensation. Sec. 4. A vacancy in the governing board of a library occasioned by removal, resignation, or otherwise, shall be reported to the city council and filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and no member shall receive compensation as such. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5178; CL 1897, 3452; CL 1915, 3434; CL 1929, 8062; CL 1948, 397.204; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.205 Governing board; president; officers; powers and duties; library fund; expenditures; establishment and maintenance of public library and reading room.

397.205. Governing board; president; officers; powers and duties; library fund; expenditures; establishment and maintenance of public library and reading room. Sec. 5. The governing board of a library shall, immediately after appointment, meet and organize, by the election of 1 member as president, and by the election of other officers as necessary. The governing board shall make and adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations for its own guidance and for the government of the library and reading room, consistent with this act. The governing board has exclusive control of the expenditure of all money collected to the credit of the library fund, the construction of any library building, and the supervision, care, and custody of the grounds, rooms, or buildings constructed, leased, or set apart for that purpose. All money received for the library shall be deposited in the treasury of the city to the credit of the library fund, shall be kept separate and apart from other money of the city, and drawn upon by the proper officers of the city upon the properly authenticated vouchers of the library board. The governing board may purchase or lease grounds and occupy, lease, or erect an appropriate building or buildings for the use of the library; has the power to appoint a suitable librarian and necessary assistants and fix their compensation; and remove appointees. The governing board shall carry out the spirit and intent of this act in establishing and maintaining a public library and reading room. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5179; CL 1897, 3453; CL 1915, 3435; CL 1929, 8063; CL 1948, 397.205; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.206 City library; free use; regulations.

397.206. City library; free use; regulations. Sec. 6. Every library and reading room established under this act shall be forever free to the use of the inhabitants where located, always subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the library board may adopt; and said board may exclude from the use of said library and reading room any and all persons who shall wilfully violate such rules. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5180; CL 1897, 3454; CL 1915, 3436; CL 1929, 8064; CL 1948, 397.206

MCL 397.207 Governing board; annual report; contents; affidavit.

397.207. Governing board; annual report; contents; affidavit. Sec. 7. The governing board appointed under section 2 shall annually report to the city council on the money received from the library fund and from other sources, and how the money has been expended and for what purposes; the number of books and periodicals on hand; the number added by purchase, gift, or otherwise during the year; the number lost or missing; the number of visitors attending; the number of books loaned out, and the general character and kind of those books; as well as other statistics, information, and suggestions as it deems appropriate. All portions of the report that relate to the receipt and expenditure of money, as well as the number of books on hand, books lost or missing, or books purchased, shall be verified by affidavit. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5181; CL 1897, 3455; CL 1915, 3437; CL 1929, 8065; CL 1948, 397.207; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.208 City library; injury to property, ordinances, penalties.

397.208. City library; injury to property, ordinances, penalties. Sec. 8. The city council of said city shall have power to pass ordinances imposing suitable penalties for the punishment of persons committing injury upon such library, or the grounds or other property thereof, or for wilful injury to or failure to return any book belonging to such library. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5182; CL 1897, 3456; CL 1915, 3438; CL 1929, 8066; CL 1948, 397.208

MCL 397.209 Donation of money, personal property, or real estate; governing board as trustee.

397.209. Donation of money, personal property, or real estate; governing board as trustee. Sec. 9. Any person desiring to donate money, personal property, or real estate for the benefit of a library has the right to vest the title to money or real estate donated in a governing board created under this act, to be held and controlled by that board when accepted according to the terms of the deed, gift, devise, or bequest of the property. The governing board shall be considered a special trustee of money, personal property, or real estate donated under this section. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5183; CL 1897, 3457; CL 1915, 3439; CL 1929, 8067; CL 1948, 397.209; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 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.

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. Sec. 10. (1) Fifty voters of an incorporated village or township may present to the clerk of the village or township a petition asking that a tax be levied for the establishment of a free public library in the village or township and specifying the rate of taxation, not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar. The tax may be of unlimited duration or the petition may specify the number of years for which the tax shall be levied. The clerk, in the next legal notice of the regular election in that village or township, shall give notice that at the election every voter may vote on the proposition including the rate and any duration of taxation for the free public library. (2) If the majority of all the votes cast in the village or township is for the tax for a free public library, the tax specified in the notice shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other general taxes of that village or township for the period, if any, specified in the petition, and shall be placed in a fund known as the library fund. (3) If a free public library is established and a governing board elected and qualified, that board, on or before the first Monday of September in each year for a free public library established by a township, and on or before the second Monday in April in each year for a free public library established by an incorporated village, shall prepare an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the support and maintenance of the library for the ensuing year, not exceeding 2 mills on the dollar of the taxable property of the village or township. Unless any period specified in the petition for the levy of the tax has expired, the governing board shall report the estimate to the assessor of the village or the supervisor of the township for assessment and collection in the same manner as other village or township taxes and the tax shall be so assessed and collected. A corporate authority of a village or township may exercise the same powers conferred upon the corporate authority of a city under this act. (4) A library established under this section constitutes an authority under section 6 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5184; Am. 1885, Act 36, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885; CL 1897, 3458; Am. 1907, Act 42, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1907; CL 1915, 3440; CL 1929, 8068; CL 1948, 397.210; Am. 1986, Act 133, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1986; Am. 1994, Act 81, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1994; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 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.

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. Sec. 10a. (1) Fifty voters of a city may present to the clerk of the city a petition asking that a tax be levied for the establishment of a free public library in that city and specifying a rate of taxation not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar. The tax may be of unlimited duration or the petition may specify the number of years for which the tax shall be levied. The clerk, in the next legal notice of the regular election in that city, shall give notice that at the election every voter may vote upon the proposition. The notice shall specify the rate and any duration of taxation mentioned in the petition. (2) If a majority of all the votes cast in the city upon the proposition is for the tax for a free public library, the tax specified in the notice shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other general taxes of that city for the period, if any, specified in the petition, and shall be placed in a fund to be known as the "library fund". (3) If the free public library is established under this section, and a governing board is elected and qualified as provided in section 11, the board, on or before the first Monday in September in each year, shall prepare an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the support and maintenance of the free public library for the ensuing year, not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar of the taxable property of the city. Unless any period specified in the petition for the levy of the tax has expired, the governing board shall report the estimate to the legislative body of the city. The legislative body shall raise by tax upon the taxable property in the city the amount of the estimate in the same manner that other general taxes are raised in the city. (4) A tax levied under this section shall be in addition to any tax limitation imposed by a city charter. Add. 1911, Act 178, Eff. Aug. 1, 1911; CL 1915, 3441; CL 1929, 8069; Am. 1931, Act 248, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 397.210a; Am. 1980, Act 521, Eff. Mar. 31, 1981; Am. 1986, Act 133, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1986; Am. 1994, Act 81, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1994; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.210b Free public library established in township or village incorporated as city; continuation of library board, library, and tax.

397.210b. Free public library established in township or village incorporated as city; continuation of library board, library, and tax. Sec. 10b. If a township or village in which a free public library has been established pursuant to section 10 is incorporated in its entirety as a city, the library board of the free public library shall continue in office and the free public library shall continue in existence and be governed by the provisions of section 10a as if the free public library had originally been established as a free public library under section 10a. Any tax previously authorized pursuant to this act for the support of the free public library shall continue in effect after the incorporation and shall then be assessed and collected on the taxable property in the city as provided in section 10a. Add. 1982, Act 286, Imd. Eff. Oct. 7, 1982

MCL 397.210c Increasing or renewing library millage; ballot; election; validation of millage renewal.

397.210c. Increasing or renewing library millage; ballot; election; validation of millage renewal. Sec. 10c. (1) If a city, village, or township has voted on, approved, and established a library pursuant to this act and the governing board by resolution determines that the estimate of the amount of money necessary for the support and maintenance of the library exceeds the previously authorized millage or that, if the previously authorized millage was approved for a specific number of years, the millage should be renewed, the question of increasing the library millage to not more than 2 mills or of renewing the millage shall be placed on the ballot for approval at the next regular annual election for that city, village, or township or at a special election for that city, village, or township. The increase or renewal may be of unlimited duration or the question may specify the number of years for which the increase or renewal shall be levied. The costs of a special election shall be paid from the library fund. (2) If a library millage was renewed in the manner provided by subsection (1) before April 11, 1994, that millage renewal is hereby validated. Add. 1986, Act 133, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1986; Am. 1994, Act 81, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1994; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.211 Vote of city, village, or township to establish free public library; governing board; establishment; provisional or permanent; membership; powers.

397.211. Vote of city, village, or township to establish free public library; governing board; establishment; provisional or permanent; membership; powers. Sec. 11. (1) Immediately after a city, a village, or a township has voted to establish a free public library, the city, village, or township shall establish a governing board as provided in subsections (3) and (4). (2) If a city, village, or township has a free public library that has not elected a governing board, including a city library and governing board established under sections 1 to 10, the city, village, or township shall establish a governing board as provided in subsections (3) and (4). (3) The legislative body of a city, village, or township described in subsection (1) or (2) shall appoint a provisional governing board of 6 members who shall hold office until the next city, village, or township election of a permanent governing board. (4) A permanent governing board shall be established for a city, village, or township described in subsection (1) or (2) as follows: (a) In a city or village that holds an annual election, 6 members shall be elected. The terms of 2 of the members shall be 1 year; the terms of 2 of the members shall be 2 years; and the terms of 2 of the members shall be 3 years. Each year thereafter, 2 members shall be elected for 3-year terms. (b) In a city or village that holds biennial elections, 6 members shall be elected. The terms of 2 of the members shall be 2 years; the terms of 2 of the members shall be 4 years; and the terms of 2 of the members shall be 6 years. Biennially thereafter, 2 members shall be elected for 6-year terms. (c) In a city or village that holds elections for city or village officers every 4 years, 6 members shall be elected for 4-year terms. (d) In a township that holds elections for township officers every 4 years, 6 members shall be elected for 4-year terms. (e) The members shall be nominated and elected on nonpartisan ballots. A candidate for city, village, or township governing board member shall be a qualified elector of that city, village, or township and shall file nonpartisan nominating petitions bearing the signatures of a number of registered and qualified electors of that city, village, or township as follows: (i) For a city, village, or township having a population of 9,999 or less, not less than 6 or more than 20 signatures. (ii) For a city, village, or township having a population of 10,000 or more, not less than 40 or more than 100 signatures. (f) In lieu of the nominating petitions prescribed in subdivision (e), an individual may file with the clerk conducting an election a $100.00 nonrefundable fee to have his or her name placed on the ballot. (g) The Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, governs the circulation and filing of nonpartisan nominating petitions and the conduct of nonpartisan elections under this section. A nonpartisan election conducted under this section shall be held in conjunction with the city, village, or township's next regularly scheduled primary or general election. (5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a member shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified. The office of member becomes vacant when the incumbent dies, resigns, is convicted of a felony, is removed from office by the governor under section 10 of article V of the state constitution of 1963, or, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, ceases to be a qualified elector of the city, village, or township in which he or she was appointed or elected. A member who is serving a term on a library governing board on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence and who during that term ceases to be a qualified elector of the city, village, or township in which he or she was appointed or elected may serve the remainder of the term, but may not seek another term on the library governing board of that city, village, or township unless he or she meets the requirements of subsection (4)(e). (6) A city or village library governing board shall fill a vacancy in a membership by appointment of an individual to hold office until the next regular election at which city or village officers are elected. A township library governing board shall fill a vacancy in a membership by appointment of an individual to hold office until the next general November election. (7) A provisional or permanent governing board has the powers prescribed in section 5. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5185; CL 1897, 3459; Am. 1905, Act 67, Eff. Sept. 16, 1905; CL 1915, 3442; CL 1929, 8070; Am. 1931, Act 248, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; Am. 1945, Act 60, Imd. Eff. Mar. 28, 1945; CL 1948, 397.211; Am. 1978, Act 130, Imd. Eff. May 4, 1978; Am. 1980, Act 114, Imd. Eff. May 14, 1980; Am. 1980, Act 521, Eff. Mar. 31, 1981; Am. 1984, Act 138, Imd. Eff. June 1, 1984; Am. 1988, Act 432, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 1988; Am. 2002, Act 160, Eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.211a Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.

397.211a. Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties. Sec. 11a. A petition under section 10, 10a, or 11, including the circulation and signing of the petition, is subject to section 488 of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.488. A person who violates a provision of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, applicable to a petition described in this section is subject to the penalties prescribed for that violation in the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992. Add. 1998, Act 177, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999

MCL 397.212 Applicability of MCL 397.210a and 397.211; exception; organization of existing public library under MCL 397.210a.

397.212. Applicability of MCL 397.210a and 397.211; exception; organization of existing public library under MCL 397.210a. Sec. 12. Except as otherwise provided in section 10b, sections 10a and 11 do not apply to a city, village, or township maintaining a public library under a special act or to a public library contained in the 1979 statement prepared by the state board for libraries pursuant to section 8 of Act No. 59 of the Public Acts of 1964, being section 397.38 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. However, an existing public library may, by petition, be organized under section 10a regardless of the library's original organization. 1877, Act 164, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877; How. 5186; CL 1897, 3460; CL 1915, 3443; CL 1929, 8071; CL 1948, 397.212; Am. 1978, Act 130, Imd. Eff. May 4, 1978; Am. 1980, Act 521, Eff. Mar. 31, 1981; Am. 1982, Act 286, Imd. Eff. Oct. 7, 1982

MCL 397.213 Use of library services by adjacent township, village, or city; contract; payment.

397.213. Use of library services by adjacent township, village, or city; contract; payment. Sec. 13. (1) Notwithstanding a contrary city, village, or township charter provision, a township, village, or city adjacent to a township, village, or city that supports a free public circulating library and reading room under this act may contract for the use of library services with that adjacent township, village, or city. (2) A township, city, or village may pay for the use of library services contracted for under subsection (1) by levying a tax not to exceed 2 mills of its state equalized valuation, by use of money from the municipality's general fund, or with money received under Act No. 59 of the Public Acts of 1964, being sections 397.31 to 397.40 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. A tax shall not be levied or increased under this section unless a majority of the electors of the municipality voting on the question vote in favor of the tax. Add. 1903, Act 19, Eff. Sept. 17, 1903; CL 1915, 3444; CL 1929, 8072; CL 1948, 397.213; Am. 1984, Act 128, Imd. Eff. June 1, 1984; Am. 1987, Act 216, Imd. Eff. Dec. 22, 1987

MCL 397.214 Contract with township, city, or village for use of library and reading room; procedure; tax levy; library fund.

397.214. Contract with township, city, or village for use of library and reading room; procedure; tax levy; library fund. Sec. 14. (1) Upon receipt of a petition signed by not less than 10% of the electors in any township based on the highest vote cast at the last regular election for township officers of the township, addressed to the township board, requesting that a meeting be called of the electors in the township, to consider making a contract with any township, city, or village supporting and maintaining a free public circulating library and reading room under this act, or under any special act, for the use of its privileges by the residents of the township, the township board shall call a meeting of the electors of the township by posting a notice in at least 5 public places within the township not less than 10 days before the meeting. The electors present at the meeting shall determine whether the township shall enter into a contract for the use of a free public circulating library and reading room in any township, city, or village and the rate of taxation to be levied for the purpose of paying for that use if the electors decide to enter into such a contract. However, a tax so levied shall not exceed 1 mill of the state equalized valuation of the township. If a majority of those present and voting are in favor of the township contracting for the use of a free public circulating library and reading room maintained in any township, city, or village, the township board may enter into a contract and shall levy and collect the tax provided for in this subsection, which shall be placed in a fund to be known as the "library fund". The money in the library fund shall be paid over by the township treasurer to the treasurer of the township, city, or village in which the library is located on the first day of January, February, and March of each year, to be disbursed under section 5. This subsection is not a limitation on the contractual power of a legislative body of a city, village, or township under section 13. (2) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in a township, city, or village charter, the governing board of a library of a township, city, or village supporting and maintaining a free public circulating library and reading room under this act, or under any special act, may enter into a contract with another township, city, or village to provide the residents of that other township, city, or village with the full use of the library and reading room, upon terms and conditions agreed upon between the governing board of the library and the legislative body of the other township, city, or village. A contract entered into under this subsection shall be executed for a term of 3 years, shall be automatically extended for an indefinite term after the initial 3-year period, and shall be terminable by either party only upon 6 months' notice of the intent to terminate the contract. Add. 1903, Act 19, Eff. Sept. 17, 1903; Am. 1911, Act 272, Eff. Aug. 1, 1911; CL 1915, 3445; CL 1929, 8073; Am. 1931, Act 248, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 397.214; Am. 1984, Act 128, Imd. Eff. June 1, 1984; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.215 Contract for use of library services by county; joint governing board; membership; provisions of contract; powers and duties of joint governing board.

397.215. Contract for use of library services by county; joint governing board; membership; provisions of contract; powers and duties of joint governing board. Sec. 15. (1) In a county that does not have a county library established under 1917 PA 138, MCL 397.301 to 397.305, or counties in which the population exceeds 1,000,000, a contract for use of library services under section 13 may provide for joint representation on the library governing board. A joint governing board shall not have more than 9 members. (2) A contract for use of library services that provides for joint representation may provide that a member serving on a governing board on the day before the establishment of a joint governing board shall become a member of the joint governing board and shall serve out the balance of his or her unexpired term. (3) A contract for the use of library services shall specify all of the following: (a) Whether members added to an existing governing board to create a joint governing board are elected or appointed. (b) The method of election or appointment of members added to an existing governing board to create a joint governing board. (c) Lengths of terms of office of members added to an existing governing board to create a joint governing board. The terms of the added members shall be staggered. If a contract establishing a joint governing board is terminated, the terms of all added members end on the date of termination. (d) The method of removal of, and the causes upon which removal may be based for, a member added to an existing governing board to create a joint governing board. (e) The method of filling a vacancy in the office of a member added to an existing governing board to create a joint governing board. A vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. (f) Any other provision that is considered necessary or advisable. (4) Selection, length of terms, manner of filling vacancies, and removal of the members of the existing governing board who become members on the joint governing board are governed by state law or by the township, city, or village charter. (5) If a contract for use of library services that provides for joint representation does not provide that members on the existing governing board become members on the joint governing board, the offices of the members of the existing governing board shall be vacated on the date the joint governing board assumes jurisdiction and the contract shall include the provisions required by subsection (3), which shall apply to the entire joint governing board. (6) A joint governing board established under this section has the same powers and duties as a governing board of a library under sections 5 to 7. Add. 1984, Act 128, Imd. Eff. June 1, 1984; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.216 Rights in use and benefits of library; uniform rules and regulations.

397.216. Rights in use and benefits of library; uniform rules and regulations. Sec. 16. After fulfilling the contractual requirements, the people of a township, village, or city that has contracted for library services with another township, village, or city have all rights in the use and benefits of the library that they would have if they lived in the township, village, or city where the library is established, subject to uniform rules and regulations established by the governing board. Add. 1903, Act 19, Eff. Sept. 17, 1903; CL 1915, 3446; CL 1929, 8074; CL 1948, 397.216; Am. 1984, Act 128, Imd. Eff. June 1, 1984; Am. 2014, Act 131, Imd. Eff. May 27, 2014

MCL 397.217 Joint municipal libraries; villages and cities.

397.217. Joint municipal libraries; villages and cities. Sec. 17. The people of villages may join with townships, or townships with villages, or either with cities, by complying with similar provisions, as aforesaid in this act, and as amended, for the purpose of maintaining, supporting and receiving the benefits from a free public circulating library. Add. 1903, Act 19, Eff. Sept. 17, 1903; CL 1915, 3447; CL 1929, 8075; CL 1948, 397.217

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20397.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026