County Law Libraries.

Ala. Code tit. 11, tit. 1, ch. 25

in effect

Ala. Code § 11-25-1 Authorized; Power to Appropriate Space and Funds; Filing of Resolutions.

11-25-1. Authorized; Power to Appropriate Space and Funds; Filing of Resolutions. The governing body of each county by resolution thereof shall have the power to establish and maintain a county law library for each courthouse in their respective counties for the use and benefit of the county and state officials, court system, and the public; and shall have the power to appropriate and set aside for the establishment, maintenance, and support of said libraries, such space and funds as it shall deem necessary and appropriate. All resolutions setting up county law libraries shall be filed in the probate office of the county where located and with the Administrative Director of Courts. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-2 Existing Libraries; Alternative Method of Establishing Libraries; Successors to Property, Funds, Etc.

11-25-2. Existing Libraries; Alternative Method of Establishing Libraries; Successors to Property, Funds, Etc. The governing body of each county having county law libraries under existing laws on August 8, 1979, may come under the provisions of this chapter by resolution thereof, upon the request of the presiding circuit judge, and the filing of a copy of said resolution with the Secretary of State and the Administrative Director of Courts. This is an alternative method to the local act method of establishing county law libraries and a county may elect at any time to use either method but may not have a county law library under both methods at the same time. All county law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter shall become owners and successors to all property, funds, and obligations of their predecessors and all property and funds subsequently acquired by the county law libraries. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §2.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-3 County to Furnish Space and Utilities for Libraries; Supplement Budget.

11-25-3. County to Furnish Space and Utilities for Libraries; Supplement Budget. In return for the county law libraries serving the legal materials needs of the county and court officials and of the citizens of the county, the county governing body may furnish adequate space and utilities for law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter and may supplement the book and materials budget if it considers such to be needed. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §3.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-4 Municipalities Authorized to Appropriate Funds or Property.

11-25-4. Municipalities Authorized to Appropriate Funds or Property. Municipal governing bodies may appropriate funds or property to the county law libraries in consideration of said libraries making their facilities and holdings available to the citizens of the municipalities. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §4.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-5 Judge Authorized to Appoint Law Librarian or Custodian.

11-25-5. Judge Authorized to Appoint Law Librarian or Custodian. Upon the establishment of a county law library, or the continuance of a present county law library under the provisions of this chapter, the presiding judge of the circuit, or a district or circuit judge designated by him, may appoint a full or part-time county law librarian or custodian. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §5.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-6 Administration of Library; Appointment of Advisory Committee.

11-25-6. Administration of Library; Appointment of Advisory Committee. The presiding circuit judge for the county or county law librarian if one exists, shall administer the county law library and shall disburse the library funds, and shall appoint such librarians and assistants as are necessary for the proper operation of the library. The presiding judge of the circuit shall appoint an advisory committee to the county law library. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §6.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-7 County Law Library Fund; Audit, Use, Etc.; Purchases Exempt from Taxes.

11-25-7. County Law Library Fund; Audit, Use, Etc.; Purchases Exempt from Taxes. Upon the establishment of a county law library under the provisions of this chapter each county shall have and maintain a separate fund known as the County Law Library Fund and may have a separate law library fund for each law library in the county. The county law library funds shall consist of funds appropriated by the state, county, or municipal governments, funds collected under the provisions of law, proceeds from the sale of copies, books, and other materials, or received from donations, gifts, grants, and funds other than those appropriated, and shall be audited as county funds are audited. Said fund may be used to match grants for library purposes. Library funds may be used to pay library personnel. All purchases by or on behalf of such library shall be exempt from all State of Alabama, county, or municipal sales, use, or other similar taxes. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §7.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-8 Power to Receive Gifts, Exchange Books, Etc.; Furnish Services to County and Court Officials Without Cost.

11-25-8. Power to Receive Gifts, Exchange Books, Etc.; Furnish Services to County and Court Officials Without Cost. County law libraries shall have the power to receive gifts, grants, and to exchange books and materials with other libraries and may furnish the legal needs of books, materials, and copies to the county officials and circuit, probate, and district court officials at no cost. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §8.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-9 Library Fee as Court Cost; Disposition.

11-25-9. Library Fee as Court Cost; Disposition. For the support and maintenance of county law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter a library fee of two dollars shall be paid in all causes and cases of whatever nature in the district and circuit courts of the various counties wherein this law is in effect, to be collected as other court costs are collected and paid at the same time as docket or filing fees are paid. Said library fees shall be paid in all proceedings wherein a docket or filing fee is paid. All of the funds collected under the provisions of this section shall be transmitted to the proper county law library fund by the tenth of each month following their collection. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §9.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-10 Libraries to Receive State Acts and Code.

11-25-10. Libraries to Receive State Acts and Code. County law libraries shall be on the distribution list of the Secretary of State to receive one set each of the Acts of Alabama and the Code of Alabama and the supplements thereto. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §10.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-11 Network of Law Libraries.

11-25-11. Network of Law Libraries. The county law libraries are a part of a network of law libraries with the state-supported law libraries, and the non-state-supported law libraries on a voluntary basis, for their mutual benefit. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §11.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-12 Authority to Transfer, Lend, Etc., Books, Materials, Etc.

11-25-12. Authority to Transfer, Lend, Etc., Books, Materials, Etc. The state, counties, and state agencies have the authority to transfer, sell, give, or lend books, property, and materials to the county law libraries; and said county law libraries have the authority to transfer books, property, and materials to the state, counties, and state agencies, and to other county law libraries in the state on a voluntary basis. (Acts 1979, No. 79-751, p. 1336, §12.)

Ala. Code § 11-25-13 Disposition of Funds.

11-25-13. Disposition of Funds. (a) In any county that has established a county law library fund pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to local act, and in any county which hereafter shall establish a law library fund pursuant to lawful authority, in addition to, and not to supersede, the authority granted to the presiding judge in a judicial circuit by such authority, the presiding circuit judge may authorize the moneys designated for the use of the law library to be expended for any of the following purposes: (1) The purchase of books, periodicals, equipment, software, hardware, furniture, fixtures, technology, and computers. (2) The cost of securing advice and attendance of witnesses. (3) Registration fees and expenses incurred by the judges and court employees when attending seminars, institutions, conferences, and other meetings related to continuing legal education and judicial education. Allowances and reimbursements for expenses incurred by the judges and court employees when attending seminars, institutions, conferences, and other meetings related to continuing legal education and judicial education shall be subject to the same guidelines which apply to the allowances and reimbursements provided to state employees and legislators. (4) Membership dues in legal and judicial organizations. (5) Salaries and benefits of court employees where necessary for the efficient operations of the courts of the county. The employees shall not be deemed to be employees of the county commission. (6) Necessary expenses incurred by the judges in promoting legal and judicial competency. (7) Necessary expenses of judges and court employees when ordered by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court to travel outside their districts or circuits on business. (8) Funding additional judges as approved. (9) Other expenses as determined necessary by the presiding circuit court judge to promote the efficient administration of justice. (b) Expenditures authorized in this section shall be made as provided in Section 11-25-6. (c) The presiding circuit court judge may sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of books, periodicals, equipment, and other property of the law library as necessary to keep the library up to date. The presiding judge may use any proceeds from the sale or exchange to purchase new books, periodicals, equipment, or other property for the law library. Any property purchased with such funds as authorized by this subsection shall become the property of the county. (d) The presiding circuit court judge may designate the district court judge to operate or assist in the operation of the law library. (e) The moneys in each county law library fund shall be audited in the same manner and at the same time as other county general funds. (f) Nothing in this section shall require a set sum of money to be expended on maintaining the law library and effectively administering justice, nor shall any county commission be required to fund the maintenance of the law library from funds otherwise available to the county commission. (Act 2009-641, p. 1973, §1.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026