(1) For the purpose of organizing and administering pulic libraries in the State, there shall be constituted by the Government Local Library Authority for each district.
(2) The Local Library Authority for each district shall consist of:—
(i) the District Magistrate of the district who shall be the Chairman;
(ii) the District Library Officer, who shall function as ex-officio Member-Secretary of the Local Library Authority;
(iii) the District Social Education Officer;
(iv) two representatives of the Associations of the employees of the different public libraries to be nominated by the Government;
(v) two members to be nominated by the Government from amongst the Commissioners of the Municipalities within the district;
(vi) two representatives of the district branch of the Bengal Library Association to be nominated by the Executive Committee of the said Association;
(vii) one person to be nominated by the Sabhadhipati from amongst the members of the Zilla Parishad in the district;
(viii) two persons nominated by the Government from amongst the members of the Panchayat Samitis in the district;
(ix) two persons nominated by the Government, of whom—
(a) one shall be a member of the Governing Bodies of recognised libraries in the district, and
(b) the other from the Advisory Committees, if any, of the libraries under the District Library;
(x) a teacher of a College or Polytechnic in the district to be nominated by the Government;
(xi) a teacher of a High School or a Higher Secondary School in the district to be nominated by the Government;
(xii) a teacher of a Primary School in the district to be nominated by the Government;
(xiii) two M.L.A.s of the district to be nominated by the Government;
(xiv) the Librarian/Librarians of the District Library/Libraries.
Constitution of Local Library Authorities.
341 The West Bengal Public Libraries Act, 1979.
[West Ben. Act (Chapter 111—State Library Council.—Sections 9-11.)
(3) The members, other than the ex-officio members, shall hold office for a period of three years:
Provided that if a nominated or an elected member ceases to hold the position by virtue of which he was so nominated or elected, he shall automatically cease to be a member of the Local Library Authority.
Local Library Authority shall be a body corporate.
Power of a Local Library Authority.
Vesting of properties in Local Library Authorities.
9. Every Local Library Authority shall be a body corporate, by the name of the area for which it is constituted, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and may sue or be sued in its corporate name, and shall have the right of acquiring, holding or transferring property, movable or immovable, of entering into contracts and of doing all things necessary, proper or expedient, for the purposes for which it is constituted.
10. A Local Library Authority may—
(a) provide suitable lands and buildings for public libraries and also the furniture, fittings, materials and conveniences requisite therefor;
(b) stock such libraries with books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, works and specimens of art and science, lantern slides, cinema reels and any other thing suitable for the purpose;
(c) employ from time to time such officers and staff for such libraries in the manner prescribed;
(d) with the previous sanction of the Government, close or discontinue any public library organised or run by it or change the site thereof;
(e) recommend to the Director for withdrawal of recognition of, or discontinuance of Government grant to, any public library;
(f) accept, with the previous sanction of the Director, any gift of books, or, with the previous sanction of the Government, any other gift or endowment for any purpose connected with its activities;
(g) provide for lectures and seminars on topical subjects and the holding of classes; and
(h) in general, do everything necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
11. All property, movable and immovable, acquired or held for the purpose of any public library in any area shall vest in the Local Library Authority of that area.
342 The West Bengal Public Libraries Act, 1979.
XXXIX of 1979.1 (Chapter 111.—Local Library Authorities.—Sections 12-14.)
12. Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, a Local Library Authroity may, with the previous approval of the Government, make regulations generally to carry out the purposes of this Act and, without prejudice to the generality of this power, such regulations may provide for—
(a) the admission of persons to public libraries in its area on such conditions and on payment of such fees as it may specify;
(b) requiring from persons desiring to use such libraries, any guarantee or security against injury to, or misuse, destruction or loss of the property of such libraries;
(c) the manner in which the property of such libraries shall be used to ensure the protection of such property from injury, misuse, destruction or loss; and
(d) authorise its officers and employees to exclude or remove from any such library any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.