HonorableI. Rcdecki
Cmmty Auditor
CalvestcmCouuty
Calveston,Teus
Dear Sir: opiuioulo. O-1316
Rex Doe8 the ~06mi*hmer8' court have the
authorityto arrangewith the Rosenberg
Library to serve as a countylibrary?
Your requestfor our opinionon the above stated questionhas been received
by this department.
Your letterreads, in part, as follows:
@WE Comslssioners' Court of CalvestonCounty have been
consideringthe establishingof a County Library. They
a la o h a veu nderc o mlder a tio an lggertlon that the County
arrangewith the Trusteesof the RosenbergLibrary,located
in the City of Calveston,to render the servicethat a
County Librarymight renderby contributingor paying to
the RosenbergLibrarya compensationfor this service.
"The RosenbergLibrary~0s not establishedby the City
of Calvestonand is not mintmined by the City. The
Libraryvas a gift of the late Henry Rosenberg.who among
numerousbequests,also bequethedthe library,and which has
been maintainedby au end-nt providedfor in his vill."
This departmenthas held in OpinionRo. 0-6g0 that the commissioners court
does not have the authorityto donate money to privateendovedlibraries.
Complyingvith your requestasking for a copy of this opinion,ve enclose
he~etrithacopy of the same for your convenience.
Article 1677 of Vernon'sCivil Statutesreads as follows:
"The Commissioners'court of mny countymay establish,
maintain,and operatewithin their respectivecounties,
countyfree libraries'inthe manner and with the functions
prescribedin this title. The said court shall also have
the power and authorityto establishin co-operation with
anothercounty or countiesa joint free county libraryfor
the benefitof theco-operative counties."
.
L.
BcmorableI. Redeckl, Page #S (O-1316)
Article 1694, Vernon'sCivil Statutea,reada as follows:
'Iuateadof eatabliahlnga aeprate countyfree llbrsry,upm
petitionof l majorityof the votera'ofthe couuty,the
cdalonera court nuy contrectfor libraryprivilegeafran
aoae alreadyeatabllahedlibrary. Such contractahall provida
that au& eatabliahedlibraryahall laauaa the functions of
a couuty free libraryvithlu the countywith vhich the
contractis as&, ipcludingIncorporatedcitiesand tovna
therein,and shall alao providethat the librarianof such
eatabllahedlibrarylhallhold or secure a couuty librarian's
certlflcatefroa the Stak Board of LibraryExamInera. Said
court may contractto pay amually into the libraryfund
of said establlahedlibrarysu c h lua ma msy be agreed upon,
to be paid out of the county libraryfund. Either prty to
such coutractaaytermiuatethe laae by givingllxaouths
notice of intentionto do so. Propertyacquiredunder
such contractahallbe rubject to divisionat the termlnatlon
of the contractupon such tema as are specifiedIn such
contract."
In viev of the foregoingstatutes&w are respectfullyldvlaedthat it ia
WopFnlon of this departmentthat the c~laalonera' court of Galveston
Couuty can ccutractvith the RoaeubergLibrary for libraryprlvilageain
the nunuer prescribedby Article 1694, Vernon'sCivil Statutea,provided
there are no reatrictiona the will of Mr. Henry Roaeubergprohlbltiug
,,iu
the auue.
Trustingthat the foregoingfully auaverayour inquiry,we remin.
Yours very truly,
ATl'ORRRIGEI?EBALOPTEXAS
a/ Ardell William6
w
Ardell Wllliaaa
Assistant
AW:I&ldv
AmRovm cm. 14, 1939 APPROVEDOPIHIORCOMMITTE
a/ ROBBRT E. KBPKR BY B. W. B.
ACTIRG ATIORRRIGRRERALOP TEXAS CHAIRMAR