Ordinance 337 - 1911-1913 - History of the Libraries

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This, nearly 90 year old, document was found, taped to the inside front cover, of the Gulfport Library Association's "book of minutes" with hand written minutes dating back to 1923. There is no date on this Ordinance, however based on its contents, a Newspaper article dated October 27, 1911, and based on Library Association meeting "minutes" dating back to October, 1913 indicating that there was a Public Library in operation in the Gulfport City Hall in 1913, we can conclude that this ordinance was written between 1911 and 1913.

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ORDINANCE NO. 337

IN ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHING A FREE LIBRARY FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT, TO BE KNOW AS THE "gulfport public library", AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND REGULATION OF THE SAME.

Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the City of Gulfport, Mississippi, that whereas, public organization of the city, known as the Gulfport Public Library Association, has donated certain books and property with the stipulation that same be used as a nucleus for the public library to be owned and maintained by the municipality, and whereas the same has been accepted by the City, therefore, there is hereby established a municipal public library to be known and designated as "the gulfport public library".

Section 2. That said library shall be located in the City Hall of said City or at such other places as the Mayor and Board of Commissioners may hereafter designate.

Section 3. That there shall annually be appropriated such amount as the Mayor and Board of Commissioners may designate to be used for the purpose of employing an efficient librarian for said library and for the further purpose of defraying the incidental expenses of maintenance and equipment of said library.

Section 4. That there is hereby created a governing Board of said library to consist of five members who shall have the power and authority to adopt and enforce reasonable and proper rules and regulations under which said library shall be operated and to supervise the furnishing of books, equipments, etc., for the use thereof. The said governing board shall make a written recommendation to the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of a suitable librarian, which recommendation shall be acted upon by said Board and who shall appoint no person as librarian that was no so recommended by the said Board of Control. This Board shall have the power to fix the salary of said librarian, the amount thereof to be within the annual appropriation made for all the library purposed by the City.

Section 5. That said governing board shall be appointed by the Mayor and Board of Commissioners, and their term of office shall be for a period of three years, provided, however, that of these first appointees one shall be for one year, two for two years, and tow for the full term of three years.

Section 6. That the said association known as the Gulfport Public Library Association is hereby authorized as an auxiliary to said library and is authorized to collect and receive donations for the use of said Gulfport Public Library, and to stimulate the public use and interest therein.

Section 7. That for good cause shown to the Board therefor, it is ordered by the Board that this ordinance take effect and be in force from and after its passage.