The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877.”

It shall be the duty of the Colonial Treasurer to apportion the grant for public libraries among the several provincial districts in proportion to the population of such districts, and to intrust to the Education Boards thereof the distribution, in books or in cash, as they shall think fit, of such sums as shall be allotted by such Boards to libraries maintained or partly maintained by voluntary subscriptions in their respective districts, in accordance with, and in proportion to, the amount of voluntary subscriptions received by the respective libraries.

There shall be issued and paid from the Consolidated Fund, out of moneys to be appropriated by the General Assembly for public libraries, to every municipal or governing body that shall cause “The Public Libraries Act, 1869,” to be brought into operation, a sum equal to the amount raised by way of library rate under that Act; such rate and subsidy to be expended in pursuance of the provisions of the said Act, by the governing body levying the rate, in the establishment and maintenance of free public libraries in the city, town, village, or district contributing the rate.

Any library supported or partly supported by voluntary subscriptions in any district, or any library established under “The Public Libraries Act, 1869,” or incorporated under “The Public Libraries Powers Act, 1875,” shall be deemed a public library.

Any Committee appointed by the persons who shall have subscribed towards the establishment or support of a public library as aforesaid shall be a Library Committee within the meaning of this Act.

The general management, regulation, and control of libraries established under this Act shall be vested in and exercised by the Library Committees of the districts within which such libraries are situated. And such Library Committees may from time to time purchase, provide, and deal with all things necessary for the use of such libraries, and appoint officers and dismiss the same, and make rules and regulations for the safety and use of the libraries, and for the admission and convenience of the public.

The admission to all libraries established or supported under this Act within any borough shall be open to the public free of all charge: Provided that no person not being a contributor of any sum not less than five shillings a year shall be entitled to take books out of any public library.