[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Madison 1906; printed as amended by the 1983 and 1985 Town Meetings.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The preamble of this legislation, entitled "By-Laws Madison Public Library" provides as follows:
"Whereas, Madison Public Library Association has proposed to transfer by gift, all of the books, furniture and other property to the Town of Madison, Somerset County, Maine, provided said town shall vote to accept the same, and
"Whereas, it is necessary that certain by-laws, rules and regulations shall be accepted by said town for the control, management and government of said library.
"Now therefore, the following by-laws are herewith submitted to said town for its acceptance."
Said library shall be known by the name of "Madison Public Library" and located in Madison Village in said Madison.
A. 
In addition to the officers now required by law to be elected by the Town, there shall be elected at the Meeting adopting these bylaws, five persons who shall be inhabitants of said Town, to be known as "Trustees of Madison Public Library," who shall hold office, one until the next Annual Meeting of the Town in 1907; one until the Annual Meeting in 1908; one until the Annual Meeting of the Town in 1909; one until the Annual Meeting in 1910; and one until the Annual Meeting of the Town in 1911, until their successors are elected and qualified, and annually thereafter one Trustee shall be elected to serve for five years. The term of each of the five Trustees first elected shall be determined by lot among themselves, and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees shall be filled by the remaining members until the next Annual Town Meeting, and then the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the vote of the Town. A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present. Women shall be eligible to membership on the Board of Trustees. All of said Trustees shall be sworn. The Trustees shall serve without pay.
B. 
A vacancy shall be deemed to exist in the Board of Trustees by the death, resignation or permanent removal from Town of any Trustee.
C. 
The Board of Trustees shall organize at its annual meeting by the choice by ballot of a Chairman and Secretary.
A. 
The Trustees shall have full charge, control and management of the library and library property, and for this purpose shall have the right to make such rules and regulations for the care of the library property and the government of the library, not inconsistent with law and these bylaws, as they may think advisable and enforce the same by suitable penalties. They shall elect a librarian and fix his pay and the manner and times of payment and may also elect one or more assistants. They shall also provide for the proper care and heating of the library building and for the care of the library grounds. They shall make a written report to the Town annually of the condition of the library, containing a detailed account of the receipts and expenditures of money, which said accounts shall be duly audited by the Auditor of the Town. They may also incorporate in their report such other information as to the growth and condition of the library as they think advisable and their report shall be printed and distributed as a part of the Annual Town Report with the officers of the Town.
B. 
All bills contracted on account of the library shall be approved before payment by a majority of the Trustees and paid by the Town Treasurer upon orders duly drawn by the Selectmen.
C. 
They may allow persons not inhabitants of the Town of Madison to have the use of the library and to take books therefrom upon such terms and under such regulations as they shall prescribe to insure the good use of the same and the safe return of the books.
D. 
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees, but in his absence a temporary Chairman may be chosen.
E. 
The Secretary shall keep a full and correct record of the organization and all meetings of the Board of Trustees, and give notice of meetings when requested by the Chairman, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by vote of the Board of Trustees.
A. 
The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held at the library building on the Saturday next after the annual meeting of the Town, at 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and at such meeting the organization of the Board of Trustees shall be effected by the choice by ballot of a Chairman and Secretary as hereinbefore prescribed and also at this meeting, or some adjournment thereof, a librarian shall be chosen by ballot, but any vacancy in the office of librarian may be filled at any meeting and the assistant librarian or librarians may be chosen at any meeting. The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees for the current year may be held at the rooms now used by the library.
B. 
Special meetings of the Trustees shall be called by personal notice to all members in Town, given by the Chairman or Secretary, or by mailing written notices postage prepaid, to the last known addresses of all members. Both of said notices shall state the business to be transacted at such special meeting and shall be given a reasonable time before the date of meeting. At any special meeting no business shall be transacted other than that for which the meeting was called.
These bylaws may be amended or repealed, or additions made thereto, at any Annual or Special Meeting of the Town, provided the Warrant for said Meeting contains an article for that purpose and specifies the bylaw or bylaws to be amended, repealed or added thereto.
Whoever detains any book, audio visual material or other property of the Madison Public Library for seven days after written notice to return same, delivered by certified mail or in-hand by a police officer, given after the expiration of the time which by the rules of the Madison Public Library such article or other property may be keep, has committed a civil violation punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $250, such fine to be payable to the Town of Madison, Department of the Public Library.