SECTION 1. Chapter 123 of the acts of 1894, as amended by chapter 371 of the acts of 1991, is hereby amended by deleting section 1 and inserting in its place the following:- There shall be in the town of Ayer a body corporate known as The Ayer Library. Such entity shall establish and maintain in the said town of Ayer an institution to aid in the advancement and diffusion of education and learning by means of a library free to all inhabitants of said town; with all the powers and privileges and subject to all duties, restrictions and liabilities set forth in all general laws which are now or may hereafter be in force applicable to such corporations and not inconsistent with this act.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 123 is hereby further amended by deleting in the second sentence of section 2 the following:- not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars in value.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 123 is hereby further amended by deleting the text of section 3 and inserting in its place the following:- There shall be a board of trustees of the Ayer Library of nine members, elected by and from the registered voters of the town of Ayer for 3-year terms, with the terms of 3 trustees to expire each year. Vacancies on the Board of Trustees shall be filled until the next annual election, or a special election called by the Select Board for such purposes, by the remaining members of the board of trustees and the Select Board at a joint meeting held after one week’s notice has been posted on the town website, the town bulletin board, if any, and at the Ayer Library.

SECTION 4. Said chapter 123 is hereby further amended by deleting section 4 and inserting in its place the following:- The board of trustees shall have the entire possession, management, control and direction of the affairs of the Ayer Library. The board of trustees shall annually, or more often at its discretion, choose from its number a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer and prescribe the duties of each. The trustees may adopt bylaws and regulations for the use and management of the library, its property and funds.

SECTION 5. Section 5 of said chapter 123 is deleted in its entirety and the remaining sections of said chapter renumbered accordingly.

SECTION 6. Section 6 of said chapter 123 is hereby amended by deleting in section 6 the second clause of the sentence and inserting a period in its place, and inserting thereafter the following new sentence:- All money raised or appropriated by the town for the support and maintenance of the Ayer Library shall be expended by the board, and, notwithstanding the provisions of section 53A of chapter 44 of the general laws, all money or property, appropriated by or which the town or the library may receive by gift, grant or bequest for said library shall be administered by the board in accordance with the provisions of such appropriation, gift, grant or bequest.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon its passage.