AN ACT FURTHER REGULATING THE AYER LIBRARY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 123 of the acts of 1894, as amended by chapter 371 of the acts of 1991, is hereby amended by striking out section 1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 1. There shall be in the town of Ayer a body corporate known as the Ayer Library, which shall establish and maintain in the town an institution to aid in the advancement and diffusion of education and learning by means of a library free to all inhabitants of the town with all the powers and privileges and subject to all the duties, restrictions and liabilities established under the General Laws applicable to such corporations and not inconsistent with this act.
SECTION 2. The second sentence of section 2 of said chapter 123 is hereby amended by striking out the following words:- , not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars in value.
SECTION 3. Said chapter 123, as amended by chapter 371 of the acts of 1991, is hereby further amended by striking out sections 3 to 5, inclusive, and inserting in its place the following 2 sections:-
Section 3. There shall be a board of trustees of the Ayer Library, which shall consist of 9 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 town election by the remaining members of the board of trustees and the select board at a joint meeting held after 1 week’s notice has been posted on the town website, the town bulletin board, if any, and at the Ayer Library. Alternatively, the select board may call for a special election to fill a vacancy; provided, however, that a person elected at a special election to fill such vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 4. 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 members a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer and prescribe the duties of each position. The trustees may adopt bylaws and regulations for the use and management of the library, its property and funds.
SECTION 4. Said chapter 123, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out section 6 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 6. The town of Ayer, so long as a library free to all the inhabitants of said town is maintained therein, under and in conformity with this act, may appropriate and pay money in aid of such institution in the manner authorized by law for the establishment, maintenance or increase of a public library. 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 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 of trustees in accordance with the terms of such appropriation, gift, grant or bequest.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, October 27, 2026.