125-8. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources authorized to accept and administer funds from federal government and other agencies.

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is hereby authorized and empowered to receive, accept and administer any money or moneys appropriated or granted to it, separate and apart from the appropriation by the State for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, for providing and equalizing public library service in North Carolina:

(1) By the federal government and,

(2) By any other agencies, private and/or otherwise.

The fund herein provided for shall be administered by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which Department shall frame bylaws, rules and regulations for the allocation and administration of this fund. This fund shall be used to increase, improve, stimulate and equalize library service to people of the whole State, and shall be used for no other purpose whatsoever except as hereinafter provided, and shall be allocated among the counties of the State, taking into consideration local needs, area and population to be served, local interests as evidenced by local appropriations, and such other factors as may affect the State program of library service. Any gift or grant from the federal government or other sources shall become a part of said funds, to be used as part of the State fund, or may be invested as the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources may deem advisable, according to provisions of G.S. 125-5(5), the income to be used for the promotion of libraries as stated in this section.