(A) In any municipal corporation, not located in a county library district, that has a population of not less than twenty-five thousand, and within which there is not located a main library of a township, municipal, school district, association, or county free public library, a library district may be created by a resolution adopted by the legislative authority of that municipal corporation. No such resolution shall be adopted after one year from June 20, 1977. Upon the adoption of the resolution, any branches of an existing library that are located in that municipal corporation shall become the property of the municipal library district created.

The municipal corporation and the board of trustees of the public library maintaining any existing branches in that municipal corporation shall forthwith take appropriate action transferring all title and interest in all real and personal property located in that municipal corporation in the name of the library district maintaining those branches in that municipal corporation to the municipal corporation adopting the appropriate resolution. Upon transfer of all title and interest in that property, the branches shall become a part of, and be operated by, the board of library trustees appointed by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

(B) In any municipal corporation that has a population of less than twenty-five thousand and that has not less than one hundred thousand dollars available from a bequest for the establishment of a municipal library, the legislative authority of that municipal corporation may adopt, within one year after June 20, 1977, a resolution creating a library district. Upon the establishment of any such library district, the board of trustees of any library operating a branch library in that municipal corporation shall not be required to transfer any property to the newly established library.

(C) The board of library trustees of any library district created under this section shall be composed of seven members. Those trustees shall be appointed by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, to serve without compensation, for a term of four years, but the initial term of the seventh trustee may be for the number of years set by the legislative authority, not to exceed four years. Vacancies shall be filled by like appointment for the unexpired term. This section does not affect the term of any trustee appointed prior to January 1, 2013. A library district created under this section shall be governed in accordance with and exercise the authority provided for in sections 3375.32 to 3375.41 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3.24 of the Revised Code, the chairperson of a board of township trustees may administer the oath of office to a person or persons representing the township on the board of library trustees of any library district created under this section, even if the geographical limits of the library district do not fall within the geographical limits of the township.

(D) Any library district created under this section is eligible to participate in the proceeds of the county public library fund in accordance with section 5705.28 of the Revised Code.

(E) A municipal corporation may establish and operate a free public library regardless of whether the municipal corporation is located in a county library district or school library district, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The facility in which the library is principally located is transferred to the municipal corporation from the county library district or school library district in which it is located prior to January 1, 1996.

(2) The population of the municipal corporation is less than five hundred when the library is transferred from the county library district or school library district to the municipal corporation.

(3) The municipal corporation does not establish a municipal library district under this section.

(4) The library does not receive any proceeds from the county public library fund under section 5747.48 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 500, §1, eff. 3/22/2019.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.140, SB 321, §1, eff. 1/1/2013.

Effective Date: 06-20-1996; 06-30-2006; 2008 SB185 06-20-2008.