N.Y. Education Law Section 253
Public and association libraries and museums


1.

All provisions of this section and of sections two hundred fifty-four to two hundred seventy-one inclusive shall apply equally to libraries, museums, and to combined libraries and museums, and the word “library” shall be construed to mean reference and circulating libraries and reading rooms.

2.

The term “public” library as used in this chapter shall be construed to mean a library, other than professional, technical or public school library, established for free public purposes by official action of a municipality or district or the legislature, where the whole interests belong to the public; the term “association” library shall be construed to mean a library established and controlled, in whole or in part, by a group of private individuals operating as an association, closed corporation or as trustees under the provisions of a will or deed of trust; and the term “free” as applied to a library shall be construed to mean a library maintained for the benefit and free use on equal terms of all the people of the community in which the library is located.

3.

The term “Indian library” shall be construed to mean a public library established by the tribal government of the Saint Regis Mohawk tribe, the Seneca Nations of Indians or the Tonawanda Seneca tribe and located on their respective reservations, to serve Indians residing on such reservations and any other persons designated by its board of trustees.

Source: Section 253 — Public and association libraries and museums, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/EDN/253 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Apr. 27, 2024).

245
State library, how constituted
246
State medical library
247
State law library
248
Manuscript and records “on file”
249
State library, when open
249‑A
Libraries of public institutions of higher education
250
Duplicate department
251
Transfers from state officers
252
Other libraries owned by the state
253
Public and association libraries and museums
254
Standards of library service
255
Establishment of a public library
256
Contracts
257
Acceptance of conditional gift
258
Closing of museum
258‑A
Purchases by museums, historical societies, zoological gardens, aquariums, botanical gardens and arboreta through office of general services
259
Library taxes
260
Trustees
260‑A
Meetings of board of trustees
260‑B
Reduction of salaries for purchase of annuities
260‑C
Reduction of salaries for tax-deferred annuities
260‑D
Board of trustees continuing education
261
Incorporation
262
Use of public and Indian libraries
263
Reports
264
Injuries to property
265
Detention
265‑A
Defense of lawful detention
266
Transfer of libraries
267
Local neglect
268
Abolition
269
Library extension service
270
Acceptance of surplus library books or property
271
Apportionment of state aid to Indian libraries
272
Conditions under which library systems are entitled to state aid
273
Apportionment of state aid to libraries and library systems
273‑A
State aid for library construction
274
Use and care of school library
275
Librarians of school libraries
276
Existing rules continued in force
277
Authority to raise and receive money for school library
278
Authority to transfer school library property to a free library
279
Fees
280
Penalty for disobedience to library law, rules or orders
281
Loans and extensions of credit to infants
282
Establishment of school library systems
283
Functions of school library systems
284
State aid for school library systems
285
State aid for cooperation with correctional facilities

Accessed:
Apr. 27, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 253’s source at nysenate​.gov

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