Chapter 2.44
PUBLIC LIBRARY1
Sections:
2.44.020 Government and management.
2.44.040 Board of trustees – Management function – Membership.
2.44.050 Board of trustees – Powers.
2.44.060 Board of trustees – Management guidelines.
2.44.070 Materials – Injuring or defacing – Taking without permission.
2.44.080 Materials – Retention after notice – Penalty.
2.44.010 Established.
A public library is established in and for the city. (1964 Code § 2.123.)
2.44.020 Government and management.
The public library shall be governed and managed in accordance with the terms of Sections 27301 and 27456 of the Education Code of the state. (1964 Code § 2.124.)
2.44.030 Property title.
The title of all property owned or acquired by the city for library purposes, or that may be hereafter acquired for such purposes, when not otherwise provided, is vested in the city. (1964 Code § 2.125.)
2.44.040 Board of trustees – Management function – Membership.
The public library shall be managed by a board designated as the board of library trustees, consisting of five members to be appointed by the mayor, by and with the consent of the city council. (1964 Code § 2.126.)
2.44.050 Board of trustees – Powers.
The library trustees shall severally hold office as provided in Sections 27301 to 27456 of the Education Code of the state and are vested with all the powers, rights and privileges given boards of library trustees thereby. (1964 Code § 2.127.)
2.44.060 Board of trustees – Management guidelines.
The board of library trustees shall in all respects govern, manage and conduct the public library in accordance with the terms of Sections 27301 to 27456 of the Education Code of the state. (1964 Code § 2.128.)
2.44.070 Materials – Injuring or defacing – Taking without permission.
A. No person shall willfully cut, tear, deface, break, mark, or injure any book, magazine, periodical, map, picture, engraving, statue, apparatus, or other work of literature, art, or mechanics in or owned by any public library in the city.
B. No person shall willfully take or retain any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, map, chart, picture, statue, or other work of literature, art, or mechanics belonging to any public library in the city without permission and authority of the library director of the city and contrary to the rules and regulations of the board of library trustees. (Ord. 1335 § 1, 1976.)
2.44.080 Materials – Retention after notice – Penalty.
A. No person shall retain any book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, manuscript, or other personal property belonging in or to the Covina Public Library for a period exceeding 30 days after notification by mail to the borrower’s address on file with the library, given after the expiration of the time during which, by the rules and regulations of the Covina Public Library, the book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, manuscript, or other personal property may be kept. The mailed notice shall bear on its face or have attached thereto a reference to this section of the Covina Municipal Code.
B. Any person who fails to return any book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, manuscript, or other personal property belonging to the Covina Public Library within 30 days after the notice is mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, shall be liable for and shall pay a penalty in an amount that may be set from time to time by a resolution of the city council for each item of such personal property kept or retained by any such person or borrower contrary to the provisions of this section. In addition to any other remedies, the library director may sue in any court of competent jurisdiction civilly to recover any such penalty for and on behalf of the city.
C. The city council finds and determines that various and numerous items of personal property belonging to the Covina Public Library have been retained by the borrowers thereof for periods in excess of the lending period; that such items have been lost or willfully kept so that they are not returned to the public library; that in many cases it is impossible to replace such items; and that a penalty should be imposed for the retention of any personal property belonging to the Covina Public Library to encourage the return of such items and make the same available for members of the public who may desire to use them. (Ord. 09-1975 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1335 § 1, 1976.)
For statutory provisions regarding municipal libraries, see Education Code § 27301, et seq.