Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

Byelaws in respect of use of library facilities

7.—(1) The Authority may make byelaws—

(a) regulating the use of library facilities provided or maintained by the Authority and the conduct of persons in library premises; and

(b) for enabling officers of the Authority to exclude or remove from library premises any person who contravenes the byelaws.

(2) Byelaws made under this section may provide for a person contravening a provision of the byelaws to be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 2 on the standard scale for each day on which the offence continues after conviction.

(3) Byelaws made under this section shall not come into operation until they have been confirmed by the Department.

(4) The Authority shall, not less than one month before submitting proposed byelaws for the confirmation of the Department—

(a) deposit a draft of the proposed byelaws at the headquarters of the Authority and at such other place or places as the Department may direct;

(b) permit any person to inspect the deposited copy at all reasonable times without payment; and

(c) provide to any person, on application, a copy of the proposed byelaws, or of any part thereof, on payment of such reasonable sum as the Authority may determine.

(5) The Department before confirming any byelaws must be satisfied that the provisions of subsection (4)(a) have been complied with.

(6) A copy of byelaws made and confirmed under this section—

(a) shall be printed and deposited at the headquarters of the Authority and in such other place or places as the Department may direct;

(b) shall at all reasonable hours be open to public inspection without payment.

(7) The Authority shall, on payment of such reasonable sum as the Authority determines, provide any person with a copy of byelaws made and confirmed under this section.

(8) In any legal proceedings, a copy of any byelaws under this section certified and signed by the chief executive of the Authority to be a true copy and to have been duly confirmed shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of the due making, confirmation and existence of such byelaws without further or other proof.