Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

Law Library Rules – Section 8

(Statutory Instrument 22/1947)

Statutory Instrument 22/1947 .. in force 3 May 1947

ARRANGEMENT OF RULES

LAW LIBRARY RULES – Section 8

Commencement [3 May 1947]

1.   Citation

These Rules may be cited as the Law Library Rules.

2.   Interpretation

In these Rules—

“Committee” means the Committee constituted under section 4 of the Law Library Act;

“judge” includes the Chief Justice;

“Library” means the Saint Lucia Law Library established under section 3 of the Law Library Act;

“Librarian” means the Librarian appointed by the Committee for the purposes of the Library;

“member” means an attorney-at-law or other person admitted a member of the Library by the Committee.

3.   Meetings of the Committee

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   (1)   Every meeting of the Committee shall be convened on written notice given by the Librarian, at the direction of the chairperson and, unless the chairperson shall otherwise direct, at least 2 days notice of every meeting shall be given to members.

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   (2)   The notice shall contain a statement of the business to be transacted at every meeting.

4.   Purchase of books

The Committee may purchase such books, periodicals and other articles, including furniture, as may be required for the use of the Library and may pay the expenses of binding, rebinding or repairing books, periodicals and other articles belonging to the Library.

5.   Use of the Library

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   (1)   The use of the books in the Library and the privileges of the Library are open to the judges, the Attorney General, magistrates, justices of the peace, and the Registrar without payment of subscription and to every member on payment of the annual subscription prescribed by these Rules.

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   (2)   The Committee may at any time withdraw its authority to any member to use the Library if it is of opinion after hearing that person that his or her continued use of the Library will be detrimental to the Library or that the member has been guilty of misconduct in the Library.

6.   Subscription

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   (1)   Every member shall pay an annual subscription of one guinea to the Committee.

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   (2)   The subscription shall be paid upon a person becoming a member and thereafter in the month of January in each year, and a member shall not use the Library or is not entitled to any of its privileges if he or she defaults in the payment of the subscription.

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   (3)   The Committee may exempt any member from payment of the subscription for such period as it may think fit.

7.   Loan of books

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   (1)   A member shall not, without the permission of a judge, the Attorney General or the Librarian remove any book, periodical or other article from the Library, and every member who does so may be suspended or fined a sum not exceeding $4.80 or be otherwise dealt with as the Committee may think fit.

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   (2)   A member shall not, except with the permission in writing of a judge or the Attorney General, borrow from the Library more than 2 books, papers or periodicals at any one time, and he or she is not entitled to borrow any other book, paper or periodical until he or she has returned all books previously borrowed.

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   (3)   Every member shall return to the Library all books, papers and periodicals borrowed by him or her therefrom within 72 hours after borrowing the same.

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   (4)   The Committee may direct that certain books are not to be lent out without the permission of a judge or Attorney General, or that certain books included on the list of reference books are in no case be taken out of the Library.

8.   Librarian and his or her duties, etc.

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   (1)   The Committee may appoint a librarian who shall be in charge of the Library and who may authorise any person employed in the Registry or in the office of the Attorney General to attend in the Library.

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   (2)   The Librarian shall—

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      (a)     keep in the Library a list of the names and addresses of members, a proper index and inventory of all books, papers, periodicals and articles of furniture in the Library and of any additions made, a list of all books, papers and periodicals which the Committee may declare to be books, papers and periodicals of reference, and a record of all books lent out in accordance with these Rules;

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      (b)     keep proper accounts of all money received or paid out on behalf of the Committee;

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      (c)     record the minutes of all meetings of the Committee in a proper minute book;

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      (d)     obey all lawful orders which may be issued to him or her by the Committee or by the chairperson between meetings of the Committee; and

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      (e)     do all such matters and things as are necessary in his or her capacity as Librarian.

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   (3)   The Librarian may be an officer in the Public Service of the Saint Lucia and, despite that fact, shall receive such remuneration as may be fixed by the Committee but nothing herein contained shall entitle a librarian who is a public officer to have the remuneration counted towards pension under the Pensions Act or other law.

9.   System of borrowing books

1.  

   (1)   The Committee may prescribe the system for obtaining books on loan from the Library and, in any case, a member shall not borrow any book, paper or periodical from the Library unless he or she or some person authorised to sign on his or her behalf signs an acknowledgment.

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   (2)   If a member fails to return any book within the time allowed for keeping it, he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding $0.24 per book for every day during which his or her failure to return the same continues, and the Committee or the chairperson may direct the Librarian to prevent that member from using the Library or the books, papers and periodicals until the fine is paid.

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   (3)   If a member loses or damages a book, he or she shall pay the cost of replacing or repairing the same and the Committee or the chairperson may direct the Librarian to prevent that member from using the Library or the books, papers or periodicals until the cost of such replacement or repairs is paid by him or her.

10.   Disposal of obsolete books

The Librarian may, on the instructions of the Committee, dispose of any book which in the opinion of the Committee is obsolete or damaged, beyond repair.

11.   Finances of the Committee

1.  

   (1)   Any sum of money which may be voted by the House of Assembly for, or otherwise appropriated to, the use of the Library and all moneys collected by the Committee as subscriptions, fines or otherwise shall constitute the fund of the Library and shall be paid into the Government Savings Bank or such other bank as the Committee may determine to the credit of the Committee.

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   (2)   All expenses and debts lawfully incurred by the Committee on behalf of the Library, if regularly passed and authorised to be paid by the Committee, shall be payable out of the fund of the Library.

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   (3)   All receipts and acknowledgments given or made on behalf of the Committee may be signed by the Librarian and all cheques and other orders for the payment of money drawn or given on behalf of the Committee shall be signed by the chairperson.