972 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 412

library service in the Bethesda area, and they may then or
thereafter transfer to the Board of Library Trustees of
Montgomery County by sale, lease, or gift any and all such
assets, or they may retain ownership thereof and enter into
contracts or other arrangements with the Board of Library
Trustees of Montgomery County for the operation, mainte-
nance, and use of such assets for library purposes in the
Bethesda area or areas immediately adjacent thereto..

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1949.

Approved April 22, 1949.

CHAPTER 412
(House Bill 652)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
168 of Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1947
Supplement), title "Public Education", sub-title "Chapter
15. Public Libraries", relating to the establishment of
public libraries in special taxing areas of this State and
in the special taxing area in which is located the Bethesda
Public Library.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 168 of Article 77 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Public Education",
sub-title "Chapter 15. Public Libraries", be and it is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

168. Any city, village or special taxing area in which
a tax supported free public library has been established be-
fore January 1, 1945, shall have the option of joining the
county library system and of sharing in its benefits. Any
city, village or special taxing area in which a tax sup-
ported free public library has been established before Janu-
ary 1, 1945, and which chooses not to join the county library
system shall be exempt from the county library taxation.
In Montgomery County, in the special taxing area in which
the Bethesda Public Library is located, the option referred
to hereinabove may be exercised by the Board of Trustees
of the Bethesda Public Library Association, Inc., upon the
recommendation of the Advisory Council of the said asso-
ciation.