§ 249. State library, when open; use of books. The state library shall be kept open at least eight hours each day on five days every week in the year except the legal holidays known as Independence day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the regents from opening the state library on other days and times. Members of the legislature, judges of the court of appeals, justices of the supreme court and heads of state departments may borrow from the library books for use in Albany, but shall be subject to such restrictions and penalties as may be prescribed by the regents for the safety or greater usefulness of the library. Under such rules and conditions as the regents may prescribe, the state library may lend its books and printed material for a limited time to other individuals and institutions conforming to said rules and conditions. Such service shall be free to residents of this state as far as practicable, but the regents may, in their discretion, charge a proper fee to nonresidents or for assistance of a personal nature or for other reason not properly an expense to the state, but which may be authorized for the accommodation of users of the library.
