(a) In any case, action, or proceeding hereafter filed,whether at law or in equity in the Circuit Court of Russell County or in theDistrict Court of Russell County, theremay be charged a tax of five dollars ($5) which tax shallbe in addition to all other court costs heretofore authorized to be charged. The costs taxedunder this sectionshall be collected as other costsin the cases are collected, and when collected by the clerks or othercollecting officers of the courts (including the register of the circuit court)shall be by them paid over to the treasurer or depository of Russell County fordeposit in the county treasury. (b) The sums so paid over to the county treasurer ordepository shall be maintained in a separate fund in the county treasury,designated as the Russell County Law Library Fund, and shall be expended by thejudge of the Circuit Court of Russell County for establishing, maintaining,equipping, and operating a law library in the courthouse at Phenix City, thefunds to be expended, in the discretion of the judge, to provide furniture,fixtures, supplies, and equipment for the library, and to keep the same in agood ibrary in the courthouse at Phenix City, thefunds to be expended, in the discretion of the judge, to provide furniture,fixtures, supplies, and equipment for the library, and to keep the same in agood state of maintenance and repair; toestablish, enlarge, expand, and improve the library and its facilities andequipment; to provide books, reports,and periodicals for the library; andto pay the compensation of personnel as may benecessary and proper,in the opinion of the judge, to operate the library.(c) The judge may appoint either the register or the clerkof the circuit court to be librarian.(d) The judgeof the circuit court shall draw warrants on the county treasury in makingexpenditures for the purposes contemplated in this section, and shall indicateon the warrants the fund against which the warrants are drawn. The items of costs above referred to shallbe designated as law library fee. Onor before the tenth day of each month, the clerks or other collecting officersof the respective courts (including the register of the circuit court) shallpay over to the county treasurer or depository all amounts collected as lawlibrary fees previously to the first day of the month.(e) The tive courts (including the register of the circuit court) shallpay over to the county treasurer or depository all amounts collected as lawlibrary fees previously to the first day of the month.(e) The management of the law library is vested in the judge of the CircuitCourt of Russell County, and all books, periodicals, reports, and personalproperty purchased with the funds produced by this section shall be theproperty of Russell County, Alabama; provided,however, that the judge may from time to time sell or exchange the books,reports, periodicals, and personal property as may be necessary to keep thelibrary up to date and apply the proceeds of the sale thereof or the valuethereof upon the purchase of other books, reports, periodicals, and personalproperty for use in the library. Thejudge may accept any gift or loan of any books, reports, periodicals, and other propertyfor public use in the library upon terms and conditions asmay he stipulated by the donor or lender thereof and as may be agreeable to thejudge.(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, when inthe opinion of the presiding judge, the proper administrator of the court shallrequire and the judge be agreeable to thejudge.(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, when inthe opinion of the presiding judge, the proper administrator of the court shallrequire and the judge shallbe authorized, in addition, to expend the funds, at the discretion of the judge, for theimprovement of or alterations to courtrooms and related facilities; and to provide furniture, fixtures,supplies, and equipment for the courtrooms and related facilities, and keep thesame in good repair and maintenance.
Alabama Legal Code