Ky. Cir. Ct. Clerks' Manual COUNTY LAW LIBRARY DUTIES

25 COUNTY LAW LIBRARY DUTIES

KRS Chapters 172 and 453

 By statute, the circuit clerk is the librarian of the county law library and entitled to a salary

from the fiscal court of not less than $50 nor more than $100 per month for services as

county law librarian. The clerk must see that county and state officials have access to the

library at reasonable hours each day, except Sundays and holidays. KRS 172.110(1).

25.1 Inventory

At the commencement of the clerk's term, the clerk who is leaving office must turn over to

his/her successor an inventory of all books, stationery, and other property in the library at

the time the new clerk takes office, which the new clerk receipts to the clerk leaving office.

The clerk is responsible on his/her official bond for the value of all books lost from the

library during the term of office. KRS 172.120(2).

25.2 Fees Collected

The following fees are collected in counties electing the alternate method of Quick Reference

financing law library. KRS 172.180. These are the only fees that may be

collected by counties without an urban-county form of government. See Law

Library in the Accounting Manual for additional details.

1. Upon receipt of an order issued by the Chief Circuit Judge requiring

collection of the county law library fee under KRS 172.180, apply the Enter, date, initial

ENTERED stamp; add the date and your initials.

2. File in your "General/Administrative Order File" and make an entry on the

docket sheet attached to the file.

3. Upon entry of this order, begin collecting the following fees (not on

examining trials and felony trials):

Court Fee

District Criminal $.50 max

District Civil $1.00 max

Circuit Civil $1.00 max

COUNTY LAW LIBRARY DUTIES

EXCEPTION: in the counties of Jefferson, Boyd, Warren, Kenton, Franklin, Christian,

Henderson, Fayette, Campbell, Daviess, McCracken, Hardin, Madison, Boone, Jessamine,

and Scott (KRS 81.010) the fees are:

Court Fee

District Criminal $1.50 max

District Civil $3.00 max

Circuit Civil $3.00 max

4. All counties having a county law library shall collect the following taxed attorney fees if

the successful party is represented by an attorney. KRS 453.060(3).

Court Fee

Circuit Civil $5.00

District Civil and Criminal $2.50 (except felonies)

Court of Appeals Civil $10.00

5. Fees for Circuit and District Civil should be collected at the time of filing of the petition.

Fees collected on criminal cases should be added to the court costs at the termination of

the action.

NOTE: The party against whom fees are ultimately assessed will be determined by the

court at the termination of the proceedings. Unless the court otherwise orders, the

clerk’s only responsibility is to collect the fees as set forth herein. Any adjustments,

refunds, reimbursements, etc., will be between the parties’ attorneys as ordered by the

court.

6. At the end of each month pay all sums collected during the preceding month to the

trustees of the county law library. The clerk must make a full report of the payment and

is entitled to receive a receipt for it. KRS 453.060(3).

COUNTY LAW LIBRARY DUTIES

25.3 General Duties

The clerk must keep the library rooms in order, preserve, arrange, and index all books,

charts, maps and furniture belonging to the library. KRS 172.110(2). The details of this duty

include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Discard superseded South Western Reporter 3d paperback advance sheets. Quick Reference

2. Shelve promptly upon their receipt the bound Kentucky Decisions, and State Law Library

South Western Reporter 3d paperback advance sheets so that they are Suite 200

accessible to the judges, county and state officials, and the public at State Capitol

reasonable hours each day except Sundays and holidays. KRS 172.110(1). Frankfort, KY 40601

Telephone:

3. Receipt all books, maps and furniture placed in the library. The receipts (502)564-4848

(copies of the bills or packing slips) shall be given to the state law librarian

and preserved in his office at Frankfort. KRS 172.110(3).

4. Keep a record in which the clerk charges each book to the person taking it

from the library. The clerk must see that all books so taken are returned at

the proper time. KRS 172.150.

5. Any person may use the books, but the clerk must not permit anyone to

take them out of the library, except that officials and lawyers may take

them to local courtrooms to be used in the argument of cases. Any person

who has possession of a book belonging to the state must, upon request of

the clerk, return it to the clerk. KRS 172.140.

25.4 Filing Reports

Annually in December, the clerk must inventory all books in the library belonging to the

state and report the library inventory under oath to the state law librarian before January 1.

KRS 172.110(4). There is a fine of $5.00 per month for every month this inventory is

delinquent. KRS 172.990(1).

25.5 End of Term

At the end of the clerk's term, the clerk must turn over to his/her successor an inventory of

all books, stationery, and other property in the library. KRS 172.120(1).

25.6 Requests for Information

1. Circuit clerks may obtain information concerning the performance of their State Law Library

duties from the State Law Library. Suite 200

2. The state law library may order books for county law libraries and charge State Capitol

them to the county law library fund when so requested and when Frankfort, KY 40601

approved by the administrative assistant to the Chief Justice. KRS Telephone:

27A.210(8). (502)564-4848