§ 253. Public and association libraries and museums. 1. All
provisions of this section and of sections two hundred fifty-four to two
hundred seventy-one inclusive shall apply equally to libraries, museums,
and to combined libraries and museums, and the word "library" shall be
construed to mean reference and circulating libraries and reading rooms.

2. The term "public" library as used in this chapter shall be
construed to mean a library, other than professional, technical or
public school library, established for free public purposes by official
action of a municipality or district or the legislature, where the whole
interests belong to the public; the term "association" library shall be
construed to mean a library established and controlled, in whole or in
part, by a group of private individuals operating as an association,
closed corporation or as trustees under the provisions of a will or deed
of trust; and the term "free" as applied to a library shall be construed
to mean a library maintained for the benefit and free use on equal terms
of all the people of the community in which the library is located.

3. The term "Indian library" shall be construed to mean a public
library established by the tribal government of the Saint Regis Mohawk
tribe, the Seneca Nations of Indians or the Tonawanda Seneca tribe and
located on their respective reservations, to serve Indians residing on
such reservations and any other persons designated by its board of
trustees.