The governing body of each county by resolution thereof shall have the power to establish and maintain a county law library for each courthouse in their respective counties for the use and benefit of the county and state officials, court system and the public; and shall have the power to appropriate and set aside for the establishment, maintenance and support of said libraries, such space and funds as it shall deem necessary and appropriate. All resolutions setting up county law libraries shall be filed in the probate office of the county where located and with the administrative director of courts.

County law libraries shall be on the distribution list of the secretary of state to receive one set each of the acts of Alabama and the Code of Alabama and the supplements thereto.

The county law libraries are a part of a network of law libraries with the state-supported law libraries, and the non-state-supported law libraries on a voluntary basis, for their mutual benefit.

The state, counties and state agencies have the authority to transfer, sell, give or lend books, property and materials to the county law libraries; and said county law libraries have the authority to transfer books, property and materials to the state, counties and state agencies, and to other county law libraries in the state on a voluntary basis.

The governing body of each county having county law libraries under existing laws on August 8, 1979, may come under the provisions of this chapter by resolution thereof, upon the request of the presiding circuit judge, and the filing of a copy of said resolution with the secretary of state and the administrative director of courts. This is an alternative method to the local act method of establishing county law libraries and a county may elect at any time to use either method but may not have a county law library under both methods at the same time. All county law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter shall become owners and successors to all property, funds and obligations of their predecessors and all property and funds subsequently acquired by the county law libraries.

In return for the county law libraries serving the legal materials needs of the county and court officials and of the citizens of the county, the county governing body may furnish adequate space and utilities for law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter and may supplement the book and materials budget if it considers such to be needed.

Municipal governing bodies may appropriate funds or property to the county law libraries in consideration of said libraries making their facilities and holdings available to the citizens of the municipalities.

Upon the establishment of a county law library, or the continuance of a present county law library under the provisions of this chapter, the presiding judge of the circuit, or a district or circuit judge designated by him, may appoint a full or part time county law librarian or custodian.

The presiding circuit judge for the county or county law librarian if one exists, shall administer the county law library and shall disburse the library funds, and shall appoint such librarians and assistants as are necessary for the proper operation of the library. The presiding judge of the circuit shall appoint an advisory committee to the county law library.

Upon the establishment of a county law library under the provisions of this chapter each county shall have and maintain a separate fund known as the county law library fund and may have a separate law library fund for each law library in the county. The county law library funds shall consist of funds appropriated by the state, county or municipal governments, funds collected under the provisions of law, proceeds from the sale of copies, books and other materials, or received from donations, gifts, grants and funds other than those appropriated, and shall be audited as county funds are audited. Said fund may be used to match grants for library purposes. Library funds may be used to pay library personnel. All purchases by or on behalf of such library shall be exempt from all state of Alabama, county or municipal sales, use or other similar taxes.

County law libraries shall have the power to receive gifts, grants, and to exchange books and materials with other libraries and may furnish the legal needs of books, materials, and copies to the county officials and circuit, probate and district court officials at no cost.

For the support and maintenance of county law libraries established under the provisions of this chapter a library fee of two dollars shall be paid in all causes and cases of whatever nature in the district and circuit courts of the various counties wherein this law is in effect, to be collected as other court costs are collected and paid at the same time as docket or filing fees are paid. Said library fees shall be paid in all proceedings wherein a docket or filing fee is paid. All of the funds collected under the provisions of this section shall be transmitted to the proper county law library fund by the tenth of each month following their collection.