54 Use, acquisition and disposal of records.S
(1)A local authority may do anything which appears to them to be appropriate for the purpose of enabling proper use to be made of their records and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may—
(a)make provision for enabling persons, with or without charge and subject to such conditions as the authority may determine, to inspect the records and to make or obtain copies thereof;
(b)prepare, or procure or assist in the preparation of, indices and guides to and calendars and summaries of the records;
(c)publish, or procure or assist in the publication of, the records or any index or guide to or calendar or summary of the records;
(d)hold exhibitions of the records and arrange for the delivery of explanatory lectures, with or without charging for admission to such exhibitions or lectures;
(e)direct that the records be temporarily entrusted to other persons for exhibition or study.
(2)Nothing in subsection (1) above shall be taken as authorising the doing of any act which infringes copyright or contravenes conditions subject to which records are under the control of an authority.
(3)A local authority may—
(a)acquire by way of purchase records which, or (in the case of a collection) the majority of which, appear to the authority to be of general or local interest;
(b)accept the gift of records which or, in the case of a collection, the majority of which appear to the authority to be of general or local interest.
(4)A local authority may accept the deposit of records—
(a)authorised to be deposited with it by any enactment; and
(b)which appear to the authority to be of general or local interest.
F1(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 54(5) repealed (1.2.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s.120(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
Commencement Information
I1S. 54 partly in force; s. 54 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 184(2); s. 54(1)-(4) in force at 1.4.1996 by S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a), Sch. 1