An urban public library district is a body corporate and a political subdivision of the state of Missouri, and by and through its governing board of trustees may engage in and contract for every and all types of services, actions or endeavors, not contrary to law, necessary to the successful and efficient prosecution and continuation of the businesses and purposes for which it is created, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) To have succession by its corporate name perpetually or for a period of time at the pleasure of the electorate of the district it serves;

(2) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any court of law or equity;

(3) To have a corporate seal which may be altered at the pleasure of the board of trustees and to use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced;

(4) To purchase, take, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire, by eminent domain or otherwise, own, hold, improve, use, sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its real or personal property, or any interest therein, or other assets wherever situated; and to hold for any period of time gifts of real and personal property for the use and benefit of it, the same to be accepted and controlled by the board of trustees, according to the terms of the deed, gift, devise or bequest of such property; to make contracts and guarantees and incur liability; to borrow money at rates of interest; to issue its bonds or other obligations;

(5) To elect or appoint officers and agents of the library district, define their duties and fix their compensation, and to indemnify directors, officers and employees to the extent and in the manner permitted by law;

(6) To make and alter bylaws, not inconsistent with the laws of this state, for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the district, and to adopt emergency bylaws and exercise emergency powers as permitted by law;

(7) To invest all or any part of the funds of the district in obligations, redeemable at maturity at par, of the state of Missouri or any political subdivision thereof, or of the United States or of any wholly owned corporation of the United States, or certificates of deposit or time deposits of any financial institution if the financial institution has deposited securities under the provisions of sections 110.010 and 110.020; except that, no funds shall be invested in obligations which are to mature beyond the date that the funds are needed for purposes for which they were received by the consolidated public library district. Interest or earnings derived from the funds shall belong to the district and may be disbursed and expended for the same purposes and in the same manner as other funds belonging to the district;

(8) To authorize any employee, or trustee of the district to attend national, regional or state conventions, workshops or other meetings deemed by the board to be of interest to the district; and the board, in its discretion, may authorize the expenditure of funds of the district to reimburse the employee, trustee, officer or librarian for expenses incurred in attending such conventions, meetings or workshops;

(9) To retain or authorize the library director to retain and employ accountants, bookkeeping services, architects, financial advisors, legal counsel, business managers, consultants or other persons offering specialized services on the conditions and for reasonable fees or compensation as the board may determine;

(10) To exercise the sole and exclusive control over all of the property and things of value owned or possessed by the district;

(11) To enter into contracts with any agency of the United States, of this state, or of any other state; or any city, municipal, school or public library district or any political subdivisions of this state or of any other state, or with any college, university or educational institution, public or private, or any corporation, organization or association to render or to receive specific library services;

(12) To apply for and receive and otherwise expend and use any state aid which is appropriated by the general assembly of the state of Missouri, on such terms and conditions as shall be set forth and included in that legislation;

(13) To apply for and receive and otherwise expend and use any federal aid which is now or hereafter shall be appropriated by the Congress of the United States, on such terms and conditions as shall be set forth and included in that legislation.