When the board of trustees of the free public library in any municipality desire to acquire any lands, improved or unimproved, either in whole or in part, for the purposes of its building and library pursuant to the authority and power vested in it by section 40:54-25 of this title, and it cannot agree with the owner or owners of such lands, or with other persons interested therein, as to the amount of compensation to be paid therefor, proceedings shall be taken by said board to acquire such lands and ascertain the amount of compensation to be paid therefor, in the manner provided by the general laws for the condemnation and taking of lands for public use.
N.J.S. § 40:54-28