Board of Library Trustees

The Board of Library Trustees of the Newman Regional Library District is charged with the responsibility of the governance of the library. The Board will hire a skilled Librarian who will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the library. The Board will meet at least every other month. These meetings will be open to the public, and noticed in advance.

Any Board member wishing to have an item placed on the agenda will call the Board President in sufficient time preceding the meeting to have the item placed. Any Board member who is unable to attend a meeting will call the library to indicate that he or she will be absent. Due to the fact that a quorum is required for each meeting, this phone call should be placed as far in advance as possible.

Board members are not to be compensated pursuant to statute, but will be reimbursed for necessary and related expenses as trustees. To be effective, Board members must attend most meetings, read materials presented for review, and attend an occasional Library System (or other library related) workshop, seminar, or meeting. The Librarian will make the dates of these workshops known to the Board in a timely manner. Board members using their own vehicle will be reimbursed at the rate allowed by the IRS for travel to and from any Library System (or other library related) workshop, seminar, or meeting. Board members are not exempt from late fees, fines, or other user fees.

The Trustee Facts File, published by the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, contains further information regarding library administration and trustee responsibilities.

Officers and Elections.

The officers of the Board shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer. Those officers shall be elected by a ballot vote for two year term at the regular meeting in the month of May. The president shall not serve more than two consecutive terms unless by unanimous board consent. In the event of a resignation from an office, an election to fill the unexpired term of that office will be conducted by a ballot vote at the next regular meeting.

President

The president shall preside at all board meetings, appoint all standing and special committees, serve as ex-officio member of all committees, and perform all other such duties as may be assigned by the board. The president shall be the only spokesperson for the Board of Library Trustees in all advisory or disciplinary action directed to the staff.

Vice President

The vice-president, in the absence of the president, shall assume all duties of the president.

Secretary

The secretary shall keep minutes of all board meetings, record attendance, record a roll call on all votes (except when a ballot vote is taken). The secretary shall perform all other such clerical duties as may be assigned by the board.

Treasurer

The treasurer is authorized by the Board to sign checks, shall serve on the finance committee, and shall draw up checks. The treasurer shall keep all financial records of the Board. The normal depository of all financial records shall be the library. The treasurer shall have charge of the library funds and incomes, sign all the checks on the authorization of the board, and report at each meeting the state of the funds. In the absence of the treasurer or when he or she is unable to serve, the president or vice-president may perform the duties of the treasurer. The treasurer shall be bonded in the amount to be approved by the board and according to statute requirement. The treasurer is authorized to pay salaries and insurance bills as they come due.