Recently Asked Questions (RAQs)

We are an association library that would like to appoint our interim director to the permanent position, but we are concerned: Do we have to have a search?  Are there any legal concerns with simply moving ahead and voting to give them the position?    

I have several questions related to the legality and ethics of individuals serving as municipal library trustees. Who can serve, and who can or should not? Does an individual have to reside within the municipality in order to serve as a municipal library trustee? Can members of the municipal council or legislature simultaneously serve as municipal library trustees? How about employees of the municipality (as opposed to library employees)? Are there prohibitions or guidelines concerning family members of municipal officers or employees?

For public libraries seeking school ballot funding, there's some gray area around whether a petition with signatures of eligible school district voters needs to be submitted to the school. Is the petition actually needed and if so, what laws and policies define this process?

Is it legal for a library board to approve expenditures (without a referendum) for a capital project from its operating funds (or operating fund balance) to bridge a shortfall in bond monies earmarked for the construction of a new building?

Can a school district library board mandate that trustees take a one-year break after two terms? It is our understanding that we cannot limit trustee terms, but our bylaws require a year break after serving two three-year terms. We aren't limiting the number of terms a trustee can serve.
Thank you for your input.