[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Coventry 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 9-91-0181 as Ch. 7 of the
1991 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words, terms and phrases, when
used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
The Library Board of Trustees created in this chapter.
The Coventry Public Library established in this chapter.
A member of the Library Board of Trustees.
There is hereby established and founded for
the Town and for all the inhabitants thereof a free public library
to be known as the "Coventry Public Library." Such library may include
such facilities and branches throughout the Town as may be determined
by the Board of Trustees.
[Amended 9-28-2009 by Ord. No. 07-09-277]
A.
There is
hereby created a Town Library Board of Trustees which shall be comprised
of seven members.
B.
The Town
Council shall appoint the members of the Board of Trustees. The seven
members shall be residents of the Town known for their civic dedication
and commitment to ensuring the public library’s continuance
and growth as an educational institution. As soon as possible after
the appointment of the original Board, the members thereof shall meet
and divide themselves by lot into three groups. The terms of office
of the first group, consisting of three members, shall expire one
year from the date of their appointment; the terms of the second group,
consisting of three members, shall expire two years from the date
of their appointment; and the term of the third group, consisting
of one member, shall expire three years from the date of appointment.
With the expiration of the term of office of any such member, the
vacancy shall be filled by the Town Council for a term of three years.
Vacancies occurring by resignation, removal, death or otherwise shall
be filled as specified in this section for the unexpired term thereof.
The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve
without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their expenses.
Subject to the approval of the Town Council,
a Trustee may be removed by the unanimous vote of the remaining members
of the Board of Trustees, for good cause shown, after such Trustee
has been notified by the Board in writing of the causes for his removal.
Not more than 10 days after such notice has been given, a Trustee
may request a public hearing before the Board of Trustees and the
Town Council, at which the Trustee shall be offered the opportunity
to respond and present evidence and argument on all issues involved.
The Trustees shall take possession of the library
and shall thereafter be the legal guardians and custodians of the
library. They shall provide suitable rooms for the library and arrange
for the proper care of the library.
All appropriations from the Town, state and
federal governments for the library shall be subject to the exclusive
control of the trustees, and the Town Treasurer shall pay, within
the limits of the appropriations and other library funds in their
hands, all bills properly certified by the Trustees.
The Trustees shall be charged with all duties
imposed by law, including but not limited to the duties of executing
the terms of the trust, acting with good faith, and using reasonable
care and diligence in the execution of the trust.
The Board of Trustees shall adopt all needful
rules and regulations for the government of the library and the use
of the books, provided that no fee for the use of the books shall
ever be exacted.
A.
The Board of Trustees shall appoint a Library Director
and fix his compensation. The person appointed as Director shall be
a graduate of a school of library science accredited by the American
Library Association, shall have administrative experience in a public
library, and shall have such other qualifications as the Board of
Trustees may determine.
B.
The Board of Trustees may appoint such other librarians,
assistants and employees as it may deem necessary and fix their compensation
within the appropriation available therefor, and shall determine their
qualifications and duties.
