Section 1: Definition of the Board
The Board of Trustees is comprised of seven qualified individuals residing within the Village limits of Addison.
Section 2: Qualifications to Be a Trustee
An individual must be at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen, a registered voter, and a resident of Addison for one year.
Section 3: Candidacy for Elections
Once qualifications are established, residents may become candidates for open positions by petition, signed by the minimum number of legal voters prescribed by law (to conform to state statutes) residing in the Village and filed with the Village Clerk within the time prescribed by the general election law.
Section 4: Elections
As provided by statute, elections of Trustees shall take place in accordance with the general election law.
Section 5: Oath of Office
The Trustees shall take their oath of office as prescribed in Illinois law.
Section 6: Term of Office
The regular term of office of a Trustee shall be six years.
Section 7: Vacancies
Vacancies shall be declared in the office of Trustee by the Board in conformance with 75 ILCS 5/4-4. Appointments shall be decided by a majority vote of the Board. These appointments shall be effective until the end of the term or such earlier date at which an election to fill the unexpired term would be required under the Consolidated Election Laws of the State of Illinois.
The Board may request the resignation of any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or is absent six times in a calendar year. Vacancies shall be declared in the office of Trustee by the Board when the elected or appointed Trustee declines or is unable to serve, or is convicted of a misdemeanor for failing, neglecting, or refusing to discharge any duty imposed upon a Trustee by the Local Library Act, or becomes a nonresident of the Village of Addison, or who fails to pay the library taxes levied by the corporate authorities.
Section 8: Compensation and Expenses
As provided by statute, Trustees shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed from Library funds for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Section 9: Ethics Statement
All Board members are required to file the Statement of Economic Interest as required by 5 ILCS 420/4A et. seq.
Section 10: Duties and Responsibilities
Each Trustee shall carry out the spirit and intent of the Illinois Local Library Act in establishing, supporting, and maintaining the Addison Public Library as a provider of library service and, in addition to but without limiting other powers conferred by 75 ILCS 5/4-7, shall have the following powers:
(a) To make and adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations for its own guidance and for the government of the library as may be expedient, not inconsistent with this Act;
(b) To have the exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected for the library and deposited to the credit of the library fund;
(c) To have the exclusive control of the construction of any library building and of the supervision, care, and custody of the grounds, rooms, or buildings constructed, leased, or set apart for that purpose;
(d) To purchase or lease real or personal property, and to construct an appropriate building for the use of a library;
(e) To remodel or reconstruct a building erected or purchased by the board when such building is not adapted to its purposes or needs;
(f) To sell or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property that it deems no longer necessary or useful for library purposes;
(g) To appoint and to fix the compensation of a qualified librarian, who shall have the authority to hire such other employees as may be necessary;
(h) To contract with any public or private corporation or entity for the purpose of providing or receiving library service or of performing any and all other acts necessary and proper to carry out the responsibilities, the spirit, and the provisions of this Act;
(i) To exclude from the use of the library any person who willfully violates the rules prescribed by the board;
(j) To extend the privileges and use of the library, including the borrowing of materials on an individual basis by persons residing outside the incorporated village;
(k) To invest funds;
(l) To accumulate and set apart as reserve funds portions of the unexpended balances of the proceeds received annually from taxes or other sources;
(m) To establish and review at least biennially a written policy for the selection of library materials and the use of library materials and facilities.
In carrying out its duties, the Board shall always act as a whole, no individual member or committee having power to act except as specifically granted by the Board.