| Name | Title | Term |
|---|---|---|
| David Lumsden | Chair | 2023-2026 |
| Ric Rogers | Treasurer | 2024-2027 |
| Sarah Dunn Davis | Secretary | 2024-2025 |
The mission of the Trustees is to generally oversee the management of the Library, including the selection of the Library Director, the approval of the budget, and the establishment of general policies. The Board meets monthly. The Library Board of Trustees consists of three members, all of whom are elected for three-years on a staggered basis during elected terms.
a. Library Trustees established by state law
The Library is a Department of town government, governed by an elected three-member Board of Library Trustees. The Board’s authority is derived from Chapter 78. Sections 10 and 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Responsibility for Library management, collection development, and provision of Library services to the public is delegated by the Board of Library Trustees to the Library Director. The Director is appointed by and directly responsible to the Board and is an employee of the Town of Manchester-by-the- Sea Massachusetts General Law.
Chapter 78: Section 10. Town libraries; selection of trustees and officers
Section 10. A town which raises or appropriates money for the support of a free public Library, or free public Library and reading room, owned by the town, shall, unless the same has been acquired entirely or in part through some gift or bequest which contains other conditions or provisions for the election of its trustees, or for its care and management, which have been accepted by the town, elect by ballot at a meeting a board of trustees consisting of any number of persons, male or female, divisible by three, which the town determines to elect. When such board is first chosen, one third thereof shall be elected for one year, one third for two years and one third for three years, and thereafter one third shall be elected annually for a term of three years. The board shall, from its own number, annually choose a chairman and secretary and, if the town so votes, a treasurer, who shall give a bond similar to that given by the town treasurer, in an amount and with sureties to the satisfaction of the selectmen. Until the town otherwise directs the town treasurer shall act as treasurer of the board of trustees.
Chapter 78: Section 11. Board of trustees; powers and duties
Section 11. The board shall have the custody and management of the Library and reading room and of all property owned by the town relating thereto. All money raised or appropriated by the town for its support and maintenance shall be expended by the board, and all money or property which the town may receive by gift or bequest for said Library and reading room shall be administered by the board in accordance with the provisions of such gift or bequest. The board of any Library, for the purpose of improving the services of said Library, may enter into an agreement with the board or boards of any neighboring Library or libraries, to pay for services in common, or to manage a facility to be operated jointly by more than one municipality, such payments to be shared in accordance with terms of such agreement.
b. Non-appropriated funds, trust funds, revolving accounts
The income and principle from trust funds, donations, gifts, or grants are reinvested or used according to the wishes and prescriptions of the Grantor, and by authorization of the Trustees.
Income generated by the Library (fines or fees, etc.) reverts to the General Fund of the Town.
Assets from donations, gifts and grants, and the interest, are held in accounts administrated by Town Hall, and are only for use at the express direction of the Library Board of Trustees to support Library needs and services. This information is available as a matter of public record.
Definitions
Non-appropriated Funds: Those monies that come to the Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library from sources other than Town taxes and appropriations. These sources include grants, monetary gifts, bequests, and income from fund sources. Non- appropriated funds not directed for a specific purpose by a donor are to be used to enhance the services of the Library and to raise the Library operations to a higher level of excellence than can be achieved through normal public funding.
Appropriated Funds: Those monies raised by taxation and appropriated by the Annual Town meeting which fund normal operations of the Library and include capital items that may be required to this end.
Trust Funds: Usually significant gifts to the Library which are under the stewardship of the Library Trustees and may have some degree of donor restriction as to use. The Trustees shall follow the instructions of the Trust Document with such restrictions. If none, the interest, current and accumulated, from such trust funds may be spent on an annual basis at the discretion of the Trustees. Although it is desirable to keep the trust fund principal intact, any unrestricted portions of the principal may be spent should the Trustees deem it necessary.
Gift Accounts: Vehicles for grants and small, less formal monetary donations, which are held by the Town Treasurer. Funds in the gift account may be used in their entirety at the discretion of the Trustees and subject to the limitations set by the donor (e.g., gift to be spent on books, grant to be used for computer education, etc.) Any interest earned by the Gift Account by law goes to the General Fund of the Town. In general, restricted gift accounts shall be used before trust fund accounts.
Allocation and Management of Non-Appropriated Funds
The Library Trustees have ultimate responsibility for the allocation of these monies. The Library Trustees shall set forth investment policies for Trust accounts according to the investment policy of the Town.
The Trustees and Library Director at the time budgets for the next fiscal year are being developed, shall review the needs of the Library for the coming year, and for a five-year term. The Trustees and Director shall determine which needs should be met through use of non-appropriated funds and prepare a spending plan.
The Treasurer of the Board of Library Trustees shall maintain adequate records of non-appropriated funds to include any restrictions that may apply to gifts, bequests, or endowments.
The Library Director shall provide the Treasurer of the Trustees quarterly reports of non-appropriated monies received and disbursed.
Approved: March 20, 2015
Revised: February 3, 2022