Library Board

Authorizing Statute:
City, Village and Township Libraries Act, Public Act 164 of 1877,
MCL 397.201, et seq.

Authorities and Responsibilities:

The library board shall make and adopt such by-laws, rules, and regulations for their own guidance and for the government of the library and reading room, as may be expedient, not inconsistent with the act.

They shall have the exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected to the credit of the library fund, and 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.

All moneys received for such library shall be deposited in the treasury of the township to the credit of the library fund, and shall be kept separate and apart from other moneys of such township, and drawn upon by the proper officers of the township, upon the properly authenticated vouchers of the library board.

Said board shall have power to purchase or lease grounds, to occupy, lease, or erect an appropriate building or buildings for the use of said library; shall have power to appoint a suitable librarian and necessary assistants, and fix their compensation; and shall also have power to remove such appointees; and shall, in general, carry out the spirit and intent of this act in establishing and maintaining a public library and reading room.

On or before the first Monday of September in each year, the board of directors shall prepare an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the support and maintenance of the library for the ensuing year, not exceeding 2 mills on the dollar of the taxable property of the village or township.

Unless any period specified in the petition for the levy of the tax has expired, the board of directors shall report the estimate to the township supervisor for assessment and collection in the same manner as other township taxes. The tax shall be so assessed and collected.

Established By:
Immediately after a township has voted to establish a free public library, a library board shall be established by the township. If a township has a free public library which has not elected a library board, the township shall establish a library board.

The township board shall appoint a provisional library board of 6 directors who shall hold office until the next township election of a permanent library board.

A permanent library board shall be nominated and elected on nonpartisan ballots for 4-year terms at a primary and general election.

Membership:
Six (6) directors.

Compensation to Members:
Per MTA Legal Counsel: No statutory authority to compensate library board members.

OMA/FOIA Status:
Public body subject to Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act.