Library Board Relationship to Local Government

Library board appointments are usually handled by either the city or the county. It’s important to know if new board members need to be appointed by the city council, the mayor, or the county commission. It’s also important to follow the process of the local government entity. While the library board and/or director can give input on who to appoint, it is ultimately the decision of the local government.

Special Circumstances

• Elected board members - independent library districts have elected board members. The election is run by the county. If the number of candidates running is equal to or less than the number of openings on the board, the county commission can select someone via acclimation.
• Interlocal agreements impact the approval process for some libraries. If your library is governed by an agreement between a city, county, and/or school board that agreement determines who appoints board members and how.