Library Board Relationship to Local Government

Facilities are owned by the board in the NAME of the city or county. This creates complications with property insurance, who maintains the building, and who pays for repairs and work on the building. 

An Attorney General Opinion has emphasized the authority a library board has over library property. While it may be owned in the name of the local government entity, it is the library board that decides what happens with the property.

Because of this authority and lack of funding, cities or counties will often require the library board to pay for maintenance and repair of the building. They may also require the board to pay the property insurance on the building.

Things will vary. Your city or county may offer to take care of things like snow removal and cleaning of the library. They may pay for those services out of the general fund, or they may charge you for the services. It’s important to learn how facility management is handled at your library. 

You need to know how repairs are paid for and how they are managed. Is it entirely the responsibility of the library board and director? Or does the city or county play a role?