42.1-35 - Library boards generally.
§ 42.1-35. Library boards generally.
A. The management and control of a free public library system shall be vestedin a board of not less than five members or trustees. They shall be appointedby the governing body, chosen from the citizens at large with reference totheir fitness for such office. However, one board member or trustee may be amember or an employee of the local governing body. Initially members shall beappointed as follows: one member for a term of one year, one member for aterm of two years, one member for a term of three years, and the remainingmembers for terms of four years; thereafter all members shall be appointedfor terms of four years. The governing body of any county or city entitled torepresentation on a library board of a library system of another jurisdictionpursuant to § 42.1-34 shall appoint a member to serve for a term of fouryears, or until the contract is terminated, whichever is shorter. Vacanciesshall be filled for unexpired terms as soon as possible in the manner inwhich members of the board are regularly chosen. A member shall not receive asalary or other compensation for services as a member but necessary expensesactually incurred shall be paid from the library fund. However, the governingbody of Fairfax County may pay members of its library board such compensationas it may deem proper. A member of a library board may be removed formisconduct or neglect of duty by the governing body making the appointment.The members shall adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations for their ownguidance and for the government of the free public library system as may beexpedient. They shall have control of the expenditures of all moneys creditedto the library fund. The board shall have the right to accept donations andbequests of money, personal property, or real estate for the establishmentand maintenance of such free public library systems or endowments for same.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A relating to the terms oflibrary board members, a local governing body may alter the composition ofits library board to create staggered terms of service in which approximatelythe same number of terms expire annually. To achieve this goal, the localgoverning body shall appoint in any year in which multiple terms expiremembers for terms of one, two, three, and four years as appropriate.Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Vacanciesshall be filled for unexpired terms as soon as possible in the manner inwhich members of the board are regularly chosen.
(1970, c. 606; 1974, c. 84; 1985, c. 278; 1998, c. 212.)