Chapter 2.56
LIBRARY
Sections:
2.56.020 Board – Trustees, appointment, removal, and compensation.
2.56.030 Officers, meetings and rules.
2.56.040 Library board powers and duties.
2.56.050 Library committee established – Report required.
2.56.060 Use of books by nonresidents and exchange with other libraries – Permitted when.
2.56.070 Authority to accept donations.
2.56.010 Established.
There is established, within the corporate limits of the city a public library, which shall be known as the “Mount Vernon city library.” The Mount Vernon city library shall be forever free for the use of the inhabitants of the city, subject to the regulations of the Mount Vernon library board as trustees thereof who shall order that such library shall be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number. (Ord. 3228 § 1, 2004).
2.56.020 Board – Trustees, appointment, removal, and compensation.
A. There is hereby established a library board to be known as the “Mount Vernon library board” which shall consist of five trustees appointed by the mayor. The city council may remove any member of the library board from office for incompetency, incompatibility, dereliction of duty, or malfeasance in office, or other good cause. Appointments of trustees are subject to the consent of the city council and will be citizens of Mount Vernon with recognized fitness for the position. Chapter 42.23 RCW, the Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, shall apply to all trustees.
B. Trustees are appointed to serve for a term of five years unless that appointment is to fill an unexpired term. Trustees appointed previous to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be considered trustees for the purpose of this chapter and shall serve out their remaining terms unless removed or resigned. At no time shall a trustee serve for more than two consecutive five-year terms. A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, death or removal of a trustee or whenever a trustee absents himself or herself for three consecutive regular meetings of the library board or for an aggregate of five regular and/or special meetings in a single year, unless the absences are excused by action of the remaining board members.
C. Trustees shall not receive salaries or other compensation for their services; however, necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as a library trustee shall be paid from the library funds. (Ord. 3228 § 2, 2004).
2.56.030 Officers, meetings and rules.
A. At the first meeting of each calendar year the library board shall elect from its members a president, who shall preside at all meetings of the board, and elect such other officers as they may deem necessary.
B. The library board shall make and adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations for their own guidance and for the government of the library as may be expedient and not inconsistent with any federal, state or local laws. All meetings and notice of the meetings shall comply with the Washington Open Public Meetings Act and documents will be deemed subject to Chapter 42.17 RCW. The library board shall keep minutes of its regular public meetings and records of all official actions shall be made available to the public upon approval of the minutes by the library board. A majority of all the trustees of the library board shall constitute a quorum at a regular or special meeting of the library board and a majority vote of those present shall be necessary to carry any proposition.
C. Regular meetings of the library board shall be held on the first Thursday of each month at the hour of 5:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon city library located at 315 Snoqualmie; provided, however, that when any of these days falls on a holiday, the library board shall meet on the next business day. The library board may, upon motion duly made and carried at a regular meeting, dispense with, postpone, or advance the date of any regular meeting of the library board; provided, that in no event shall the library board hold less than one regular meeting in any one calendar month. (Ord. 3228 § 3, 2004).
2.56.040 Library board powers and duties.
A. Selection of Library Materials and Duty to Maintain. The library director, with assistance of designated staff members, shall be responsible for selection and maintenance of library materials in accordance with policies set forth by the library board. The library board shall hear citizen requests for reconsideration of library materials in accordance with its established policies and procedures. The library board’s decision in such matters shall be considered final.
B. Establishment of Policies for Library Use and Services. The library board shall adopt such policies for use and services as are necessary to ensure the provision of service to library patrons and the efficient operation of the library. All such policies shall be in compliance with federal and state law, and city ordinance. Suspension of library services in any manner or changes to the regularly scheduled library hours as identified in the city personnel policies and Mount Vernon city library personnel policies, other than those services suspended by war, riots, embargoes, strikes or acts of its vendors or suppliers, accidents, acts of God or any other event beyond their control, shall be preceded by public notice posted upon the main entrance of the Mount Vernon city library and public notice within a paper of general circulation seven days before the suspension of hours or service.
C. Personnel Policies. The library board, with the assistance of the city’s human resources director, shall establish personnel policies in accordance with and not to conflict with the city of Mount Vernon’s personnel policies. Labor agreements shall be negotiated by the mayor or his/her designee. Pursuant to RCW 35A.11.020, all salaries and benefits shall be determined by the city council through ordinance.
D. Budget and Finances. Library appropriations and expenditures must conform to the requirements of prevailing wages and public bids, as well as all other federal and state law and city ordinance. The library board shall submit an annual budget, developed by the library director and approved by the board, to the mayor. The city council, upon the recommendations of the mayor and the library board, shall have final authority to approve the library budget. The library board shall have the power to enter into contracts for purposes related to the efficient functioning, provisions of services, care and custody of the Mount Vernon city library.
E. Library Director – Selection, Annual Review. In case of a vacancy in the position of library director, the mayor shall appoint, pursuant to RCW 35A.12.090, a new library director based upon the recommendation of the library board. The library board shall coordinate the recruitment process with the mayor or his or her designee. Any such process shall adhere to city personnel policies and satisfy the minimum standards set forth in RCW 27.04.055. The library board shall conduct an annual performance evaluation with recommendations to be submitted to the mayor. Authority to dismiss the library director shall rest with the mayor, who shall consult with the library board before taking action. (Ord. 3228 § 4, 2004).
2.56.050 Library committee established – Report required.
A. There is established a library committee, which shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the library board and shall include but not be limited to the library director and president of the library board. The committee shall meet and act on all matters referred to it, and minutes of committee meetings shall be kept, maintained and distributed to the library board, mayor, council members and appropriate staff members.
B. Regular meetings of the library committee shall be held jointly with members of the city council twice a year on a fifth Wednesday, to be determined by the city council at the hour of 6:00 p.m. at 1805 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, Washington.
C. The committee shall generate a report to the city council stating the condition of the city library, various sums of money received by the library fund and all other sources, how much money they have expended, the number of books and periodicals on hand, the number added during the year, the number missing or retired, the number loaned and such other statistics as they may deem necessary. The committee shall include in the report to the city council any concerns, recommendations or significant council actions that substantially affect the providing of a library of the greatest benefit to the greatest number. (Ord. 3228 § 5, 2004).
2.56.060 Use of books by nonresidents and exchange with other libraries – Permitted when.
The library board may, under such rules as it may deem necessary and upon such conditions as may be agreed upon, allow nonresidents of the city to use books and services of the Mount Vernon city library and may make exchanges of books or enter into other agreements pursuant to Chapter 39.34 RCW with any other public agency. (Ord. 3228 § 6, 2004).
2.56.070 Authority to accept donations.
The library board may receive donations to the Mount Vernon city library. Potential donors will be referred to the library board to discuss the nature of the gift and for review and approval. Donated funds will be accounted for individually and may be administered by the finance director or designee, without further appropriation, consistent with the donor’s restrictions and direction from the library board. (Ord. 3228 § 7, 2004).
2.56.080 Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, chapter, provision, or phrase of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is found to be unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter or the application or the provisions to other persons or circumstances. (Ord. 3228 § 8, 2004).