Responsibilities and Duties of the Library Board

The Waupaca Area Public Library Board has a great deal of responsibility and many important duties to perform. The basic building block for every Library Board is a set of bylaws. Bylaws should be updated at least every five (5) years. Included in the bylaws should not only be the composition of the board, officer's responsibilities, and information regarding meetings, committees, etc., but also terms of office, number of re-appointments allowed, action taken for frequent absence, and procedure for securing, appointing, and orientating new board members. I have outlined some of the major responsibilities and duties of the Library board below:

a) Create a set of bylaws.
b) Hold effective meetings.
c) Hire the library director.
d) Evaluate the library director.
e) Develop the Library budget.
f) Set library staff salaries and wages
g) Developing essential library policies.
h) Planning for the library’s future.
i) Cooperation with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System
The current Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Manual provides details on the responsibilities and duties of the Library Board.

Revised 3/2007

Library board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm.

Board Packets 2008
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2007- (Starting August 2007 the entire board packet is posted.)
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | 2007 Annual Report

Board Minutes 2006
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | 2006 Annual Report

Board Minutes 2005
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2004
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2003
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2002
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2001
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Board Minutes 2000
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Library Board Members

Julie Eiden
E1098 South Radley Road
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-8528
President, Ex-officio of all committees

Robert Nelson
617 South Main Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 256-1537
Vice President, Planning and Policy Committee

Mary Trice
E3615 GRANITE QUARRY RD
OGDENSBURG, WI 54962
(715) 258-9323
Policy and Planning Committees

Richard Dance
P.O. Box 596
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-5710
Treasurer, Finance and Personnel Committees

Gerald Murphy
N2576 Norris Lane
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-2852
Personnnel Committee

Victoria Simonson
1005 Buffalo Ridge Lane
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-3071
Planning and Policy Committees

Shari Camann
401 Bailey Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-0518
Finance and Planning Committees

Eric Olson
313 South State Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 256-0087
Finance and Personnel Committees

Connie Andraschko
E2740 Hobson Road
(715) 258-2240
Waupaca, WI 54981
Policy and Finance Committees

Eunice Lawrence
E1897 stae Rd 54
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-2580
OWLS Board Member

Glenda Rhodes
512 Jefferson
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 256-1939
OWLS Board Member

Patsy Servey
107 South Main St
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715)258-4414
Exhibit Room Coordinator

Waupaca Area Public Library Board of Trustees By-Laws

Article I.  Membership

Pursuant to the requirements of the Wisconsin Statutes chapter 43, the Board of Trustees of the Waupaca Area Public Library shall consist of seven members, six of whom shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the City Council and the seventh shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Schools to represent the public school district.  Four members shall be residents of Waupaca and two members shall be residents of townships adjacent to the municipality.

Article II.  Officers

I.  OFFICERS.  The officers of the library board shall be a president, a vice-president, and a treasurer.

II. ELECTIONS.  Election of officers shall be held at the May meeting falling in even numbered years.  Nominations shall be taken from the floor.  Officers shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in their elected office.

III.  PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES.  The principal duties of the president shall be to preside at the regular and special meetings of the board, to have the usual powers of supervision and management, and to perform such other duties as may be designated by the board.  The president may be an ex-officio member of all committees.

IV. VICE PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES.   The vice-president shall discharge the duties of the president in the event of absence, or of a vacancy in that office, and in addition, assume any other duties as designated by the board.

V. TREASURER'S DUTIES.  The treasurer shall maintain an accurate record of monthly expenditures. Each month the treasurer shall sign a voucher presented by the Director for the total monthly bills. Treasurers records shall be kept in the Library Director's office, unless specified by the board.

Article III.  Meetings

Section 1.)  Regular meetings of the Library Board shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month or upon an alternate date designated by the Board President or presiding officer.  Members shall be expected to attend all meetings except as they are prevented by a valid reason.  Members should notify the Library Director if unable to attend a meeting.  Meetings may be cancelled or rescheduled by the Board President if a quorum is not available.  If more than three consecutive unexcused absences occur, a Board member will automatically be required to resign from the Board.

Section 2.)  Special meetings may be called by the President at any time deemed advisable, or upon written request to the President by three board members for the transaction of business stated in the request.

Section 3.)  The Library Director shall prepare an agenda for the monthly meetings, which shall be sent through the City Clerk's Office to board members at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting.

Section 4.)  A quorum at any meeting shall consist of four voting Library Board members.

Section 5.)  Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the board.

Section 6.)  The Library Director shall appoint a staff member to attend all Library Board meetings and maintain a true and accurate record of those meetings.  All records and correspondence, unless specified by the board, shall be kept in the Library Director's office. 

Article IV.  Committees

The President shall appoint four standing committees, which are Planning, Finance, Policy and Personnel and any other committees deemed necessary.  Appointments to the standing committees will take place after election of Library Board Officers in May of the even years. The committees shall report progress to the Library Board at their next monthly meeting. Ad hoc committees will be disbanded after giving a final report to the Library Board on their respective purpose.

Article V.  Library Director & Staff

The Board of Trustees shall appoint a qualified Library Director.  The Library Director shall be the executive and administrative officer of the Library on behalf of the Board and operate under its review and direction.  The Library Director shall recommend to the board the appointment of the other employees and shall specify their duties.  The Library Director shall be held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff, for the care and maintenance of Library property, for the selection of materials, for the efficient provision of library services to the public and for its financial operation within the limitations of the Library's budgeted appropriation.  In the case of part-time or temporary employees, the Director shall have interim authority to appoint without prior approval of the Library Board provided that any such appointment shall be reported to the board at its next regular meeting.  The Library Board will also abide by the those portions of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual of the City of Waupaca that apply to all city employee’s except for those powers, procedures and policies provided for in Wis. State Statute Chapter 43.

Article VI.  General

Section 1.)   An affirmative vote of the majority of all voting members of the Library Board present at any legally constituted meeting shall be necessary to approve an action before the board.  The President may vote upon and may move or second a proposal before the board.

Section 2.) The by-laws may be amended by the majority vote of all voting members of the library Board provided that the change had been proposed by a board member or the Library Director at the preceding regular meeting, and the notice of the proposed amendment was included as a separate statement in the agenda of the meeting at which it is to be acted upon.  

Section 3.)  Any rule or resolution of the Library Board may be suspended temporarily in connection with business at hand.  Such suspension, to be valid, may be taken only at a meeting at which two-thirds of the members of the board shall be present and two-thirds of those present shall so approve.

Adopted November 1985

Revised 2/10/2004