What does the Board of Trustees do?
The Hudson Area Library Board of Trustees guides the every day workings of the library by:
- providing oversight of library activities and policies
- establishing the long range plan of the library
- working to assure the library meets the needs of the community
- raising money to support the library – only 45% of the library’s budget comes from tax dollars!
- auditing library finances to assure that funds are spent appropriately
What is the structure of the Board?
The Hudson Area Library Board of Trustees includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, up to 18 Trustees and various committees. The Board structure includes:
- two three-year terms allowed, followed by one year off before further participation
- monthly meetings – currently the third Thursday of each month at 6 pm
- meetings that typically run about 75 minutes
- rare special meetings
- committee participation – Executive, Finance, Marketing, Fundraising, Program, History Room, Board Development, and occasional ad hoc committees carry much of the work load of the Board.
How are Trustees selected?
The Board Development Committee establishes a list of talents, skills, and experiences that are needed to give the Board a good balance to meet our goals. An ideal candidate would have:
- interest in the library by being involved in a committee or as a volunteer
- fund raising and event management experience
- connections with potential donors
- a strong work ethic and time to spend on committee work
- commitment towards diversity representative of the library’s served communities
- local ties
- finance experience and skills
How do I get involved?
We would be thrilled to hear from you! If you’d like to speak to someone about any of the details on this page, you can:
- contact the Chair of the Board Development Committee at BoardDev@HudsonAreaLibrary.org
- attend a board meeting – contact the Chair of Board Development for a schedule
- join a board committee – every committee is chaired by a Trustee, otherwise membership is open to anyone
FAQs
Q: Do I have to live in Hudson or Greenport to be on the Board?
A: No. It is your connection to the library and the community that counts.
Q: Can you provide a more detailed list of the duties and responsibilities of a trustee?
A: Yes, you can download and read the HAL Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees Policy
Q: How many hours a month does a Trustee devote to committee work?
A: Typically, a Trustee devotes 1 – 2 hours a week. Projects occasionally require more.
Q: Do I need to give a lot of money to the Library to be on the Board?
A: No. We expect Trustees to support the library financially only to the extent they are comfortable with. This is a working board.
Q: What is the timeline for joining the board?
A: Typically, Trustees are elected at the annual meeting in March of each year. However, as required to fulfill board goals, Trustees may be elected at any regular meeting of the board.
Q: Am I committing to more than a year on the Board?
A: Yes. You will be elected to a three year term with an additional three-year term to follow. Most board members serve two three-year terms.