What is a Library Trustee?

Tomorrow is the Annual Town Election here in Natick.

As part of the election, voters are asked to vote for no more than five Morse Institute Library Trustees.

But what is a Library Trustee? Many people have been asking this question because they don't know what the duties and responsibilities of a Library Trustee is, so we set out to find out.

We spoke to Jane Finlay, Assistant Director of the Morse Institute Library, and this is what she told us in an email:

The will of Mary Ann Morse contained the language which established the Board of Trustees of the institution. The five persons who comprise the Board are elected for simultaneously to serve five year terms. The Board has been functioning since the 1850s. Pursuant to the language of the will, the Board exists to maintain a free public library in the Town of Natick.

The Board is legally responsible for administrative policy-making in areas such as budget, personnel and contracts, as is specified by state law and local ordinances. Responsibilities include: hiring the library director; working closely with the director in establishing and presenting the library’s budget to the town; and working with the library administration in planning and goal setting. The Board of Trustees also has the authority for developing and implementing the policies that govern library services.

There you have it, so when you go to cast your vote tomorrow at the polls you'll be abe to do it knowing what a Library Trustee does.

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