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Doris Padgett Public Library

Library Board

Authority and Responsibilities

The Sunnyvale Public Library Board was created by the Sunnyvale Town Council in 1964 to serve in an advisory, policy-making capacity to the Town Council and Library Director by making recommendations pertaining to all matters of the Library. Individual board members have no authority, but together, as a board, they are empowered to recommend, establish and support operational policies. These include budgetary items, fees & fines, programming, facilities, internal policies, long range planning, etc. Library Board members serve without remuneration and cannot serve as paid library staff members. They can volunteer for the Library, but they should not interfere with the Director's role as manager of the Library. Board members should keep apprised of local government activities, and know the people involved in local government, because they may be called upon to act as liaisons between the library and the community.

Powers and Duties

As advisers on matters of the public interest in relation to the resources and services of the Library, the Library Board shall:

  • Be Library Card holders in good standing
  • Attend all meetings of the Library Board
  • Establish bylaws for its own governance
  • Establish policies for the governance of the library
  • Make recommendations to the Town Council relative to the Library's annual budget
  • Study and encourage the development of adequate library facilities for the residents of the Town of Sunnyvale
  • Advise in coordinating the library services with the programs of other governmental agencies and voluntary organizations
  • Review the effectiveness of the Library Director with the Town Manager and Town Council
  • Prepare and present an annual report to the Town Council

For more information on the duties and procedures of the Sunnyvale Public Library Board see the Bylaws.

Qualifications and Requirements

No person shall be appointed to the Library Board who is not a resident of the Town of Sunnyvale and a U.S. citizen. The best candidates are people who use the Library regularly.

Applying For A Board Position

If you are interested in serving on the Library Board, you must complete an application and return it to the Town Secretary at the address below.  All applications will be filed and reviewed by the Town Council at the time of appointments.

Download and print a Board Application Form.PDF Clip Art

Return to:   Town Secretary
                       Town of Sunnyvale
                       127 North Collins Road
                       Sunnyvale, TX 75182

Committees

Board committees of one (1) to three (3) members each may be appointed from time to time by the Chairman or by Board action.  These committees may be temporary [Ad Hoc] committees to examine specific issues or concerns, or they may be on-going [Standing] committees for the continuing purposes or projects of the Board.  For example:

  • Policies
        
  • Technology
        
  • Long Range Plan
         
  • Budget
        

Meetings

The Library Board generally meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chamber at the Sunnyvale Town Hall.  See the online calendar to verify the dates and times of upcoming meetings.  All meetings are open to the public unless the Board goes into executive session. The current agenda is posted in the Library and online no less then three days (72 hours) prior to the meeting.

Download and print the current and previous Library Board Agendas and Minutes.


Contact Information

To find out more about the Sunnyvale Public Library Board or to reach the members write to:

        Library Board
        Sunnyvale Public Library
        402 Tower Place
        Sunnyvale, TX 75182-9278

United For Libraries: Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations

The Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) and the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) joined forces on February 1, 2009 to become an expanded division of the American Library Association (ALA).  The organization was then called the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundation (ALTAFF).  then in 2012 the members of ALTAFF voted to change its name  to "United for Libraries: Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations" with the expectation that the organization would be popularly known, simply as, United for Libraries.

United for Libraries Clip Art             Please visit the United for Libraries website.