Derby Public Library > About > Library Board
Library Board of Trustees
What is the Derby Public Library Board?
The Derby Public Library Board of Trustees is the governing body for the Derby Public Library. The board has seven members.
What is the job of the library board?
The library board is responsible for the policies that govern the internal operations, services, and personnel of the library, and for the review of those policies on a regular basis. It is also the responsibility of the board to maintain fiscal accountability, secure operating funds to carry out the library’s mission, and to prepare an annual budget. The library board is also charged with the hiring and evaluating of a director who manages the day-to-day operations of the library.
How does someone get on the library board?
The first step is completion of an application that can be picked up at Derby City Hall. After review of the applications, the mayor appoints a candidate who is then confirmed by the Derby City Council. Each member of the board of trustees is eligible to serve two four-year terms and must live within the Derby city limits.
When does the board meet?
The library board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Frank Fanning Conference Room in the library, except in November and December. To avoid conflicts with the holiday season, the meetings in November and December are held on the third Wednesday of the month. Regular board meetings are open to the public.
Board members:
- Danielle Gabor, Chair
- Gabe McKeever, Vice Chair
- Susan Topping, Secretary
- Dustin Sharp, Treasurer
- Jamie Hollon
- Kyle McCaskey
- Mark Staats, Mayor - ex offico
- Susan Swaney
The members of the Library Board of Trustees are representatives of our community, and welcome your comments and suggestions for the library.
Public Forum Policy at Library Board Meetings
The “Public Forum” period is a time slot set aside on the agenda for people to address the Library Board on any subject relevant to the Library, its policies, operations, or services.
Anyone wishing to address the Library Board must speak from the front of the room (unless accommodations are needed due to disabilities) and introduce themselves. Comments are limited to five minutes in length. If additional presentation time is requested by the individual or group addressing the Library Board, additional time up to three (3) minutes may be granted only by motion, second, and majority vote of the Library Board
While providing an opportunity to speak on any topic of concern, the Board Chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum and will not allow the speaker to make personal attacks or inflammatory comments. In many cases, the speaker will be directed to meet with staff to resolve the issue or get questions answered. If the speaker has documents they wish to share with the Library Board that support their comments, they must also provide a copy to the Office Manager.
Other than asking a question to clarify a statement, members should refrain from entering into a dialogue with the speaker. This time on the agenda is not intended for a discussion between the
Library Board and the speaker and should not be used for that purpose. If speakers engage in personal attacks on any member of Library Board or staff, it may be necessary for the Board Chair to interrupt them and end the speaker’s time. While Board members will make every effort to show respect to speakers utilizing the public forum, there is no requirement that they subject themselves to intimidation by rude speakers.
Board of Trustees/Financial Policy
