Checklist for Your Library’s Annual Organizational Meeting
As your library board prepares for its annual organizational meeting, please remember the requirements of the Ohio statute. Ohio Revised Code 3375.32 requires that boards of trustees of public libraries (not including association libraries) hold organizational meetings each January – or December of the preceding year – to elect officers and appoint a fiscal officer as well as complete a few other tasks. Here is a short checklist of the items that should be completed:
- Elect officers from the board (president, vice-president, and secretary) to serve a one-year term.
- Appoint a fiscal officer (and deputy fiscal officer if necessary). Fiscal officer salaries need to be authorized by resolution. Also, state law requires a surety bond for the fiscal officer to be approved by the library board. The term of the bond coverage for the fiscal officer needs to go from organizational meeting of the current year to the organizational meeting of the following year.
- Administer the oath of office to newly-appointed trustees. Notaries, Ohio legislators, and judges may administer the oaths. Also, other elected officials may administer oaths to people within the geographical limits of their constituencies with certain limitations. It is important to note that library board members or fiscal officers are not authorized to administer these oaths, unless they are commissioned as notaries.
- Appoint standing committees.
- Approve the annual board calendar.
Questions should be directed to Michelle Francis, OLC’s Director of Government and Legal Services at (614) 410-8092 or mfrancis@olc.org.
