Trustees

Libraries, An American Value Libraries in America are cornerstones of the communities they serve. Free access to the books, ideas, resources, and information in America’s libraries is imperative for education, employment, enjoyment and self-government. Libraries are a legacy to each generation, offering the heritage of the past and the promise of the future. To ensure that libraries flourish and have the freedom to promote and protect the public good in the 21st century, we believe certain principles must be guaranteed. To that end, we affirm this contract with the people we serve: • We defend the constitutional rights of all individuals, including children and teenagers, to use the library’s resources and services. • We value our nation’s diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing a full spectrum of resources and services to the communities we serve. • We affirm the responsibility and the rights of all parents and guardians to guide their own children’s use of the library and its resources and services. • We connect people with ideas by helping each person select from and effectively use the library’s resources. • We protect each individual’s privacy and confidentiality in the use of library resources and services. • We protect the rights of individuals to express their opinions about library resources and services. • We celebrate and preserve our democratic society by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and ideas, so that all individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners, informed, literate, educated and culturally enriched. Change is constant, but these principles transcend change and endure in a dynamic technological, social and political environment. By embracing these principles, libraries in the United States can contribute to a future that values and protects the freedom of speech in a world that celebrates both our similarities and our differences, respects individuals and their beliefs, and holds all persons truly equal and free. As adopted by the Council of the American Library Association February 3, 1999

Library Trustees: The Other Board in Town RSA 202-A:2 defines a board of Library Trustees as “the governing body of the library.” Trustees are vested with the entire custody and management of the library. They hire the library director, adopt policies to govern the library’s operation and advocate for adequate financial support of the library. Trustees have the power to expend all funds provided to the library, and to determine how they will be spent. NH public libraries are not town departments, subject to jurisdiction and review by the town manager and/or select board. The NH Supreme Court affirmed in Town of Littleton v. Kathryn Taylor (April 1994) that the library is a separate and distinct entity from the town. The court ruled that the board of trustees is the sole governing body of the library and that library employees are not town employees. A copy of this court decision is available on the NHLTA website.

 

Have feedback about our library? Feel free to contact any of our trustees by email at any point!