CITY OF SPRINGFIELD

In the City Council

The Library Department & Board of Library Commissioners

1) The City of Springfield does hereby state and acknowledge that the preservation and maintenance of a city wide branch library system is critically important to the continuing education of all our citizens. Furthermore, branch libraries located in or near the city's various residential neighborhoods are vital to the continued year round education of the city's youth arid school age population.

2} The City of Springfield regrets the recent closing of four branch Libraries within this city by the Springfield Library and Museum Association. (the"SLMA")

3) It is declared that regular and constant library services are an essential city function and in order to provide such services the city must, at this time, institute a Library Department that is directly responsive to the requests and demands of the city and its residents.

4) The City of Springfield, acting through and pursuant to M.G.L. c. 78 §7 does hereby create its Library Department.

l. Department Established: Appointment and Number of Board

The Library Department is established as a department of the City of Springfield and is subject to all rights, benefits and duties incumbent on such a department. The Library Department shall have a board of five persons appointed by the Mayor, upon approval of the City Council.

Terms of Office:

The term of a Board Member shall be for five years, provided that a member may be removed by a vote of two thirds of all members of the City Council.

The initial members of this board shall hold office for terms of one, two, three, four and five years respectively from the first Monday in February next following such appointment; and thereafter the Mayor shall annually, before the first Monday in February, with like approval appoint one such member for a term of five years from said first Monday in February.

Qualification for Members:

The Mayor is encouraged to select for membership to the Board individuals exhibiting a sincere interest in learning, literacy and library use and promotion. In making appointments the Mayor shall strive to reflect the great diversity of this city and as such, and in order to allow

more participation in this board, no member shall serve more than 2 terms as a member of the Library Board. No person shall be appointed a member of such board who has not been a resident of the City for at least three (3) years, next prior to his or her appointment, or who serves as an elected official or department or deputy department head within the City. In the event any member establishes their principal residence outside of the city they shall no longer serve as a member of said board.

Rules of the Board-Chairman:

The Library Board may make rules for the government of its procedure, consistent with state statute, regulations and the ordinances of the City of Springfield. It shall elect one of its members to serve as Chairperson and no member shall serve as chair for more than two (2) years consecutively.

Management and Control of The City Library System:

The Library Board shall be responsible for the management and operations of the Springfield City Library Department and its branch libraries. In operating said department and libraries the Board shall acknowledge and govern its actions according to the financial support and authorizations appropriated by the City, acting through its Mayor and City council, and said board in its activities is subject to the provisions of St. 1989 c. 656.

The Library Board is expressly encouraged to recruit volunteers to assist in the staffing and operation of the city library system. The Board is charged with working within the fiscal constraints of city and state government to increase and maximize the hours of operation and the circulation and use of its resources.

Acquisition of Property For Libraries:

The Board may locate, relocate, expand any branch within the city and for that purpose may take in fee by eminent domain under M.G.L. c. 79 or by purchase, gift, devise or otherwise land for the purposes thereof. Any such taking by eminent domain or by purchase shall be subject to the provisions of Section 14 of Chapter 40: The City may take and hold in trust or otherwise any grant, gift, bequest or devise, made to or for the purpose of locating, relocating or expanding any branch, or otherwise aiding or assisting in financial support or operations of the Library Department.

Annual Report of Library Commissioners:

The Board of Library Commissioners shall report on an annual basis as to the department's activities and shall include a detailed statement of all receipts, expenditures and liabilities for the preceding financial year within forty-five (45) days of the end of the fiscal year.

Composition of Department:

The Library Department shall consist of the Board of Library Commissioners, one (1) City Librarian, and as many librarians; and clerks and other staff as the City Council may authorize.

Seniority and Tenure of Employees Transferring From The SLMA:

The Library Department shall respect the seniority and tenure of any and all employees transferring into this Department from the SLMA.

Annual City Appropriations, Contracting With SLMA:

Upon the creation of the City Library Department all city appropriations for libraries and library services shall be made to the Library Department, The City of Springfield hereafter shall no longer appropriate money to the SLMA for library services, or for the corporate overhead formerly associated with providing said services. The Library Department, acting by and through its Board, may contract with the SLMA for such library services as the department deems necessary.

Any and all contracts for library services, any and all personal service contracts and all other records and business of the Library Department, unless a specific legal exception applies, shall be regarded as public records and shall be made available upon a reasonable basis to any member of the public.