Trustee Roles & Responsibilities

The East Greenbush Community Library Board of Trustees is composed of seven members who serve voluntarily, without compensation, for five-year terms. Trustees must be registered voters and residents of the Town of East Greenbush. They are elected by the voters of East Greenbush.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that the library meets the evolving needs of the community. Trustees are guided by the library’s strategic plan and mission:

To inspire learning, imagination, collaboration, and compassion by providing our community with equitable access to resources in a welcoming environment.

The 2025 library staff included 21 full-time, 15 part-time, and 11 substitute employees totaling 25.6 full-time equivalents (FTE).

Roles of a Trustee

Trustees work collectively to:

1. Select, hire, and support a qualified Library Director

2. Secure adequate funding and facilities for the library’s service program

3. Ensure stewardship and accountability in the use of public and private funds

4. Develop and adopt policies governing library operations and services

5. Develop and implement strategic plans that ensure the relevance and quality of library services

6. Advocate for the library in the local community and beyond

Trustee Responsibilities

  1. Attend Meetings: Trustees are expected to attend monthly board meetings, currently held at 7:00 PM on the third Tuesday of each month at the library. Trustees should become familiar with the library’s operations, policies (available on the library website), and promote the library’s role in the community.
  2. Participation in Committees: Trustees must actively serve on at least one standing committee annually and take on leadership roles when needed. Standing committees generally meet eleven times a year.
  3. Committee Structure: The Board has two standing committees; Administrative and Services. The Director and Board President sit on every committee. The Administrative Committee focuses on facilities, finances, and personnel. The Services Committee oversees the evaluation of library services, including the strategic plan, policy review, and Trustee recruitment. Ad hoc committees (e.g., Budget, Nominating) may be created by the Board President as needed. The Budget Committee works with the Director to prepare the annual budget. The Nominating Committee prepares the slate of officers. Committee chairpersons are responsible for reporting to the full Board of Trustees at the monthly board meeting.
  4. Engage in Library Activities and Training: Trustees are encouraged to participate in special Library projects, attend the Friends of the Library, Community Advisory Council, and other library-sponsored events, and assist as needed. New York State requires all trustees to complete a minimum of two hours of trustee education annually. Attendance at the Upper Hudson Library System Annual Meeting is also encouraged.