County Commissioners Appoint New Library Board Members (1/29/08)

The newly-expanded Hennepin County Library Board’s 2008 membership is now complete. Former Tennant Corp. CEO and Library Advisory Committee chairman Roger Hale, former Minneapolis Public Library Trustee Kathleen Lamb, Excel Energy Foundation Director John Pacheco, and Jill Joseph were appointed to the board today by the Hennepin County Commissioners.

This action satisfies terms of the consolidation of the Hennepin County and Minneapolis Public Library systems, enlarging the library board from 7 to 11 members with at least three initial appointees being Minneapolitans. Hale, Lamb, and Pacheco are Minneapolis residents and Joseph is from Eden Prairie. The board advises the County Commissioners on library matters for the 41 library system, including 15 libraries in Minneapolis.

About the Hennepin County Library Board
Although both boards are responsible for long-term planning and operating policies, the County Library Board differs from the former Minneapolis Public Library Board, which disbanded to enable the library consolidation, in several important ways:
 

 

Hennepin County Library Board

Minneapolis Public Library Board (disbanded, December 31, 2007)

Members

11

8

Membership Selection

Appointed by the County Commissioners for three year terms with a three-term limit. In 2008, at least three members must be Minneapolis residents

6 elected at large for four year terms; one appointed by the City Council and one appointed by the Mayor for one year terms

Legal Status

Advisory to the County Commissioners

Quasi-Independent

Funding

Budget is set and expended by the County Commissioners

Funding expended by the library board but provided by the City Council, Mayor, Board of Estimate and Taxation, and Neighborhood Revitalization Program Board

Meets

Monthly, usually the fourth Wednesday of the month at various locations, open to the public

Twice-monthly on Wednesdays, open to the public


Schedules and minutes of the Hennepin County Library are found at: http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/libraryboard.cfm

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