Our Mission: The LaFayette Library is a user-centered inclusive space for community engagement, where we provide equitable access to resources, ideas, and information to support the varied and evolving needs of our community.
Board of Trustees
The LaFayette Public Library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees that is appointed by the LaFayette Town Board. Their terms are five years.
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President - Ruth Ann Shute
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Vice President - Claire Jones
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Secretary - Michele Combs
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Financial Officer - Michael Force
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Trustee - Wendy Moltion
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Trustee - Tracey Gray
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Trustee - vacant
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The LaFayette Public Library Board of Trustees meets 11 times a year on the third Wednesday of each month (no meeting in July) in the library community room at 6:00 p.m. Exceptions due to holidays, etc. will be announced in advance.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on:
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March 20th, 2024
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Meetings are open to the public.
We normally meet in the library or the library community room located on the same floor as the town offices. If the door is closed, please knock so we can let you in.
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The LaFayette Public Library Board of Trustees is looking for a new trustee!
What does a trustee do? According to the New York State Handbook for Library Trustees, library trustees work together to:
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· Create and develop the mission of the library;
· Regularly plan and evaluate the library's service program based on community needs;
· Select, hire and regularly evaluate a qualified library director;
· Secure adequate funding for the library's service program;
· Exercise fiduciary responsibility for the use of public and private funds;
· Adopt policies and rules regarding library governance and use;
· Maintain a facility that meets the library’s and community’s needs;
· Promote the library in the local community and in society in general;
· Conduct the business of the library in an open and ethical manner in
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and with respect for the institution, staff and public.
For information specifically about the LaFayette Public Library’s Board of Trustees, we encourage you to look at minutes of our meetings, our annual report, our budget, and our by-laws found on this webpage.
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The LaFayette library’s board meets in the evening on the third Wednesday of every month except July. Very occasionally, a special meeting might be called but that would be unusual. The board has a dedicated email group for communications. Members can attend board meetings via Zoom as needed for illness, etc. but normally members attend in person.
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Each trustee is required to complete a minimum of two hours of trustee education annually. The director, staff at OCPL, and trustees themselves share information about training opportunities.
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To apply, please send a letter of interest to the library explaining why you want to be on the Board, what you would bring to the table, and your qualifications for it. Please also include a resume. An informal resume is acceptable.
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LaFayette Public Library P.O. Box 379 LaFayette, NY 13084
Staff
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Janine Baker
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Mary Dawes
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Brigid Farrell
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Daniel Galvin
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Alan Lewandowski
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Lynn Lewandowski
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Leslie Porzio
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Jessica Rice - Director
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Pamela St. Germain
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Melissa Siem
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Susanna Southwick
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Vision: We aspire to be a vibrant and responsive community hub that serves as an ever-evolving space for the sharing of talents, resources, ideas, technology, and knowledge.
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Mission: The LaFayette Library is a user-centered inclusive space that promotes community engagement, supports the varied needs of our residents, and enhances the quality of life by fostering a love for life-long learning.
Our Values
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Reading is the most basic of survival skills in an information-driven society and we strive to increase the rate of literacy and reading comprehension.
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We provide free and equal access to information for the enrichment, empowerment and enlightenment of all individuals.
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Freedom of information and the right to privacy are essential elements of democracy; protecting intellectual freedom protects a democratic society.
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Library collections and services provide diverse points of view to meet the needs of our community.
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Library employees are committed to expanding their knowledge of ever-changing information and to applying that knowledge to make a difference in people’s everyday lives.
