Changes to trustee appointment process shakes up library supporters
In counties with a Public Library Board of Trustees – such as Hancock County – a bill passed by the Kentucky General Assembly will make it easier for county judges/executive to appoint trustees of their choosing, endangering the boards in becoming political entities.
House Bill 167 had passed the General Assembly following introduction by a Pike County senator after the Pike County Library refused to sell more space to the University of Pikeville for educational purposes.
The refusal riled up some local leaders, and Senator Phillip Wheeler, a Republican, pushed for the legislation altering the process for trustee appointments. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, but the House overrode the veto – after initially failing to get enough votes the day before.
The law is set to take effect in January 2023.
Under the current system, when a vacancy is set to occur, libraries will run a legal notice announcing the vacancy and requesting applications from those interested. The applicants are then given an orientation about the duties of the Board, and are then reviewed by the Board and two names are submitted to Frankfort to be recommended to Fiscal Court by the Department of Libraries and Archives.
Once the names are submitted, the judge-executive will appoint one of the persons – with approval of Fiscal Court – to a term of four years or the remainder of an unexpired term.
With the changes in HB167, the appointing authority would rest entirely with the judge/executive. Hancock County Library Director Tina Snyder said while the Board of Trustees enjoys a great relationship with Fiscal Court, she sees the changes as a road to politicizing Boards across the state.
Supporters of the bill said the changes were needed to bring accountability to Boards for taxpayers in library districts, since trustees are not elected.
“The bill really leaves room for local politicians to pursue agendas, if they have them,” Snyder said. “The situation that sparked this has nothing to do with nearly all libraries in Kentucky, just one in a far-flung part of the our state. Library boards were created to be nonpolitical, to provide equitable services to all members of the community, not just one group or the other. We are committed to a free sharing of information, with no thoughts to someone’s position, politics or station in life.”
Snyder said she is “hopeful” the pursuit of political ideals will not be the case in Hancock County.
“We have always been a partner with Fiscal Court, very open about our finances and our programming,” she said. “As well, Fiscal Court loves their libraries and the services provided for the community. I don’t believe it will be an issue for us, but there is that uncertainty for the future.”
As well, the bill will give Fiscal Courts access to library funds and property – if Fiscal Court and the Board of Trustees both approve – but Snyder said any disagreement in such cases could be bypassed by appointing supportive trustees.
“A singular situation in one community in the state has now trickled down to affect every library board in Kentucky,” Snyder said. “It’s not hard to imagine how these changes could provide an opportunity for information to not be shared as freely as it is now in some communities in the state.”
The Hancock County Library Board of Trustees is a five-member body, and the library operates two locations in Hawesville and Lewisport.
By C. Josh Givens
