Champlain Public Library's mission is to offer the community bilingual access to information, literature and ideas that stimulate imagination and inquiry.
Champlain Township Public Library Board shall seek to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service that reflects the community's unique needs. Champlain Township Public Library Board:
bears legal responsibility for Champlain Township Public Library.
determines and adopts written policies to govern the operation of the Board and library understands the library-related needs of the community.
determines the goals and objectives of the library and secures adequate funds to fulfil these goals.
fixes the dates and times for regular meetings of the Board and the mode of calling and conducting them, and ensures that full and correct minutes are kept.
appoints a competent and qualified Chief Executive Officer; evaluates and fixes the rate of pay of the CEO, and if necessary, dismisses the CEO.
works with the CEO to prepare a budget adequate to carry out the library's goals and objectives and presents this budget to municipal council.
Volunteer Now to Be Part of the Library Board (CLOSED)
The Chair of the Champlain Township Public Library Board is currently seeking volunteers to serve on its Board. Along with playing a role in governance and fiscal concerns, Library Board Members are expected to support and participate in the community by: Establishing the library as an essential community service; Building community pride in the library; and, advocating the library’s role in the community.
Interested candidates must be:
Canadian citizen;
resident of Champlain Township or East Hawkesbury Township;
at least 18 years of age; and
able to attend 10 meetings per year.
Interested parties must complete the application form no later than November 23. 2022. Note: Applications will reopen in 2026 for the 2026-2030 term of Council.
The Chief Executive Officer shall call the inaugural meeting of the Champlain Township Public Library Board in each new term upon receipt of the confirmation of Board appointments from the Municipal Clerk and a by-law from the Municipal Council.
The annual meeting of the Champlain Township Public Library Board shall be held in December of each year. The Secretary shall preside and conduct the elections every four years for the position of Chairperson in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order and the Municipal Act of Ontario. The Chairperson shall assume the chair for the appointment of committee members.
Regular meetings of the Champlain Township Public Library Board shall be held each month from January to June and September to December, unless such day shall be a legal, public or civic holiday, in which case the Board shall meet at the same hour on a date agreed upon at the preceding meeting of the Board. Regular meetings will be held in the Champlain Township Municipal offices.
The Chairperson or any two members of the Board may summon a special meeting of the Board by giving each member reasonable notice in writing, specifying the purpose for which the meeting is called which shall be the sole business transacted at the meeting. Despite any other Act, board meetings shall be open to the public, except where the Board is of the opinion that intimate financial or personnel matters may be disclosed at a meeting.
When the Board determines that matters should be dealt with in the absence of the public or a staff member, a motion to move into in-camera session must be moved, seconded and approved by a majority vote. Motions to move in-camera are not debatable. At the conclusion of the in- camera session, a motion must be moved, seconded and approved by a majority vote to return to public session. A motion to confirm any motions approved during the in-camera session shall be made.
Regular attendance of all Board members at Board meetings is vital to the satisfactory conduct of Board business. In the event that a member must be absent from any meeting, that member shall notify the Secretary prior to the day of the meeting.
Should a member be absent for two (2) consecutive meetings, the Board shall consider the circumstances of the absence and either notify the Municipal Council that the seat is vacant, or pass a resolution authorizing that person to continue as a Board member until the next meeting.
The Chairperson of the Champlain Township Public Library Board acts as an official representative of the library and in a leadership role to the Board, ensures the proper functioning of the Board and the proper conduct of Board business, in accordance with appropriate legislation and prescribed rules of procedure.
In addition, the Chairperson is responsible for:
Presiding at regular and special meetings of the Board in accordance with the Public Libraries Act,1990, chapter P.44 and other relevant legislation, and with the rules of procedure adopted by the Board.
Serving as an ex-officio member of all Board committees.
Acting as an authorised signing officer of all documents pertaining to Board business.
Representing the Board, alone or with other members of the Board, at any public or private meetings for the purpose of conducting, promoting or completing the business of the Board.
Determining the responsibility of committees to deal with matters which arise where it is unclear which committee has responsibility, subject to eventual confirmation by the Board.
Ensuring that vacancies on Board committees are filled as expeditiously as possible. The Chairperson shall not commit the Board to any course of action in the absence of the specific authority of the Board.
The term of office for the Chairperson of the Champlain Township Public Library Board shall be four years. The election shall take place at the inaugural meeting of the Board.
As the Champlain Township Public Library Board is composed of a not less that 4 and mot more than 7 members plus the Mayor of Champlain Township (or another member of Champlain council) three or more members shall constitute a majority of the members of the board. No business of the board shall be transacted except at a meeting at which a majority of the board is present.
Where a quorum is not present within thirty minutes after the hour fixed for a meeting, the Secretary shall record the names of the Board members present and the meeting shall stand adjourned until the next meeting or until a special meeting is called.
If notified by a majority of board members of their anticipated absence from a meeting, the Secretary shall notify all members of the Board that the meeting is cancelled.
