Governance and Administration
Information
Quinte West Public Library Board
Chair
Doug Couture
Vice-Chair
Lynda Reid (Councillor)
Board Members
Sally Freeman (Councillor)
Stephanie MacDougall
Maureen Piercy
Billie Yakachuk
Library Board – Roles and Responsibilities
Public libraries in Ontario are governed by the Public Libraries Act, R.S.O. 1990, chapter P44 and are bound by the requirements of this legislation. The Act defines how the Library Board should operate, its accountability requirements to Municipal Council and the Province, as well as its responsibilities regarding the delivery of library service. It defines the Library Board as a governing board, giving it the authority to make policy and direct the affairs of the organization.
As a governing body, the Library Board is the decision-making and legal authority of the organization. The Board is accountable for the whole range of activity of the organization and the results it achieves, but is not responsible for carrying out day-to-day operations, which are instead the responsibility of library staff. With a focus on the future, the Board determines the direction of the organization and decides how to get there through its planning functions. In conjunction with the library’s Chief Executive Officer, the Board develops the mission, goals and objectives that will guide the library’s activities into the future. The Board is responsible for advocating the library as an important community resource, and ensures the Library receives adequate operating and capital funds to sustain facilities, collections and staffing.
Meetings
In accordance with the Public Libraries Act, all Library Board meetings are held in public and members of the public are welcome to attend and observe. Please note the Board will receive comments, for information only, during Public Input and public observers will be asked to leave if an in-camera session is set.
Any person or delegation wishing to be considered to address the Library Board on an item of business already listed on the circulated Agenda must submit a written request, including relevant subject information, to: [email protected] no later than the day before the meeting.
Any person or delegation wishing to be considered to address the Library Board on a new item of business at a future Library Board meeting where the Agenda has not yet been set, must submit a written request with relevant subject information to: [email protected] well in advance of the next meeting.
Please note that your correspondence, comments and personal information including, but not limited to, your name, address, email address, phone number, and opinions may become part of the meeting agendas and minutes. As such, it will be made available to the public at the meeting, through public requests, and on the Quinte West Public Library website.
Library Board meetings are held once a month on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:00 PM in the Caucus Room. Special meetings may be scheduled as needed. Meeting agendas will be posted on our website in advance of each meeting. The following 2025 meetings of the Library Board are scheduled:
January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, September 23, October 28, November 25, and December 16.
If you would like to contact the Library Board, please use the form below:
Jeri-Lynn Thomas, CEO
[email protected]
613-394-3381 ext3315
or
Doug Couture, Chairperson
[email protected]