PR: Pierce County Library System recruiting new Board of Trustee

An opportunity is available to guide the future of library service for the 554,000 residents throughout Pierce County Library System’s 1,800 square mile service area. The Library System is accepting applications for a new Board of Trustee to help guide the future of library service. Along with four other volunteer trustees, the new trustee’s primary responsibilities would include:
* Set Library System goals and objectives.
* Approve annual budgets.
* Adopt policies.
* Study community needs and interests and ensure the Library is meeting them.
* Advocate for the Library.

“The Board of Trustees governs the Library’s policy and budget,” said Neel Parikh, the Library’s executive director. “This is an enormous responsibility and opportunity, which is even more crucial today to balance shrinking revenues with increasing operating costs. The Trustees are especially critical as we strive to meet the needs of our growing and changing communities and increasing customer use and demands.”

Trustees are non-paid positions and may be appointed for five-year terms and serve up to two consecutive terms.

Interested individuals may get an application at any of the Library’s 18 locations, online @ www.piercecountylibrary.org search site trustee, or contact the Library’s executive director’s office at 253-536-6500, ext. 117. Applications must be received by the Library’s executive director’s office by Wednesday, Aug. 25.

Information about the Library System

The Library System serves all of unincorporated Pierce County and the annexed cities and towns of Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place and Wilkeson, with 17 libraries, three bookmobiles and online services.

The Library’s 2010 operating budget of $28.6 million maintains commitments from a re-authorized levy voters approved in 2006. Two of the specific promises included expanding open hours, which have increased by 25 percent and increasing services for kids and teenagers, who have increased the number of books and materials they check out by 148 percent (from 2006 to 2009).