Merrick Library seeks a new trustee

The Merrick Library Board of Trustees is seeking a new member to fill a vacant seat.

The board hopes to appoint a new trustee to the position, according to President Donna Rosenblum. The appointee would remain in the position until June 2021. In the next election in April 2021, the new trustee has the option to run for a full five-year term. Any resident who lives within the Merrick School District can apply.

“Giving back to the community is an extremely rewarding experience,” Rosenblum said. “We do everything to make sure the community’s concerns and needs are met.”

A library trustee is responsible for attending monthly meetings, enacting policies and procedures for the building and reviewing and approving financials, including employee holidays, pay raises and “day-to-day” spending, Rosenblum said.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of the trustees became even more vital, as they voted on expenditures and new guidelines to ensure the safety of anyone who entered the library. They obtained personal protective equipment for employees and settled on the best policies that follow state mandates.

The board of trustees is likely to select the new member during their Nov. 17 meeting, according to Rosenblum.

The ideal candidate is “somebody who loves the library and loves to serve the community,” said Merrick Library Director Dan Chuzmir. With trustees overseeing budgetary concerns, they have the “ultimate fiduciary responsibility” to taxpayers, he added.

“I’m a librarian — being president for me is a wonderful thing,” Rosenblum said. “I love the library, and it plays a vital role in the community and the world in general.”

Those interested in applying to become a Merrick Library trustee can visit www.merricklibrary.org/board-of-trustees.