§ 17-43. Creation of the library advisory committee.

There is hereby created and established in Hernando County, Florida, a board to be known as the "Hernando County Library Advisory Committee".

(1)

The county library advisory committee shall consist of five (5) members and two (2) alternate members who are registered voters of the county and appointed by the board of county commissioners. All members are to be chosen for their interest in public library service. Library advisory committee members shall serve for four-year staggered terms. Members will attend meetings regularly; and unless such absence has first been authorized by a majority of the advisory board, members who are absent for three (3) consecutive regular meetings or who fail to attend two-thirds ( 2/3 ) of the regular meetings in any twelve-month period shall be automatically dropped from membership. At this time, the president of the library advisory committee will forthwith request board of county commissioners to appoint another member to fill the term of the member leaving the advisory board. Members may not serve consecutively more than two (2) full terms.

(2)

The library advisory committee shall select a president and such other officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable, and they shall serve at the pleasure of the committee. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum sufficient to the holding of a meeting or taking of any action. A majority vote of the members present at any meeting shall be sufficient to enable the taking of any action. Special meetings of the board may be called by the president by written notice signed by three (3) members of the committee, or by action of the committee at any meeting, general or special, upon twenty-four (24) hours' notice. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the committee, and all meetings shall be public.

(3)

Members of the library advisory committee shall serve without compensation, salary or remuneration of any nature; but the commission may provide, in the annual county budget, sufficient funds for the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the board of its members in performance of the duties and functions prescribed by the provisions of this article. All such expenses shall be subject to approval by the board of county commissioners.

(4)

The board shall be composed of citizens who are dedicated to the purpose of providing a feasible, adequate public library system for the county in cooperation with all other governmental entities, who will be in a position to furnish information, advice, counsel and recommendations to the board of county commissioners in respect to the appropriate means and methods by which adequate public library facilities and services may be provided, all of which shall be done within the framework of the county government in a sound financial basis for the use and benefit of all residents of the county. The library advisory committee shall work towards the development and implementation of sound programs for the county's public libraries through the mutual cooperation between the state, county and city governments and agencies, and shall coordinate efforts with nongovernmental organizations interested in library facilities and service. This shall not be construed as delegating to such library advisory committee or its members any power or authority of a governmental, legislative or administrative nature, but as the establishment of an official instrumentality by which the board of county commissioners may claim the benefit of accurate, comprehensive information, advice, counsel, and recommendations concerning all matters relating to the public libraries and related cultural facilities and programs which may be necessary for appropriate action by the board of county commissioners.

(Ord. No. 93-17, § IV, 7-27-93; Ord. No. 2011-6, § IV, 4-26-11)