BRISTOL — Lawrence Memorial Library is seeking a new board member, librarian Nancy Wilson said.
The vacancy was created by the recent resignation of Linda Havey, who moved to Monkton. Board members must be residents of Bristol. The board has five members, each of whom serve three-year terms.
Normally, library board vacancies are filled by the selectboard, but since Town Meeting Day is just three months away, Wilson said interested candidates will just run for the seat. The new member will fill the remaining two years of Havey’s term, to which she was elected this year.
The new member will also act as board treasurer, and oversee the around $140,000 annual budget.
“Money management is the biggest thing — creating a budget and asking for money on Town Meeting Day,” Wilson said.
The new board member will also assist in fundraising, setting policies and procedures, and supervising staff, she added. Wilson is the Lawrence’s only full-time staffer, and there are three part-timers.
Other duties include reviewing monthly financial reports and working closely with the library’s investment manager, who oversees the Bristol institution’s endowment.
Board member Jill Mackler said she hopes the new board member will have a breadth of financial experience, but that it is also important that they be passionate about the library.
“As always, we want someone excited and committed to what this wonderful library does for the community,” Mackler said.
Mackler added that she hopes the new member will also have a sense of humor, expressing a desire for someone “who can have a good time at meetings, because we all like to laugh.”
Board chair Caroline Engvall praised the work of outgoing board member and treasurer Havey.
“Linda was absolutely wonderful, and very knowledgeable,” Engvall said. “She was the one who looked most carefully at our numbers and answered our questions.”
Despite the loss of such a skilled member, Engvall said she was confident the board would find a suitable replacement.
“We have a great community — we’ll find somebody!” Engvall said.
Wilson encouraged anyone interested in running for the position to attend the board’s next meeting, which will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. in the library on North Street. Interested candidates may also email Wilson at [email protected].