Love the Library? PCL Seeks Trustee for Mid-Term Board Appointment

Editor’s Note: A rare mid-term trustee seat is available on the Peninsula Community Library Board. Read Director Vicki Shurly’s note below. -jb

Do you love Peninsula Community Library and want to be more involved? There is a very rare mid-term opening for a trustee on the Peninsula Community Library Board due to a resignation.

Per the requirements of the State of Michigan for a township library, the person appointed by the Library Board to serve until the next election must be registered to vote, a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age. They will also be required to take an oath of office.

Township Library Trustee is an elected position and whoever is appointed to the Library Board will need to run in the November election (possibly the August primary depending on the number of candidates), filing for that election with the Peninsula Township Clerk by 4 p.m. April 21. They must have been a resident of Peninsula Township for at least 30 days prior to the filing date. Candidates must file an Affidavit of Identity and petitions with 6-20 signatures, OR pay the $100 non-refundable filing fee.

The election for Library Trustee will most likely be on the November ballot unless there are more than twice the number of candidates running for the position. If that happens, they will also be on the August Primary ballot. Paperwork is available in the Township Clerk’s office.

The term of office for this position if elected is until November 2028, the remainder of the vacated term. Six Trustees serve on the Library Board for non-staggered 4-year terms per Michigan Library Law for Township Libraries. Township Libraries are governed by elected Library Boards independent of the Township Board of Trustees. The Library Board has sole authority over Library policies, finances and improvements.

If you are interested in the appointment, please send a resume to the library, as well as a cover letter describing how you see yourself contributing to the Board as a whole. The resume must include a telephone number and email. Letter and resume can be mailed to Peninsula Community Library, Attn. Vicki Shurly, 2893 Island View Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696, OR emailed to [email protected]. Letter and resume must be received by February 25, 2026.

The Library Board will conduct public meeting interviews of candidates for appointment. Appointment will be made by majority Library Board vote.

A few things to note: The Library Board is non-partisan. The PCL Board meets on the second Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. with very occasional special meetings. Primary Board duties are fiduciary and policy, not operations. PCL is an independent township library that operates by contract with the Traverse Area District Library with which we have a great relationship! PCL is not a branch of TADL, but operates rather as a Member Library of the District.

Feel free to email me with any questions! I have made this more complex than need be, but want to present the whole picture! Again, this is a great way of serving the community and being a face of a beloved Old Mission institution!

– Vicki Shurly, Director, Peninsula Community Library

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