Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-25 Library board created.
Sec. 24-25. - Library board created.
There is hereby created the Houston Library Board, hereinafter called "the library board."
(Code 1968, § 25-10; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
LIBRARY BOARD
Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 24, art. II
in effectHouston Code of Ordinances § 24-26 Composition; appointment and terms of members; filling of vacancies.
Sec. 24-26. - Composition; appointment and terms of members; filling of vacancies.
(a) The library board shall, in addition to the ex officio members hereinafter provided for, consist of 19 members to be nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. One membership position may, but need not, be occupied by a nonresident of the city.
(b) The terms for members of the library board shall be two years.
(c) The mayor and the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District shall be at all times ex officio nonvoting members of the board by virtue of their offices.
(d) In the event of the death or resignation of any member of the library board prior to the expiration of such member's terms of service, the mayor shall nominate and the council shall confirm a successor who shall serve out the unexpired term and enter upon the duties of a member at the next regular monthly meeting of the board.
(Code 1968, § 25-11; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77; Ord. No. 77-1829, § 1, 9-20-77; Ord. No. 05-117, § 1, 2-2-05)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-27 Reserved.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-28 Compensation of members; conflicts of interest.
Sec. 24-28. - Compensation of members; conflicts of interest.
Members of the library board shall serve without compensation from the city or any firm, trust, donation or legacy to or on behalf of the city; provided, however, that a member of the board, or the firm, company or corporation with whom the member is associated shall not be precluded from receiving compensation from the city under any contract for services rendered which have no relation to the member's duties as a member of the board. Members of the board shall abstain from voting upon matters in which they have or may have a conflict of interest, and officers and members of the board shall not participate in any activity of the corporation in which they have or may have a conflict of interest. In the event it is found necessary, for the better performance of any of their several duties, for any member, or committee of members of the board, to make any trips on behalf of the library, their actual traveling and living expenses shall be paid. Full and detailed vouchers of such expenses shall be filed and preserved.
(Code 1968, § 25-12; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-29 Officers and meetings.
Sec. 24-29. - Officers and meetings.
The library board shall organize by electing from their membership a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary and a treasurer, each of which officers shall hold office for one year, or until their successor shall have been elected and qualified. The board may adopt such administrative procedures as are necessary or convenient to accomplish the purposes set out in this article. Ten voting members present shall constitute a quorum. The director shall schedule a board meeting every month.
(Code 1968, § 25-13; Ord. No. 81-1459, §§ 2, 3, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 05-117, § 2, 2-2-05)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-30 Unexcused absence of members.
Sec. 24-30. - Unexcused absence of members.
Whenever a member of the board has accumulated four absences within a year, without leave of absence granted by the board for good cause, the secretary of the board shall notify the chairman of the board, whose duty it shall be to certify the facts to the mayor and city council. Any such member shall cease to be a member of such board and shall create a vacancy on such board, as if by death or resignation, and a successor shall be elected as provided in subsection (d) of section 24-26 in case of death or resignation, who shall enter his duties at the next regular monthly meeting of such board.
(Code 1968, § 25-14; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-31 Purposes.
Sec. 24-31. - Purposes.
The purposes of the library board shall be to:
(1) Solicit funds, gifts, and bequests for library acquisitions, additions and improvements.
(2) Review and make advisory recommendations to the mayor and city council on the acceptance of gifts of real estate, art objects, and items of similar nature. Review and make advisory recommendations to the mayor and city council on any proposed physical additions and improvements to be paid for with city funds.
(3) Review and make recommendations on library department matters submitted to it by the director of the library department, or by the mayor and city council.
(4) Manage and invest and oversee the management and investment of funds, gifts, and bequests donated for library purposes and held in special trust accounts set up by the board for these purposes or invested by the board.
(Code 1968, § 25-15; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-32 Additional powers.
Sec. 24-32. - Additional powers.
(a) The library board may cooperate with any trust created for a purpose similar to that of the board as set out in paragraph (4) of section 24-31 of this Code. In addition the board may contract for financial management and investment services and may pay the reasonable fees therefor from funds, gifts, bequests and income therefrom, unless it be contrary to the provisions of the grant.
(b) Whenever funds are given to the Houston Public Library for a specific purpose, the board may exercise its sole discretion on how that purpose is accomplished; provided, however, if construction of public improvements on city-owned property is involved, it shall be executed in compliance with the competitive bid laws of the state and the charter of the city.
(c) The board may seek removal of any trustee of a trust established to benefit the libraries of the city, by instituting appropriate action in the district court on at least 90 days written notice (unless waived by the trustee) to such trustee. Any removal notice must be actually received by the trustee being removed, must contain the appointment of a successor trustee and the acceptance of the successor trustee endorsed on it. Any successor trustee appointed to act shall be a bank with trust powers or a trust company, either state or national, located in the city with a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000.00.
(Code 1968, § 25-16; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-33 Financial records.
Sec. 24-33. - Financial records.
The financial books and records of the board shall be open to inspection and audit during regular business hours by authorized representatives of the city, or by independent certified public accountants employed by the city, or by board members themselves. Similarly, the financial books and records of any trust created for the benefit of or to cooperate with the library board, shall be open to inspection and audit.
(Code 1968, § 25-17; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-34 Annual financial report.
Sec. 24-34. - Annual financial report.
The library board shall make an annual financial report to the mayor, city council and the city comptroller.
(Code 1968, § 25-18; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Houston Code of Ordinances § 24-35 Fidelity bond.
Sec. 24-35. - Fidelity bond.
Each library board member shall furnish to the city a fidelity bond in the amount of $10,000.00, provided, the premium therefor shall be paid by the city and provided further this requirement may be satisfied by amendment to the city's blanket fidelity bond for city employees so as to authorize inclusion of the library board members.
(Code 1968, § 25-19; Ord. No. 77-631, § 1, 3-29-77)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH24LI_ARTIILIBOFetched: 10/26/2026