Governance
We are a Society
Although we are known in the community as the Gibsons & District Library Foundation, our official name is the Gibsons & District Library Foundation Society. We are a non-profit Society registered in BC under the BC Societies Act.
The Foundation Society exists to support the Library, as described in our Constitution, but operates as a separate Society with its own volunteer Board.
The purposes of the Society (as stated in our Constitution) are:
- To financially assist the Gibsons & District Public Library Association (the “Library”) in providing community Library services, education and programs within the Library, in the Town of Gibsons and in the participating funding areas of the Sunshine Coast Regional District;
- To administer and grow the Society’s endowments into perpetuity through donations, fundraising, prudent investment and other means to distribute funds for the purposes of the Society;
- To assist with promoting Library services and programs to the general public and foster goodwill;
- To do all such other things as are incidental and ancillary to the attainment of the foregoing purposes and the exercise of the powers of the Society.
Governance
The Library Foundation's activities are managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees with a wide range of experience and expertise, who meet regularly. The Board relies on the additional assistance of volunteers from our membership to help accomplish the Foundation's goals.
The Foundation Society Bylaws require that we have at least three trustees but no more than eight elected trustees plus one Library-appointed trustee, allowing a maximum of 9 (nine) trustees in total. Trustees are elected for two-year terms at Annual General Meetings of the Library Foundation's membership.
An individual may act as a Trustee for a maximum of four consecutive two-year terms (subject to being re elected for each term), which provides a rewarding opportunity to support the Library in its service to the community.
In addition, a representative from the Gibsons & District Public Library is appointed annually by the Library Board to sit on the Foundation Board.
During the year, Board of Trustee meetings are scheduled for the third Monday of each month, except for July and August. If the Mainil Room in the Library (where we meet) is not available on the date of a regularly scheduled meeting, we may switch the meeting date.
The positions on the Board of Trustees are selected by the elected Trustees at the first Board meeting after an AGM.
The primary responsibilities of the Board are to:
- manage and promote the Foundation
- fundraise for specific projects approved by the Library
- enhance the endowment fund through donations, bequests and other means
Membership
Local residents are eligible to become a member of the Foundation Society by completing an application form and paying a nominal membership fee.
Members aged 18 or older are eligible to vote for the Board of Trustees and/or offer themselves as a candidate for the Board.