We are a free public nonprofit library serving the residents of Whitefield, Windsor, Somerville , Jefferson, Alna, and Pittston. We completed renovations on both floors of our 139 year old historic building to accommodate year round library services, and we are part of the Maine State Library’s regional consortium providing additional benefits to our patrons. We invite you to become a member of our library, and we appreciate your support.
Our Mission and Our Vision
Our Mission
The mission of Whitefield Library is to build community and nurture reader.
Our Vision
Whitefield Library strives to enrich the lives of the residents of Whitefield, Windsor, Somerville, Jefferson, Alna, and Pittston by providing access to books, promoting a love of reading, and offering programs that celebrate the resources of our community.
Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a strong supporter of libraries as community builders, once addressed librarians saying,
“Unless you are out there changing neighborhoods, you are not completing the work you are to do.”
The vision for Whitefield Library stretches beyond the usual “quaint” free lending library. In large part, our amazing community will help to inform the usage; from musicians to educators, from youth organizers to freelance workers, all will be welcome. Our space may be small compared to many Maine libraries, but our doors are open to host a variety of entertaining and educational events and programs.
Our library services provided on the first floor of our beautifully renovated space include the usual library services such as book lending, free wireless internet, MSL’s Interlibrary Loan, access to Digital Maine Library, and special reading focused events.
With the restoration of the top floor of the building, the historic gathering space enjoyed by this community for nearly 138 years will now be used again.. This second floor allows space for events such as Storytime for little ones, Music Night, Author Visits, Yoga, Children’s Music, and more. It is within this space where our imagination takes hold. There are numerous uses here including after school or weekend workshops for our youth, a celebrating and gathering space for the community, an educational and tutorial location for all learners, a welcoming spot for seniors to enjoy hobbies or clubs, a location for artists to exhibit their craft, and a showcase of the historic Arlington Hall!
With the complete renovation of this magnificent old building, we now are able to fulfill our vision serving the community of Whitefield and its surrounding neighbors for many years into the future!
Our Policies
The Whitefield Library is committed to supporting the community with its mission to gather, preserve and lend books and other materials to people of all ages and with respect for the varied interests and needs of the community.
We are dedicated to the promotion of the Whitefield Library as an inclusive center seeking to inspire, educate and support all readers and to offer reliable and relevant information to the community.
It is our hope and expectation that people who borrow books will value library property as much as we do, and will take care to return library materials on time and in good condition so that others have access and opportunity to enjoy our collections.
Because of our limited resources and our respect for friends who have purchased and donated books and other materials that have built our library, we have instituted the following lending policies:
You need to become a Member of the Whitefield Library to borrow our books! Membership is free. Here’s an online Whitefield Library Membership Application you can use to apply for a patron membership. It can take a few days before your membership becomes final. You can also stop by the Library and fill out a paper application form if you wish.
Books and other materials are borrowed for a 3 week period. Our Library World cataloging system will send you an email after you have “checked out”, listing the materials you have borrowed and the date they are due.
Materials may be renewed once for 3 additional weeks on or before the due date, if no one else is waiting.
Library Management Committee members will notify borrowers of overdue books and other items by email.
If items are more than three weeks overdue, borrowing privileges will be suspended until the items are returned.
Items 6 weeks overdue will be considered lost and the borrower will be responsible for the replacement cost of the item(s) and an invoice sent. Borrowing privileges may be reinstated when items are returned in good condition or replaced, upon approval by Library Management.
Our Staff and Board
Board of Directors:
Cheryle Joslyn, President
Jenna Marcus, Vice President
Kathy Stewart, Treasurer
Brandi Grady
Sue Mckeen
Kristina Harrison
Julie Elder
Lauren Seliga
Library Director:
Kate Smith
Our Bylaws
Revised and Adopted 20 April 2023
Article I – Name, Location, Mission, and Vision
Section 1. Name/Location:
The name of this organization is the Whitefield Library, located in the town of Whitefield/County of Lincoln, State of Maine.
Section 2. Mission:
The mission of Whitefield Library is to build community and nurture readers
Section 3. Vision:
Whitefield Library strives to enrich the lives of the residents of Whitefield, Windsor, Somerville, Jefferson, Alna, and Pittston by providing access to books, promoting a love of reading, and offering programs that celebrate the resources of our community.
Article II – Members
The Whitefield Library association shall have no members. The Board of Directors (the Board) when meeting as the Board, may exercise the rights and powers of members.
Article III – Board of Directors
Section 1. Responsibilities:
The Board of Directors is the governing body of Whitefield Library. Subject to state and federal law, the Board of Directors has the power and duty to determine rules and regulations governing library operations and services (bylaws, service policies, plans, mission statement, long range plan, significant changes in types of services, and changes in library hours) of Whitefield Library. The Board of Directors shall have the general care and oversight of the Whitefield Library property and business of the organization, and shall generally supervise the management of the library established under these bylaws. The Board of Directors has the responsibility of creating committees and appointing committee members. The Board of Directors shall create an annual budget and have exclusive control of the expenditures of all moneys collected, donated, or appropriated for the library fund and shall audit and approve all library expenditures.
Section 2. Number:
The Board of Directors shall consist of no more than fifteen members (15) and no fewer than nine (9) members including all Officers.
Section 3. Terms of Office:
Directors shall hold office for three (3) years or until their successors have been elected, unless removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board. Directors may serve up to three consecutive terms. Thereafter, one full year must elapse before they are eligible to serve on the Board again.
Section 4. Vacancy:
If a vacancy occurs before a term expires, the Nominations Committee may recommend a replacement who must be approved and appointed by the Board of Directors. The appointed Director or a new nominee must be elected to a regular 3 year term at the next Annual Meeting if he or she wishes to serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Meeting Attendance.
Directors shall be expected to attend all regular meetings except as they are prevented with notification to an Officer. When any Director has three “unexcused” absences consecutively, or attends fewer than five regular Board meetings in any twelve month period, that Director’s position may be declared vacant by the Board of Directors.
Article IV – Officers
Section 1. Officers:
The Officers of Whitefield Library shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. No Officer shall hold more than one office at a time.
Section 2. Nomination:
The Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of the association.
Section 3. Terms of Office and Term Limits:
Officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors have been elected unless removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board. Officer terms begin at the close of the annual meeting. Officers can serve for up to two (2) consecutive terms after which at least one year must lapse before re-election to that office by a 2/3 vote of the Board. These term limits do not apply to the Secretary or Treasurer roles.
Section 4. Vacancy:
If a vacancy occurs before an officer’s term expires, the Board shall recommend a replacement who must be approved and appointed by the Board of Directors. The appointed officer must be elected at the next Annual meeting if he or she wishes to complete the term of the retiring officer.
Article V – Duties of Officers
Section 1. President:
The President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors, call for special meetings, provides assistance in all committees, execute all documents authorized by the Board, and prepare an agenda for each Board meeting.
Section 2. Vice President:
The Vice-President shall support and perform all duties of the President during the absence or disability of the President or at his/her request.
Section 3. Secretary:
The Secretary shall be the recording officer and shall keep true and accurate minutes of all meetings of the association in a timely manner. He/she shall keep a complete list of the Board of Directors of the association, and note all attendance; including those Officers and Board members absent. In the absence of the Secretary at any meeting, a secretary may be chosen pro tem.
Section 4. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall keep all financial records up to date, sign all checks drawn on funds approved by the Board in the name of Whitefield Library, sign all bills/invoices for disbursements from the library fund, and perform such duties as generally devolve upon the office. The Treasurer shall make reports at the regular meetings to the Board showing in detail the amount and investment of, and income and disbursements from, the funds in their charge.
Article VI – Committees
Section 1. Committees: The Board may establish such committees as it deems necessary or appropriate for furthering the purposes of the association. All Committees shall report on their meetings at the next Board meeting after their committee meeting. Committee members shall be appointed by the Board. Each Committee shall choose a Chair.
Section 2. Nominations Committee: There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members appointed by the Board of Directors at least three (3) months prior to the Annual Meeting or as needed when a Board or Officer vacancy occurs. The Nominating Committee shall circulate to the Board its nominations at least five (5) days prior to the meeting when a vote on the nominee(s) is to occur. Following the election at which the nominations are to be voted on, the Nominations Committee shall be disbanded. Nominations may be made from the floor during any meeting by any Director.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meeting.
The regular Board of Directors meetings shall be held each month (unless the Board votes to cancel), with the date, time, and place of the meeting to be set by the Board.
Section 2. Annual Meeting.
The annual Board of Directors meeting shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in April of each year.
Section 3. Agendas and Notices.
Meeting agendas and notices shall indicate the time, date, and place of the meeting and indicate subject matters intended for consideration at the meeting.
Section 4. Minutes.
Minutes of all Board meetings shall, at a minimum, indicate Board members present, all items of business, all motions (except those that were withdrawn), and the result of all votes taken. The previous Board minutes shall be given to all Board members in advance of meetings.
Section 5. Special Meetings.
Special meetings may be called at the direction of the president or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting.
Section 6. Quorum.
A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall be a simple majority of the Board of Directors currently serving Whitefield Library.
Section 7. Open Meetings Law Compliance.
All Board meetings and all committee meetings shall be held in compliance with Maine’s Open Meeting Law and open to the public.
Section 8. Parliamentary Authority.
Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the procedure of all meetings.
Article VIII – Amendments
These bylaws may be altered, amended, repealed, or remade at any annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the association or at any special meeting, by 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors present, provided that in the call for such meeting a notice of such intended action is given.
Article VIIII – Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the Whitefield Library, the Board of Directors shall, after paying and making provisions for the payment of all liabilities, distribute all the assets of the association over to an organization dedicated to charitable and/or educational purposes and which has been recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service
Originally Approved and Adopted on 4/20/2018 at the Annual Meeting
Revised and Adopted on 4/18/2022 at the Annual Meeting
Revised and Adopted on 4/20/2023 at the Annual Meeting
Download a PDF of our bylaws