Trustees Statement

Establishment and Funding

The Ipswich Library owes its beginnings in 1869 to two nineteenth century Ipswich benefactors--Augustine Heard, a China trader, and Daniel Treadwell, a professor of applied sciences at Harvard College. Augustine Heard bought the site for the library, paid for its building, and left funds in trust to pay its operating expenses. His friend Daniel Treadwell , who had long shared his ambition to establish a free library in Ipswich, left $22,000 at his death--then a significant sum--to add to the library’s funds.

The Library was privately run using these and other gifts along the way until 1974, when the Town of Ipswich, took over the responsibility. The Library now operates as a separate town department with its own budget, and is supervised by a Library Director under the guidance of the Town Manager (under the Town Manager form of government) and the Library Board of Trustees. Although the Town pays most of its operating expenses, the Library continues to benefit from the contributions of generous private citizens. Their generosity is reflected in the quality of the Library’s collections, its comfortable furnishings, its art works and its exterior landscaping.

 If you are interested in supporting the Library by donating a gift please contact the Library’s Board of Trustees Treasurer and discuss possible options with him/her.

 Management

The Town Manager appoints all personnel with the advice of the Library Board of Trustees or Library Director. The Library Board of Trustees also establishes policy guidelines and direction, in consultation with the Library Director, for the operation of the Library.

 The Library Board of Trustees consists of nine members, all of whom are appointed by the Ipswich Board of Selectman for three-year terms on a staggered basis. All Trustees are Ipswich residents concerned with the well-being of the Library and its role in providing a high quality Library for the Town of Ipswich residents and other non-resident users. Any Ipswich resident who is interested in the Library and would like to be considered when Trustee vacancies occur should send a letter to the Board of Selectmen indicating their interest. This letter should include personal and business information about the candidate and their relevant experience and qualifications for the position.

 Library Affiliations

The Library is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System, which supplements its own existing resources and makes available a wider level of service to the Community.

Trustee Meetings

The Library Board of Trustees generally meets every third Monday of the month (except holidays when it is delayed to the following week) and holds their Annual meeting in June for the election of officers and committee assignments. Financial reports on Library Trust Funds controlled and administered by the Trustees under the direct supervision of their Treasurer are reported on during the March, June, September and December meetings. Each meeting of the Trustees schedules an agenda item for citizens' queries to receive any comments or questions from the public. In addition, written comments, suggestions or questions can be directed to the Library director or Chairperson of the Trustees.

 The current Trustees and their ending term of service (usually May 31 of the year indicated) are as follows:

Library Administration