Public Library boards consist of trustees who are elected to their terms in office. (Exceptions to this are city libraries where trustees are appointed by the mayor libraries in villages “under the commission form of government” where trustees are appointed by the village council). When openings arise on the board, there are particulars about the election process that need to be followed.
In the past, library boards received information from the Illinois State Board of Elections in the form of printed handbooks entitled the "Local Election Official's Handbook" and "Candidates Guide." However, for 2007, these handbooks are only available as downloadable documents from the Illinois State Election Board Web site. In preparation for the 2007 upcoming trustee election, public library boards should have the following documents on hand:
2007 Local Election Officials Handbook
http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/LocElecOff.pdf
2007 Candidates Guide
http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/07CanGuideandforms.pdf
These handbooks cover election dates, petition requirements, filing guidelines, objection procedures, and information on filling vacancies, ballot certification, absentee voting, notices, public questions, lottery procedures, and current law changes concerning canvass procedures.
Besides documents that cover the election process, there are helpful Web sites that include dates in a calendar format so deadlines are not missed.
At the Illinois State Election Board Web site is the 2007 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar - Amended 11/02/06
http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/07ElectionFinanceCal.pdf
The Illinois Library System Directors Organization has also published a calendar called “Library Days and Dates” for many important deadlines that must be adhered to in the administration of any public library (http://www.ilsdo.org/res_daystoremember.html). This document should also be in the hands of each public library trustee.
