How the Library Works: The Board of Trustees

When you walk through our library doors, chances are you interact with one of our friendly employees, browse a book in our stacks, or settle in to use one of our computers.

That’s the part most people see. More than 257 employees make day-to-day decisions about programming, collections, facilities, and services.

What’s less visible are the decisions that guide the library as a whole. That’s where the FVRLibraries Board of Trustees comes in.

What does the Board actually do?

The Board is made up of seven Trustees. While staff manage daily operations, the Board focuses on the policies, funding, and leadership that guide FVRLibraries’ long-term direction.

In practical terms, their work centers on three responsibilities:

• Adopt library policy
  They approve the rules that shape how services are delivered.
• Approve the annual budget
  They review and adopt the districtwide budget that funds library books and other materials, facilities, technology, and staffing.
• Hiring and evaluating the Executive Director
  They select and assess the person who will lead the organization.

How are Trustees selected?

FVRLibraries serves communities across Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties as well as the city of Woodland in Cowlitz County. Because the District spans multiple counties, state law classifies it as an intercounty rural library district. That legal structure determines how the Board is formed.

Under RCW 27.12.190, Trustees are appointed, not elected. Candidates apply through a public recruitment process, and appointments are made jointly by the three county commissions. No single county appoints trustees independently; all appointments require joint approval by the commissions acting together.

The seven seats are structured to reflect the communities served by FVRLibraries:

• Three seats are held by residents of Clark County (outside the City of Vancouver)
• Two seats are held by residents of the City of Vancouver
• One seat is held by a resident of Skamania County
• One seat is held by a resident of Klickitat County

For the two Vancouver-designated seats, the City conducts recruitment through its Boards and Commissions process. Final appointment still requires joint approval by the three county commissions.

Trustees must live within the District and serve without pay.

What does a Trustee’s term look like?

A Trustee is appointed for seven years. Some complete that time and step away. Others decide to serve again. When they do, they return to the same public appointment process as any other applicant. Service does not automatically continue.

If someone leaves before their seven years are up, the remaining time is filled by another person through that same joint appointment process.

State law also provides a public process for removal. The removal requires the county commissions of Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat to act together. The process begins with a written complaint, includes advance notice, and requires a public hearing before any decision is made.

How can the public participate?

Board meetings are held monthly and are open to the public. They rotate among library locations across the district and can be attended either in person or online.

If you attend a meeting, you’ll hear updates on the budget, discussions about library policy, and reports from district leadership. Some meetings are routine. Others involve longer conversations about planning, priorities, or upcoming changes.

Each meeting also includes time for public comment. Community members may speak on issues connected to the Board’s responsibilities, including proposed policies, budget priorities, or long-term planning decisions.

Those who wish to speak are asked to register by 1 pm on the day of the meeting by emailing trustees@fvrl.org. People attending in person may also sign up between 5:15 and 6:00 pm. 

Find out more about the guidelines for public comments.

Why this matters

Public libraries are built to serve their communities over the long term.

At FVRLibraries, that requires more than daily operations. It requires a public structure that sets direction, approves funding, and ensures leadership remains accountable. The Board of Trustees is one part of that structure, helping to ensure that FVRLibraries continues to function, adapt, and serve communities throughout Southwest Washington year after year.

Interested in Serving? 

Serving as a Trustee is one way to help shape the long-term direction of FVRLibraries. If you’re interested in public service at the district level, consider applying for one of the two open seats, both filling partial terms.

Position #3 | Skamania County
Partial term ending December 31, 2026

• How to apply: Submit a letter of interest by March 13, 2026, to the Skamania County Board of Commissioners, Attn: Roni Emerson, P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648, or email emerson@co.skamania.wa.us.

Position #5  | Clark County (City of Vancouver resident)
Partial term ending December 31, 2030

• How to apply: This seat is filled through the City of Vancouver’s Boards and Commissions recruitment process. Recruitment opens in March, and Vancouver residents may apply through the City’s website.

The City of Vancouver will also host a Boards and Commissions Open House at Cascade Park Community Library on March 18 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. No RSVP is required.