• You will make new acquaintances and friendships with people who are passionate about, and dedicated to, values of public service.
• Some of these people will become personal friends; others will remain good professional associates.
• Whether you are a worker in a trade, a professional, a homemaker, an independent businessperson, or are engaged in some other life activity, the people network you establish during your tenure of trusteeship will likely prove to be of great benefit to you.
• You will be making an important contribution to the people in your community and to your community’s future.

Source: Doyle, Robert P., and Robert N. Knight. Trustee Facts File. Illinois Library Association, 2012. P. 8

• A person is not eligible to serve as a library trustee unless that person is a qualified elector of the library district and has resided in the library district at least one year at the time of filing nomination papers. (75 ILCS 16/30-20)
• At the time of filing nomination papers, any person who is in debt to the library district – in the payment of taxes or otherwise – is not eligible to serve as a library trustee. Additionally, a person who has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony is not eligible to serve as a library trustee. (75 ILCS 16/30-20)
• A person is not eligible to serve as a library trustee who, at the time of his or her appointment or filing of nomination papers or a declaration of intent to become a write-in candidate, is in arrears in the payment of a tax or other indebtedness due to the library district or has been convicted in any court in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony. (75 ILCS 16/30-20)

Nonpartisanism – a lack of affiliation with, and a lack of bias towards, a political party.[1]
The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines nonpartisan as: Not partisan; free from party affiliation, bias, or designation. “Webster: Nonpartisan”. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpartisanism#:~:text=Nonpartisanism%20is%20a%20lack%20of,bias%20towards%2C%20a%20political%20party 

Partisanship

Partisanship – where an individual or political party adheres only to its interests without compromise.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisanship#:~:text=Partisanship%20is%20the%20antonym%2C%20where,to%20its%20interests%20without%20compromise.

A partisan is a committed member of a political party.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partisan_(politics)

Election laws change from election to election.  Always seek out the most current year’s version of a candidate’s guide when running for office.

This is the most current Candidate’s guide at the time of this writing.

Illinois Election Resources

View Guide Here

Trustee with a Village with Commission form of government – Six (6) Library Board Trustees are appointed by the village council for terms of four or six years. (75 ILCS 5/4-2)

Trustee of a City – Nine (9) Library Board Trustees are appointed by the mayor to serve for three-year terms.

All other Trustees of Municipal/Local Libraries

Nomination Papers:

Petitions: Nonpartisan (SBE Form P-4)

Statement of Candidacy: Nonpartisan (SBE Form P-1A)

Loyalty Oath (optional):

All candidates (SBE Form P-1C) Statement of Economic Interests: Filed with the county clerk of the county in which the principal office of the unit of local government with which the person is associated is located. (5 ILCS 420/4A-106)

Fair Campaign Practices Act (voluntary): Filed with the State Board of Elections or the county clerk.

The manual of instructions and forms for statements required to be filed under Article 9 of the Election Code are available from the State Board of Elections. Forms may also be downloaded from the SBE’s website. (10 ILCS 5/7-12(7), 9-16, 10-6.1; 60 ILCS 1/45-35)

Qualifications – Resident of incorporated town, village, or township involved. (75 ILCS 5/4-3.3)

Signature Requirements – Petition must be signed by at least 25 legal voters residing in the incorporated town, village (except a village under the commission form of government), or township. (75 ILCS 5/4-3.3)

Filing Dates – December 12-19, 2022 (not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the consolidated election).

Where to File – Local municipal or township clerk.

Term of Office 

7 Trustees: 6 years for incorporated towns, villages, and library boards. (Library Board may change to 4-year terms by resolution). (75 ILCS 5/4-3.1)

7 Trustees: 4 years for Township Public Libraries. (75 ILCS 5/4-3.2)

Term Begins – Trustees hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. (75 ILCS 5/4-3.1) Within 60 days after their election, the trustees shall take the oath of office and meet to organize the board. (75 ILCS 5/4-6) 40

Campaign Disclosure – Reports must be filed either on paper or electronically with the State Board of Elections, 2329 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield, IL 62704 or 69 W. Washington St., Pedway LL-08, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Sources: State of Illinois 2023 Candidate’s Guide, issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections, amended October 26, 2022.  pp. 39-40, and

75 ILCS 5/ Illinois Local Library Act, Article 4

Trustee of a Public Library District

Nomination Papers

Petitions: Nonpartisan (SBE Form P-4)

Statement of Candidacy: Nonpartisan (SBE Form P-1A)

Loyalty Oath (optional):

All candidates (SBE Form P-1C) Statement of Economic Interests: Filed with the county clerk of the county in which the principal office of the unit of local government with which the person is associated is located. (5 ILCS 420/4A-106)

Fair Campaign Practices Act (voluntary): Filed with the State Board of Elections or the county clerk.

The manual of instructions and forms for statements required to be filed under Article 9 of the Election Code are available from the State Board of Elections. The forms may also be downloaded from the SBE’s website. (10 ILCS 5/7-12(7), 9-16, 10-6.1; 60 ILCS 1/45-35)

Qualifications – One-year residency in the library district at the time nomination papers are filed. (75 ILCS 16/30-20(d)). A person is not eligible to serve as a library trustee who, at the time of filing nomination papers:

is in arrears in the payment of a tax or other indebtedness due to the library district or

has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony. (75 ILCS 16/30-20(e))

Signature Requirements – A number of qualified voters residing in the district equivalent to at least 2% of the votes cast at the last election for library trustees, or 50, whichever is less. (75 ILCS 16/30-20(a))

Example:  If 5000 votes were cast in the last library board election, 2% pf 5,000 would be 100 votes. Since 50 is less than 100, only 50 signatures would be required. 

Filing Dates – December 12-19, 2022 (not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the consolidated election).

Where to File – With the Library District Secretary.

Term –  7 Trustees: 6-year terms. The library board may, by resolution, change to 4-year terms. (75 ILCS 16/30-10)

Term Begins – The third Monday of the month (May 15, 2023) following the regular election of trustees. (75 ILCS 16/30-10, 30-40) Within 74 days after their election or appointment, the incumbents and new trustees shall take their oath of office and meet to organize the board. (75 ILCS 16/30-40(a)) 38

Campaign Disclosure – Reports must be filed either on paper or electronically with the State Board of Elections, 2329 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield, IL 62704 or 69 W. Washington St., Pedway LL-08, Chicago, IL 60602.

Source: State of Illinois 2023 Candidate’s Guide, issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections, amended October 26, 2022.  pp. 37-38, and

75 ILCS 16/ Public Library District Act of 1991, Article 30

Municipal/Local Library

Vacancies shall be declared in the office of the trustee by the board when the elected or appointed trustee:

• declines or is unable to serve, or
• Is absent without cause from all regular board meetings for a period of one year, or
• Is convicted of a misdemeanor for failing, neglecting, or refusing to discharge any duty imposed upon a trustee by this Act, or
• Becomes a nonresident of the city, village, incorporated town, or township, or
• Who fails to pay the library taxes levied by the corporate authorities.

Vacancies shall also be declared in the office of trustee by the board when, at the election of the first board of library trustees or at any subsequent election, there are not sufficient trustees elected to fill an entire board of 7 trustees.

Source: 75 ILCS 5/ Illinois Local Library Act, Section 4-4