This week, the New City Library Board of Trustee election stirred up some controversy.

What was all the fuss about? The Board of Trustees election this week saw two new board members chosen who had not gone through the library board’s usual interview process with a nominating committee. Instead, three people submitted petitions to get on the ballot and two of them won. In fact, the voting takes place during one hour in the evening.

That’s mighty different than how most library trustee elections happen.

How can this be so different than how other libraries operate? Although all libraries are funded with taxpayers’ money, there are many different ways libraries are organized. For example, the New City Library is an “association library,� which is run differently than a “school district� library (Nyack and Nanuet libraries are examples of these) or a “public library� tied to a municipality, like the Orangeburg Library.

The New York State Library Web site contains a page, Types of libraries, that offers some good comparisons and contrasts about the different ways libraries can be structured. Here’s a synopsis:
• Association library: May receive funds from a government agency, and can also tax with a vote of residents within the area served. Does not have to accept the lowest bidders for projects or materials, but instead can select what it deems to be the lowest responsible bidder. Employees are not covered by Civil Service. There can be between five and 25 trustees.
• Public library: Budget is approved by a county, city, town, or village board. Lowest bids must be accepted for projects or materials. Employees are Civil Service. There can be between five and 11 trustees.
• School district library: Budgets are approved by school district voters, or by school boards in city school districts. Employees are Civil Service. Lowest bids must be accepted for projects or materials. There can be between five and 11 trustees.
• Special district library: Special districts are created by the state Legislature, with no comprehensive legal definition of a special district. Budgets are subject to the approval of voters within the district. Lowest bids must be accepted for projects or materials. Employees are Civil Service. The number of trustees is set by the state’s legislation.