The Cobourg Public Library Board operates under the authority of Ontario Public Libraries Act, which defines the library's roles and responsibilities to the municipality and the province, and defines the services it is required to deliver. The Act establishes the Library Board as the governing body, responsible for setting policies and directing the affairs of the library.

The purpose of the Cobourg Public Library Board is to provide comprehensive and efficient public library services to the residents of Cobourg, reflecting Cobourg’s unique needs, as set out in the Public Libraries Act.

-Responsibilities of the Cobourg Public Library Board include:

-Setting a strategic plan and subsequent directions for the CEO to put into effect in behalf of the Board. 

-To determine the goals and objectives for the library and secure adequate funds to fulfill those goals.

-Determine and adopt policies to govern the operations at a high-level. 

As delegated to the CEO: 

-The direct contribution to the economic productivity of the community by helping residents find jobs, providing information and programs relevant to the community, and by providing in-house wireless access to all members of the community served. 
-Service and program deliveries that support life-long learning endeavors to children, adults, and seniors, including child literacy programs, and other programs that may not be available elsewhere or, if available, may be too expensive for Cobourg residents. All programs provided by the Library to the community are at no additional fee to those participating. 
-Maintains and collects a Local History Collection which is of value to genealogists, historians and those attempting to preserve the architectural, social and cultural heritage of the Cobourg community.
-Promote the well-being and productivity of individuals within the community served. 
-Provide free internet and access to public computers and provide individuals with customized information services tailored to their unique needs.
-Contribute to the success of local social service agencies, literacy groups, home schoolers writers and others within the Municipality and community served. 
-Understand local and other laws affecting library operations and governance to play a role in initiating and supporting beneficial library legislation and to interact with provincial library agencies.
-Be aware of the activities of regional, provincial, and national library organizations.
-To understands the needs of the community in relation to the library and create a link between the community and library services.
As provided in Section 15 of the Public Libraries Act, the Board is responsible for hiring a Chief Executive Officer, who in turn administers the day-to-day operations of the library under the guidance of relevant and applicable policies.

The Board normally meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Library Board Meetings are held in a hybrid in-person and virtual format.

The Cobourg Public Library Board shall be composed of the following members:

• Up to seven (7) and no less than five (5) citizens appointments by the Cobourg Municipal Council who are eligible to be members in accordance with Section 10(1) of the Public Libraries Act;

• One (1) Member of the Cobourg Municipal Council; and
• One (1) Member of the Hamilton Township Council appointed by the Hamilton Township Council.

Members of the Cobourg Public Library Board shall hold office for a term concurrent with the term of the appointing council, expiring on November 30 of the year in which a municipal election is held, or until a successor is appointed, and may be reappointed for one or more further terms pursuant to section 10(3) of the Public Libraries Act.

Where a vacancy arises in the membership of the Board, the appointing Council shall promptly appoint a person to fill the vacancy and to hold office for the unexpired term, except where the unexpired term is less than forty-five (45) days.

A quorum consisting of a majority of the members of the Board is required for a Board meeting. Quorum will be based on the number of active members appointed to the Committee.

Pursuant to the Public Libraries Act - Section 10

Board members

10 (1) A person is qualified to be appointed as a member of a board who is a member of the appointing council or,

(a) is at least eighteen years old;

(b) is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada);

(c) is,

(i) a resident of the municipality for which the board is established in the case of a public library board, a resident of one of the municipalities for which the board is established in the case of a union board, a resident of one of the participating municipalities in the case of a county library board, or a resident of the area served by the board in the case of a county library co-operative board,

(ii) a resident of a municipality that has a contract with the board under section 29,

(iii) a resident of the board area of a local service board that has a contract with the board under section 29,

(iv) a member of an Indian band that has a contract with the board under section 29, or

(v) a member of a second board that has entered into a contract with the board to purchase from it library services for the residents of the second board; and

(d) is not employed by the board or by the municipality or county or, in the case of a union board, by any of the affected municipalities. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.44, s. 10 (1); 2002, c. 18, Sched. F, s. 3 (9); 2019, c. 14, Sched. 12, s. 1.

Number of council members on board limited(2) The appointing council shall not appoint more of its own members to a board than the number that is,

(a) in the case of a public library board or union board, one less than a majority of the board; and

(b) in the case of a county library or a county co-operative library, a bare majority of the board. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.44, s. 10 (2).

Term
(3) A board member shall hold office for a term concurrent with the term of the appointing council, or until a successor is appointed, and may be reappointed for one or more further terms. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.44, s. 10 (3).

Time for making appointments
(4) The first appointments of members of a new board shall be made at a regular meeting of council and the member shall take office as soon as possible thereafter, and thereafter appointments shall be made at the first meeting of council in each term, but if the council fails to make the appointments at its first meeting, it shall do so at any regular or special meeting held within 60 days after its first meeting. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.44, s. 10 (4); 2002, c. 18, Sched. F, s. 3 (10).

For information on how to attend our meetings, please email the Administrative Coordinator, Jocelyn Gard

CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR - The first meeting of the Board in a new term shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer in each new term. At its first meeting, the Board shall elect one of its members as Chair and in the absence of the Chair, the Board may appoint one of its members as Acting Chair. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - The Board shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer and its staff shall attend all board meetings and shall have the other powers and duties that the board assigns to him or her from time to time. The CEO acts as both the secretary and treasurer of the board. In this role the CEO shall conduct the Board's official correspondence and keep minutes of every meeting of the board. As treasurer the CEO shall receive and account for all the Board's money; open account(s) in the name of the Board in a chartered bank, trust company or credit union approved by the Board; deposit all money received on the board's behalf to the credit of that account or accounts; and disburse the money as the Board directs.

https://www.cobourg.ca/en/my-cobourg/Library-Board.aspx