Eileen M. Mattei
Betty Farris
Norlene Chamberlain
Mary D. Tisdale
Robert Johnston
The powers and duties of the Library Board shall be :

• To determine and establish the general policies and program for the operation, conduct and management of the Public Library System.
• Once each year to submit to the City Manager a recommended proposed budget for the Public Library System.  All such funds shall be disbursed by the Director of Finance upon authorization by the Public Library Board in accordance with such budget for the Public Library System for the ensuing fiscal year.
• To approve the disbursement of all funds allocated by the City Commission to the Public Library System; all such funds to be disbursed by the Director of  Finance upon authorization by the Public Library Board in accordance with such budget as shall have been theretofore approved by the City Commission.
• To accept and receive for use and benefit of the Public Library System all donations, gifts, and bequests or devised thereto, whether for a special or stated purpose or for the general use of the system, and to approve the disbursement, investment, or expenditure of such funds which shall be deposited in a special memorial fund account of the Public Library Board and disbursed by the Library Board or city library personnel expressly authorized by such Board to make such disbursements.  All library desk receipts, book sales, duplicating machine copy sales and other receipts shall be deposited with the City Treasurer and recorded in the general fund receipts of the city.
• To establish such general rules and regulations governing the use by the public of the Public Library System.
• To submit at least one report annually to the City Commission of the activities, work, and operation of the Public Library System.

The Public Library Board shall consist of six appointed members.  Each appointee to the Board shall be at least 18 years of age and each appointee or the appointee’s spouse must be a resident of the city or work or operate a business in the city and be of good moral character and demonstrate an interest in the general welfare of the city.  The Mayor and each of the five Elective Commissioners shall appoint one member to the Board.  The appointed members of the Public Library Board shall serve for a maximum term of three years, but in no case shall the term of office of a Board member exceed the term of office of the Mayor or Commissioner making the appointment.  In the event an appointed member of the Public Library Board vacates office during his term, the Mayor or Commissioner making said appointment shall appoint a replacement who shall serve for a term not to exceed the remaining term of office of the Mayor or Commissioner making the replacement appointment.

 In addition to the six appointed members of the Board there shall be ten ex-officio members of the Board without voting rights consisting of the Mayor, City Commissioners, the Superintendent of the Harlingen Public Schools System, the librarian of the Harlingen Public Library, the City Manager and two senior class student representatives from Harlingen High School and Harlingen High School South who shall be appointed by the Mayor upon the advice and approval of the City Commission every year to serve the term of one year upon such Board concurrent with his membership in the senior class.  Upon completion of their term they will recommend two other students from the Harlingen High School and Harlingen High School South senior class to serve as representatives.  The six appointed members of the Public Library Board shall elect from their membership a chairman who shall not vote except when necessary to break a tie.