When I was director of the Greenfield Public Library, people often asked me to explain the differences between the organizations that actively support the important work the library does for our community. It certainly can be confusing, so here is a brief description of each of the three groups that make up “Team Library.”

Trustees

The Greenfield City Charter provides for a library board of trustees of seven people who are appointed by the mayor, and approved by City Council. Trustees are volunteers.

According to the City Charter, the trustees are responsible for setting policies related to library operations; custody and management of the library building and property; and, when necessary, recommending a new library director to the mayor. The City Charter does not give the trustees the authority to raise funds.

Policy-setting by the trustees probably has the most impact on the day-to-day operation of the library. For instance, the new library has spaces (teen room, study rooms, conference room, and community meeting room) that did not exist in the former building. The trustees are now developing policies to ensure the equitable and appropriate use of these new spaces. Visit greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/Policies for a complete list of library policies.

The trustees meet the second Tuesday of each month. Because the trustees are part of city government, their meetings are listed on the city’s calendar and are open to the public.

Friends

The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was founded in 1980. Anyone can become a Friend simply by donating money to the organization. There are currently over 600 members of the Friends. The Friends board consists of 20 voting members usually chosen from the membership. Board members are volunteers who guide the work of the organization.

The Friends fund the impressive array of library programs. Friends also pay for the library’s museum and park passes, allowing individuals and families to visit the museums for no cost or a reduced fee.

In order to pay for the programs and passes, the Friends conduct an annual membership drive and host several fundraising events, such as the Taste of the Towns Restaurant Raffle and Pints for Programs. Because most of their fundraisers include an element of joyful celebration, I think the Friends put the FUN into FUNd-raising.

The Friends are an incredible network of volunteers who truly care about the library’s long-term success. The library would not be the vibrant, meaningful and welcoming place that it is without our Friends.

The Friends board meets once a month, and because the Friends is a private nonprofit organization, their meetings are not open to the public. To subscribe to the Friends newsletter, visit www.friendsofgpl.org.

Foundation

The Greenfield Public Library Foundation is the youngest member of Team Library. Incorporated in 2017, the Foundation is, like the Friends, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The foundation’s board consists of between seven and 15 volunteer directors. At least one of those directors must be a trustee, and at least one must be a Friend. The Foundation Board chooses its own members who have very specific skill sets and experience.

When the idea of a new library was introduced to the community in 2014, several residents expressed concern about the long-term tax implications of the project. Taking their fellow community members’ concerns to heart, the trustees formed an independent foundation tasked with raising $2 million to help offset the cost of the new library; the foundation was created as the library’s capital committee.

Working tirelessly, the foundation met the $2 million goal and donated those funds to the city. They promised and they delivered.

Now the foundation will continue to raise money to keep the library moving robustly into the future. Funds raised by the foundation will supplement money budgeted for the library by the city and the state. In 2025, the foundation will hold its first yearly fundraising initiative and institute a planned giving program.

The foundation meets once a month. Because the foundation is a private nonprofit organization, their meetings are not open to the public. For more information about the foundation, visit www.gplfound.org.

To recap:

■The trustees approve policies for the operation of the library.

■The Friends raise money to support library programs.

■The foundation raises money for the library’s essential capital needs.

These three organizations support the library in different ways, and all are vital to the successful operation of the library. Greenfield is very lucky to have so many dedicated people willing to volunteer their time to make the library a truly wonderful place. Three cheers to “Team Library!”

A resident of Greenfield, Ellen Boyer recently retired from a decades-long career in library services, most recently serving as director of the Greenfield Public Library. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Greenfield Public Library Foundation.