AUXILIARY BOARD
ABOUT THE AUXILIARY BOARD
The Rye Free Reading Room’s Auxiliary Board is a standing committee of the Board of Trustees created to support the activities of the library and its Board of Trustees. The active Auxiliary Board consists of up to 45 active members who work to enhance public relations of the library within the community, assist with library activities, offer community service, initiate new programs, and raise funds on the library’s behalf. Standing committees for the board include Novel Night, Vehicle Fair, and Children’s Programs.
These committees work jointly with library staff to create engaging and enriching programs for both the adult and family community in Rye. The Auxiliary Board fundraises for the Rye Free Reading Room through two major events, Novel Night (biennial) and Vehicle Fair. Each event raises significant funds for the library, which support children's programming, museum passes, the Summer Reading Program, tutoring, STEM programming, and various other library events.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Auxiliary Board members are required to:
- commit to a term of three years,
- sit on at least two standing committees,
- participate in each fundraising event and
- attend a majority of general meetings.
General Meetings of the Auxiliary Board occur nine times a year and each member has full voting privileges. Once a member has completed their term, they will have the option to renew for one additional three-year term, become sustainer or resign.
NOMINATION PROCESS
If you would like to propose a new member, please submit the nomination form here. Nominees will need a “second” from a current Auxiliary Board member, and must be approved by a vote of the members of the Auxiliary Board.
Please only propose new members who are able to make the commitment to the following expectations:
- commit to a term of three years,
- sit on at least two standing committees,
- participate in each fundraising event, and
- attend a majority of general meetings.
In the nomination letter, please make clear what committees the new member would like to join and what relevant experience they bring to the work.
AUXILIARY BOARD ACTVITIES
- Novel Night
- Select a theme, plan the after party, secure dinner hosts, sell journal ads, and assemble a silent auction
- Vehicle Fair
- Recruit cars, trucks, and more for hands on activities, along with fun bounce houses, crafts, and ride-on entertainment
- Children’s Activities
- Assist with special programs, such as summer reading, the Halloween maze, and more
- Community Booksale
- Sort through and arrange donations, staff checkout desks, and help books find a second home
FUNDS RAISED BY THE AUXILIARY BOARD
- Support 98% of the library programs, such as Wiggle Giggle, Crafty Kids, Take and Make, Teen Lock ins, and more
- Bring summer reading events to the Rye community with weekly activities to celebrate reading and learning
- Cover the costs for the Express Collection, making sure bestsellers and popular subjects are available with limited or no waiting
- Make the museum pass program possible, allowing residents to visit MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Intrepid, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and others
- Maintain the landmark facility at the heart of downtown Rye