His duties include the care of funds, supervision of expenditures, determination of the library's policy, general direction of choice and purchase of books, selection of librarian and assistants, close watch of work done, and comparison of the same with results reached in other libraries.
A large board ordinarily transacts business through its chairman, secretary, treasurer, and one or more committees.

It is doubtful if the librarian should act as secretary of the board.

The treasurer, if he holds the funds in his hands, should always be put under bonds.
It is well to have as many committees as can be actively employed in order to enlist the cooeperation of all the trustees.
The executive committee should take charge of the daily work of the library, of purchases, and of the care of the building; they should carry their duties as far as possible without assuming too much of the responsibility which properly belongs to the full board.

It will be best to entrust the choice of books to a book committee appointed for that purpose purely.

The finance committee should make and watch investments and see that purchases are made on most favorable terms.
5) _Relations with the librarian_ .-- The trustees are the responsible managers of the library; the librarian is their agent, appointed to carry out their wishes.