(a)
(1) When any city council or governing body of a city of the first class has decided to establish and maintain a public library under this subchapter, the mayor of the city with the approval of the city council shall appoint a board of not fewer than five (5) trustees nor more than seven (7) trustees for the library.
(2) The trustees shall be chosen from the citizens at large with reference to their fitness for the office.
(3) Before entering upon the duties of their office, the trustees shall make oath or affirmation before some judicial officer that they will discharge the duties enjoined upon them.
(b) The trustees shall receive no compensation for their services.
(c)
(1) Two (2) trustees shall hold office for two (2) years, two (2) for four (4) years, and one (1) or more members for five (5) years from the January 1 following their appointment in each case. At the first meeting they shall cast lots for their respective terms, reporting the result to the council or governing body. All subsequent terms shall be for five (5) years.
(2) However, all trustees appointed after January 1, 1998, shall serve terms of five (5) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any trustee may succeed himself or herself in office.
(d)
(1) The removal of any trustee permanently from the city or his or her absence from four (4) consecutive meetings of the board without due explanation of absence shall render his or her office as trustee vacant.
(2) Vacancies on the board shall be filled by the mayor with the approval of the city council or governing body.
(e) Immediately after their appointment, the trustees shall meet and organize by the election of one (1) of their number as president and by the election of such other officers as they may deem necessary.
(f) The trustees shall make and adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations for their own guidance as they see fit.
(g) The trustees shall meet once a calendar quarter, or more often if necessary, for the transaction of business.
(h) With the final approval of the city council or governing body of the municipality, the trustees shall have the authority:
(1) To negotiate and carry out all agreements between the city public library and the governing boards of the several city libraries and any counties participating in a joint city-county library or a regional library system; or
(2) To coordinate any and all library services for their city under an interlocal cooperation agreement.