Friends of the Belmont Public Library & The Belmont Library Foundation Merger
Members of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library are invited to attend the annual meeting of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library, Inc. on June 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Select Board Conference Room at Town Hall at which the members elect the officers and directors of the Friends for the following year.
Exciting News!
The Friends’ Board of Directors has voted to recommend your approval of a merger of The Belmont Library Foundation (the Foundation) with and into the Friends. The Foundation’s Board has already approved this step.
Why Are We Merging?
The Foundation has successfully achieved its goal of raising funds for the new library and thus, there are advantages to combining our two organizations.
- Operating as one organization is now more efficient than maintaining two separate entities
- This merger creates one unified structure to better support the Belmont Public Library
- Our primary mission of funding the Library’s programs remains unchanged
- We will establish a Major Gifts Committee to continue the Foundation’s work
- The committee will develop community support for key capital and strategic initiatives
Your Vote Matters As We Expand Our Impact Together!
As a member of the Friends, you are entitled to vote on this proposed merger. We are asking you to vote NOW to approve the merger in advance by indicating your approval in the proxy form. Here’s what you need to know:
- We need 2/3 of all members to approve the merger
- Review the Merger Document
- If you share a membership with someone in your household, make sure they vote too
Whether or not you intend to attend the annual meeting, we are asking you to vote NOW to approve the merger in advance by indicating your approval in the online form.
PLEASE REVIEW THE PROXY FORM AND VOTE TODAY
Thank You for Your Support!
Together, this merger creates a more powerful advocate for our library, uniting our community’s resources to build a vibrant hub of learning, innovation and connection for generations of Belmont residents to enjoy.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Cyndi Reitmeyer, President
Friends of the Belmont Public Library, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Foundation and the Friends merging?
The Friends was organized 35 years ago (after operating informally for about 15 years) to support and expand the library’s services. The Foundation was founded 21 years ago to raise funds for a new library. The Foundation has successfully achieved its goal of raising funds for the new library and thus, there are advantages to combining our two organizations.
- Operating as one organization is now more efficient than maintaining two separate entities
- This merger creates one unified structure to better support the Belmont Public Library
While the primary mission of funding the library’s programs remains unchanged, we will establish a Major Gifts Committee to continue the Foundation’s work. The committee will develop community support for key capital and strategic initiatives.
What does the merger mean?
The Foundation will merge into and become part of the Friends. The name of the merged organization will be The Friends of the Belmont Public Library, Inc. Many of the directors of the Foundation are expected to become directors of the Friends. The boards of directors of both organizations have voted to approve the merger.
Why do the Members of the Friends have to vote on the merger?
Dues-paying members of the Friends play an important role in the governance of the Friends. They annually elect the officers and directors of the organization, and they must consent to certain major actions by the organization, such as merging with another nonprofit corporation. Under Massachusetts law, at least two-thirds of the voting members must approve a merger.
Who is entitled to vote on the merger?
Anyone who has contributed to the Friends between May 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025 is entitled to vote on the merger.
How do I know if I am a voting member of the Friends?
If you received an email or letter from the Friends asking you to vote, then our records indicate you are a voting member. If you did not receive the communication (or lost it) and think you are a voting member, please contact the Friends at [email protected].
How does a member vote?
We are asking all members to fill out a proxy form indicating their approval before the annual meeting on June 12. Members are welcome to attend the meeting (7:00PM at the Select Board Conference Room, Town Hall), where we will be finalizing the vote on the merger and electing the officers and directors for the upcoming fiscal year. Proxy forms can be filled out here.