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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Natalie,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">By state law, any person who serves as an elected or appointed official in local government including district libraries is considered a “public officer”. Under
the State Constitution, public officers are required to take an oath of office that includes the statement that they will “…solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-constitution-xi.pdf">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-constitution-xi.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Whatever this person’s objection is to making that statement, it does not appear that library board members have the option of not taking the oath of office.
Also, you can check with your local state legislator to see if they will contact the Attorney General’s office to see if there are any existing AG opinions that address this particular question. This question may have already been raised and answered by the
AG’s office. As always, that’s my “I’m not an attorney” take on the question. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Andrew Mutch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>natalie bazan<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 27, 2016 1:49 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Michlib-L <michlib-l@mail2.mcls.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] Oaths for Library Board Members<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Hi Everyone, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">I have a question about library board members and oaths. We have a library board member for our township library who objects to the township forcing library board members to take an oath to uphold
the constitution. Does anyone know if library board members are required by Michigan law to take an oath to serve as an elected board member?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Natalie Bazan MA, MLIS<br>
Library Director<br>
Hopkins District Library Dorr Township Library<br>
118 E. Main St. 1804 Sunset Dr<br>
Hopkins, MI 49328 Dorr, MI 49323<br>
269-793-7516 616-681-9678<br>
<a href="http://hopkins.llcoop.org" target="_blank" id="LPNoLP">http://hopkins.llcoop.org</a>
<a href="http://dorrlibrary.michlibrary.org" target="_blank" id="LPNoLP">http://dorrlibrary.michlibrary.org</a>
<br>
<a href="http://sharing.michlibrary.org" target="_blank" id="LPNoLP">http://sharing.michlibrary.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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