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The Public Officer's Law requires public officials to take and file an oath of office. This requirement is set forth in Public Officer's Law § 10, which provides, in part that "[e]very officer shall take and file the oath of office required by law..." The oath to which public officers must affirm is set forth in Section I of Article XIII of the New York State Constitution and provides:
| "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of ............, according to the best of my ability;" |
All public officers are required to take and file an oath of office, unless specifically exempted by statute. Public library, public library system, and reference and research library resources system trustees are considered public officers and must therefore take and file an oath of office. Public Officer's Law § 10; 23 Opinions of the State Comptroller 890. The oath of office must be taken and filed by trustees of all types of public libraries (village public, town public, city municipal, special legislative district public and school district public libraries), public library systems (with the exception of the three consolidated public library systems in New York City), and reference and research library resources systems.
No. Trustees of association libraries are not considered public officers but rather are considered trustees of a private, not-for-profit organization incorporated (chartered) by the Regents or created by a special act of the legislature.
It depends on the type of library. Public Officer's Law §10 specifies that a trustee or officer of a public library shall file the oath of office with the clerk of the county in which he or she resides. Town Law §25 specifies that a trustee or officer of a town file the oath of office with the town clerk. Town library trustees have the option of filing the oath with either the town clerk or the office of the county clerk.
Public Officer's Law §10 specifies a number of officials who are authorized to administer an oath of office. For a library or library system trustee, the oath can be administered by either the clerk of the county in which the trustee resides or the president of the public library's board of trustees, provided the president has taken an oath of office. In addition, any judge of the court of appeals, the attorney general or any officer authorized to take the acknowledgement of the execution of a deed of real property in the state can administer an oath of office, such as a notary public.
Yes. A public officer is required to file his or her oath of office within 30 days of commencing the term of office for which he or she is chosen, in the case of an elective office, or in the case of an appointive office, within thirty days after notice of his or her appointment or within 30 days after the commencement of such term. Public Officer's Law §30(1)(h).
The official oath is required by law in order for the trustee to officially undertake and faithfully discharge the duties of a trustee.
For further information on oaths of office and other aspects of public library trusteeship, contact your public library system. Public library systems and reference and research library resources systems should contact their liaison at the New York State Library, Division of Library Development.
Source: Division of Library Development, New York State Library, New York State Education Department May 2005
Revised May 15, 2005
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