Out with the old library and in with the new may take on a new meaning at the annual town election in Edgartown next Thursday. Against a backdrop of heated discussion in recent months and weeks over plans for a new town library, three seats on the library board of trustees are being contested.

Julie Lively is challenging incumbent Ellen Kaplan for a one-year term as library trustee. In a telephone interview this week Mrs. Lively said she was inspired to run when she saw a presentation about the potential new library.

“When I saw the presentation I thought, oh my God, this could be such an amazing resource and campus atmosphere,” Mrs. Lively said. She has four young children; three attend the Edgartown School and one is not yet school-aged. “It’s a great place for me to put forth time and effort. It was an easy decision for me to make to get involved,” the candidate said.

Mrs. Lively is a former software executive and stay-at-home mom. “I can offer a fresh perspective, there’s no baggage with me,” she said. “I’m walking in new and hopefully my enthusiasm toward this project and my ideas of what it could possibly be for the kids and our community can help put all that to rest and move forward.”

Ms. Kaplan, an Island attorney, will be defending the one-year appointment she received after a former trustee resigned. She said she hopes to be elected to another term.

“I really love the library, libraries in general. It’s the first place I go when I go to a new place,” Ms. Kaplan said. “All the people involved with the library are really committed to the library as a center and as a community, and libraries are places where people can come and learn and research and socialize.”

Four candidates are running for two three-year terms as library trustee, two incumbents and two challengers.

Ann Tyra is seeking a third term. After being involved with both the 2005 original library expansion plan and the new project, Ms. Tyra said this week she wants to follow it through, and she hopes voters agree.

“Hopefully in the next three years I would be able to see that through to fruition until opening day,” she said. “It’s an important time for the library . . .and having continuity of the group that’s taken the library to this point and then see it out over the next three years. My focus and the focus of the rest of the trustees is the expansion.”

Incumbent trustee Pat Rose was traveling this week and could not be reached for comment.

Challenger Robert Avakian said his background as a builder will be an asset if the new library is approved. Mr. Avakian said he would also like to see the library trustees forge a closer working relationship with the selectmen. “I think they should work with the selectmen in an open discussion as opposed to making up their mind and telling the selectmen what they’re doing,” Mr. Avakian said. “I was surprised to learn that they had that much power as a board.” He concluded:

“I’d really like to see this library finally happen . . . and I wish I had gotten involved a bit sooner, but it’s a good opportunity to get involved,” he added.

Challenger Deanna Ahearn-Laird, also a mother, said she strongly backs the future library project but wants to be sure the current library remains strong too.

“I have a small son who’s going to be using the library and I’m a huge proponent of new library being built,” Mrs. Ahearn-Laird said. “I’d like to use the time and energy to keep the Carnegie [the current library] as good as it can be until we can design and move foreword on a new library.”

The three challengers have formed a team of sorts: Last night they hosted a party at the Wharf pub to raise support for the potential new library and answer questions from voters. “We’re the voice of the voters of Edgartown,” Mrs. Ahearn-Laird said.

In other contested races in Edgartown, three people are running for two seats on the financial advisory committee; the candidates are incumbent Donna Lowell-Bettencourt and challengers Leslie Baynes and Bruce Stone.

There is no contest for selectman this year; incumbent and board chairman Margaret Serpa is running unopposed for a fourth term.

All other positions are uncontested.

There are three override questions on the ballot; voters will be asked to spend $140,000 for street repaving, $55,000 for sidewalk repairs and $98,000 for a backhoe for the highway department.

Polling hours on Thursday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; polling takes place in the selectmen’s room in the town hall.