Trustees
(L4L)
The Basic Sites for OWLS Public Library Trustees
Public
Library Development Team
This is the public
library development page for the Division for Libraries, Technology
and Community Learning of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). It is full of absolutely essential information
for trustees and librarians. Here's where you can find the latest information
on library-related legislation, library automation, librarian certification,
statistics, LSTA grant money, county planning, and much more. It includes
a very comprehensive list of links of interest to librarians and trustees.
The following links from the DPI site will be of particular interest to library trustees:
Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees
The single most important document for trustees to be familiar with. This newly-revised handbook covers the basic information needed by trustees to serve their community effectively. It can be used to orient new trustees. In addition, each of the chapters (Essentials) can help structure short continuing education sessions during regular board meetings because even experienced trustees (and directors!) benefit from a review of the issues essential to library board operations and trustee duties.Frequently Asked Questions on Public Library Administration and Governance
"This page provides an index to questions from library trustees that have been published, along with answers, in issues of Channel, the bimonthly newsletter of the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL). Also included are links to articles on library law and administration relevant to public library trustees and library directors." A great way to find answers to the most commonly asked library administration questions!Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource Page
The Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource Page provides tools and resources of value to trustees. Some of these are trustee training modules (see below), state statistics, and library director certification.
- Library Board Powers and Duties
This is the first in a series of trustee training modules. The modules are short enough that they can be used during a library board meeting for a brief review of issues of importance to library trustees. They also can be used for one-on-one or self-directed training.- Development of Essential Library Policies for Public Librarians
The second in the series of trustee training modules.- Trustee Essentials
The basics of being a trustee for a public library.You can use the trustee training modules above either with the full version of Microsoft PowerPoint, or with the free version of PowerPoint Viewer. You can download the free installer for PowerPoint Viewer 2003 from Microsoft's site. Feel free to print and copy these modules for use in trustee training or continuing education as well.
Trustee
Tale
The newsletter for trustees published jointly by the Outagamie Waupaca Library System
and the Winnefox Library System.
Trustee Organizations
Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF)
This
organization is a division of the American Library Association, and its
other pages are well worth examining, as well. Of particular interest
are the American Library Association's home page,)
and the web site of the Public Library Association.
Wisconsin
Library Trustee Association (WLTA)
This
is a division of the Wisconsin Library Association.
Be sure to notice the Advocacy Guidelines and Advocacy Links.
Trustee Manuals
These manuals and handbooks are valuable resources for trustees and library directors in Wisconsin. It's important to remember that circumstances vary from state to state, so no one should assume that everything in these manuals is applicable in Wisconsin. This is particularly true in relation to laws, board organization, and finances. At the same time there is a great deal of information that is relevant, either directly or as a comparison to "the way we do things."
The
Michigan Public Library Trustee Manual
Some chapters:
trustees' rights and responsibilities; board organization and policymaking;
library planning, role setting, and budgeting; the library director; intellectual
freedom; public relations and trustees.
The
Virginia Public Library Trustee Handbook 
This has served as a model for trustee manuals produced by other states. Some
sections: becoming a trustee, policy making (Basics of Policy Making and Types
of Library Policies: External and Internal), personnel, finances, legal responsibilities
of governing boards, library planning, trustees and the political process (Lobbying
and The ABC's of Lobbying for Library Trustees), public relations, Friends
of the Library. The Appendix contains some interesting documents, e.g., Eleven
Points to Effective Lobbying, Ethics Statements for Public Library Trustees,
and Golden Rules for Board Members.
The
Rhode Island Public Library Trustee Handbook
What I like about this Handbook is the combination of clear writing and brevity,
as well as its practicality. There are useful lists and examples, including
tips and questions for the Board to ask itself. Some chapters: Library Planning,
Planning Library Buildings, Effective Policy Making, and Personnel Practices.
The
Utah Public Library Trustee Handbook
Another friendly resource to try when you're thinking about a trustee's
duties and concerns.
Of Related Interest
A
Library Board's Practical Guide to Finding the Right Library Director
This 31-page how-to manual
was put together by a group of Michigan libraries in Spring 2005 as a tool for
library boards undertaking their most important responsibility, hiring a director.
Topics addressed include having an interim plan, deciding whether to use a consultant,
the budget, salary and benefits, legal issues, selling the position and the community,
advertising and posting the job, selecting candidates, checking references, and
interviewing and evaluating candidates. The appendices offer a sample job description,
sample job posting, sample interview questions, and a short bibliography. Highly
recommended. See also Trustee
Essentials #5.
Library
Law
The text of
the laws governing Wisconsin public libraries, as well as aids
to searching and interpreting them.
Wisconsin
Public Library Standards
Useful to complement
local planning, the Standards help you see the current condition
of the library and define possible areas to improve. Each public
library has received two printed copies, but you may download a
copy for yourself, or write for a copy from:
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison 53707-7841
or
Phone: (608) 267-9222
Estimating Service Population
A Links for Libraries page describing how to estimate service population with estimates for OWLS libraries. See also: Chapter 2 of the Wisconsin
Public Library Standards.
Library
Boards and Municipal Governing Bodies
This article, one of the FAQs addressed by the League of Municipalities,
describes the authority of the Library Board. Take a look, as well, at the
other Frequently
Asked Municipal Legal Questions for a variety of information that can
prove useful to you as a trustee.
A
Guide to Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law
The guide and a list of frequently asked questions, prepared and newly revised
by the Department of Justice, are available at this site. You may want to
look, as well, at Open
Meetings Law and Library Board Closed Sessions and the
League of Municipality's FAQ on
the open meetings law.
Developing
the Library Budget and Managing the Library's Money
Power Point presentations developed by Appleton Public Library Director Terry
Dawson to use with his board of trustees. Posted with his permission.
Financial
Management Reference Guide
From the Library of Michigan. An extremely useful manual that includes chapters
on accounting for libraries, fund balance/net assets, budgeting, financial
reporting, property taxes, state funded revenue, investments, financing, audit
process, internal control, and GASB43 for libraries. Remember that this material
is written for Michigan residents, but much of it is useful for anyone seeking
to understand financial management better, e.g., the modified accrual method
of accounting, types of budgets, sample financial reports, and a questionnaire
that will help you determine whether your internal controls are weak or could
be improved.
Inside
the System: A Primer for Trustees
This is an article by James Swan, Director of the Central Kansas Library System
and the Great Bend (Kansas) Public Library, that was originally published in
Wilson Library Bulletin. It provides an overview of the major responsibilities
of a trustee.
101+
Commonly Asked Interview Questions
From handouts at an Illinois Library Association conference. You can browse this list in order to make
your own short list of questions to ask candidates.
Public
Library Trustee Information
A topically-arranged
list of resources from the Wisconsin Valley Library System.
BoardSource
This organization, formerly the Center for NonProfit Boards, is dedicated to "building
strong and effective nonprofit boards." It has some excellent publications. Note especially the
Board Q&As, where you'll find questions and answers on issues relevant
to all kinds of nonprofit boards. Remember, this is not library specific or
Wisconsin specific, so you'll need to evaluate whether and how the information
you get here is relevant to your situation.
Free
Complete Toolkit for Boards
This is an extensive site of information for all kinds of boards, non-profit,
for-profit, and government boards. You can learn a lot by browsing this site,
but again you need to adapt what you find to your particular situation.
Supporting public libraries in Outagamie and Waupaca counties