Post and Use Ground Rules

We participate as equals
We discuss openly and honestly
We disagree with grace and tact
We don't hide disagreements or questions
We stick to the agenda
We enjoy each other's company

Timed Agenda

Agree to go beyond time only by motion

Do not read items for "pro forma" approval in meeting

Ask members to read these items in advance of the meeting:

• Minutes
• Bills
• Statistics

Instead, just ask for changes or questions.

Energy Drainers

The following situations will drain the energy of your board and hurt your library services:

1. Board meetings that should last two hours never last fewer than four.
2. A board member tries to dominate the meetings.
3. Stories of disagreement between and among trustees find their way repeatedly into the newspapers.
4. One faction of the board assumes that the staff favors another faction.
5. Staff contradicts the director at public meetings.
6. The director waits until a trustee has gone out on a limb before giving the facts that make the point absurd.

Evaluate each meeting

Use +/∆ - what worked well and what should be changed to work better