Basic Responsibilities

The library board is legally responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective operation of the public library. Board members, operating as a team, hire the library's administrator, plan the library's services, and approve the library's policies. They decide how much the library will request for its budget, and they have, according to Idaho Code, exclusive control of the expenditure of library funds.

Being a library board member, then, is not just an honor. It is a responsibility. Good library board members do not just attend board meetings. They also take the time to study the role of the library trustee. They are aware of the laws that govern public agencies in general and the public library in particular. They learn what is going on in the library community by participating in state-wide library organizations and attending continuing education opportunities. They have read and understood the by-laws of their board and the policies of their library. They talk to members of the community about the library and they bring this input with them to board meetings.

Effective Trustees

The issues and decisions involved in the administration of the modern public library are varied and complex. Trusteeship is not an honorary position. It is a working relationship with the community, library staff, and fellow trustees.

Trustees must devote a great deal of time and express a high level of interest to fulfill their duties. Commitment is the primary qualification for those who serve on the board.

Effective boards consist of informed, dedicated citizens who represent a cross-section of the community. There is a direct correlation between the quality of library service a community offers and the knowledge, capability, and enthusiasm of its board members.

Effective trustees are citizens who have:

• Readiness to devote time and effort to learning about the library in addition to the duties, responsibilities, and authority of trusteeship.
• Recognition of the importance of the library as a center of information, culture, recreation, and lifelong learning in the community.
• Willingness to become knowledgeable in areas of librarianship that include standards, trends, and new developments.
• Rapport with the community, including a concerned awareness of diverse social and economic conditions, needs, and interests of all segments of the public.
• Position of leadership in the community, government, business, education, finance, law, or related fields.
• Initiative and ability to plan creatively, to establish policies for effective operation of the library, and to withstand pressures and prejudices when providing impartial service to the patrons.
• Skill in group collaboration and decision-making, an open mind, intellectual curiosity, respect for the opinions of others, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Sound judgment, a sense of fiscal responsibility, legal understanding, and political awareness.
• Verbal and written communication skills, the ability to relate to the public, and the availability to represent the library at public functions and meetings.
• Willingness to participate with local, state, and national library leaders and trustees to improve library service on all levels.

A Trustee Knows:

• Type and organization of your library board
• The duties and responsibilities of a member of the board
• Library services and resources available
• Local government – structure, people, and operations
• Information needs and interests of the community
• How to work effectively in a group
• The Idaho Commission for Libraries
• National library trends, standards, and developments
• The lingo – don’t hesitate to ask

A Trustee Attends:

• Every board meeting and assigned committee meeting
• Idaho Library Association, Pacific Northwest Library Association, and American Library Association meetings whenever possible
• Other area and local meetings and workshops
• Online training opportunities to enhance boardmanship skills

A Trustee Plans:

• Future growth and priorities of the library
• Policies of the library
• Active community awareness programs
• Orientation for new board members

A Trustee Supports:

• Your librarian and library
• Your local governing body
• The community and citizens you represent
• Local, state, and federal legislation

A Trustee Acts:

• To articulate your library’s needs
• To seek funding
• To promote your library whenever called upon by the librarian, city council, or private citizens
• To develop good personal relations with local, state, and federal representatives of government
• To make yourself, your board, and your library visible in the community

A Trustee Remembers:

• The library board acts only as a whole
• The library board must authorize you to act as an individual on behalf of the library
• The board does not run the operations of the library