Idaho Commission for Libraries

Job Title: Library Trustee

Minimum Qualifications: Must be legally qualified to serve as a board member; must have the time and interest to do the work of a library trustee; must be willing and able to attend all board meetings and assigned committee meetings.

Organizational Information: One of five citizen representatives who together oversee the work of the public library.

Reports to: Public [district] or city council and mayor [city only].

Works with: Other trustees, library director, members of the public, city council and mayor [city only].

Direct Customers: Library users, city council and mayor [city only], library director, library staff.

Indirect Customers: Members of the public, decision-makers from other libraries.

Purpose Statement: The mission of this position is to provide two-way communication between the public library and its community and to make policy-level decisions for the library.

RESULT A: Community needs are addressed by the library.

ACTIVITIES:

• Monitors usage statistics.
• Meets with community groups and opinion leaders to discuss the library’s relationship to the community.
• Monitors community statistics and trends.
• With the board as a whole, oversees and participates in periodic community analysis activities.
• Attends training on community analysis and development.
• Brings negative and positive comments about the library to board meetings.
• Represents interests of various community groups at board meetings.

RESULT B: Library services are well-planned and systematic.

ACTIVITIES:

• With the board as a whole, oversees periodic needs assessments and evaluations of library services.
• With other board members and the library director, writes and approves a long-range plan for the library.
• With the board as a whole and the library director, periodically reviews and revises the long-range plan.
• Uses the long range plan in making decisions about library services.
• Attends library conferences to attain a good understanding of state and national library issues and developments.
• Attends training on planning.

RESULT C: Library services are governed by systematic, legal policies.

ACTIVITIES:

• With the board as a whole and the library director, gathers and assesses legal and administrative information about potential policy issues.
• Understands and defends the principles of intellectual freedom in the access to information.
• With the board as a whole, oversees the drafting and approves board by-laws.
• With the board as a whole, oversees the drafting and approves all library policies.
• Attends training on legal and administrative issues affecting library policies.

RESULT D: The library has adequate resources to operate its services.

ACTIVITES:

• With the board as a whole, oversees the budgeting process and approves the annual budget.
• With the board as a whole, presents the budget to the public [district] or the city council [city].
• With the board as a whole, approves library bills.
• With the board as a whole, monitors the library’s fiscal condition throughout the year.
• With the board as a whole, assures that the library is adequately insured.
• With the board as a whole, approves special requests to the public, (i.e. bond elections, plant facility elections, override elections) for special funds for the libraries use.
• Explains library needs to the public through meetings with community groups and opinion leaders.
• Attends training on budgeting and fiscal management.

RESULT E: The library is operated by a highly competent staff.

ACTIVITIES:

• With the board as a whole, approves all job descriptions and personnel policies.
• With the board as a whole, creates a compensation package for employees.
• With the board as a whole, hires, evaluates, and disciplines (if necessary) the library director.
• Attends training on personnel management and legal issues regarding personnel.