Small Libraries Roundtable August 2008

Topic: Best Practices for Working with Your Board
Notes from the February Meeting @Rhinecliff

NOTES FROM THE SESSION:

In general:

• be proactive
  • in particular, be proactive in your communication with the board president
  • "beat them to the punch" - address issues before they come to the board's attention
• build respect
  • you control your response, don't just react
  • don't be defensive
• "be the consistency" - lots of turnover on your board? Step up and be the "keeper of the culture" of the board (i.e. how things are done, meeting procedures, schedule of policy review, etc.)
• take charge of developing an orientation to the library for new trustees
• meeting procedure: no new agenda items during a meeting; must be put on the agenda for the next meeting to give you time to research the issue (can be added to meeting procedures approved by the board)
• be aware of your perception of them - the board is made of people who, for the most part, are just looking to be a part of something positive for the community - they mean well, it's just not their 24/7 life like it is for the director

Director's report

• Should be written and included in the packet trustees receive ahead of time
• Use report to "market" the library director's awareness/success within the context of the plan
• Circ, program, attendance statistics should be in context (compare to last year, compare to other libraries of the same size/budget)
  • what trends are you noticing?
• Other content area suggestions:
  • Staff training update
  • Buildings and grounds
  • Fiscal implications: state funding, system funding, county funding
  • Community involvement/partnerships
  • Friends
  • County association
  • Available trustee education
  • press clippings

Director Evaluation Process

• Board's focus should be on the library rather than the individual [MHLS Model]
• Director should keep a file of accomplishments throughout the year to use during the evaluation period

Next Meeting: Monday, December 1
Topic: Board Development - recruitment, orientation & evaluation
@Rhinecliff

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