Building Your Board

A proficient board is key to the overall success and long-term influence of your library. It is also central to running a winning vote campaign. Rather than accepting board members through happenstance, it is wise to think about board membership as a strategic activity aimed at "crafting" a board with a variety of political, professional and social skills. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Consider what skill areas may be lacking from the board and actively seek out individuals who will fill the void. Some skill areas to consider include:
  • Accounting
  • Advocacy
  • Business
  • Education
  • Fundraising
  • Knowledge of funding issues
  • Knowledge of tax regulations
  • Legal knowledge
  • Marketing and public relations
  • Public speaking
• The director and current board members can be on the lookout for individuals who would make good board members, such as political leaders, local professionals, mothers of school age children, businessmen, members of a group the libraries wishes to target etc.
  
  Source: Kansas State Library and the Kansas Library Trustee Association

Additional Resources

• Recruitment and Selection of Trustees (Kansas Library Association)
• "Guidelines for Recruiting New Board Members," by Carter McNamara, PhD
• Results Oriented Job Description for Trustees (Idaho State Library)

View Additional Strategies for Growing Community Support