Ask Me Anything with Rebekkah Smith Aldrich!

Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director & Co-Author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State is a monthly installment where Rebekkah will answer your questions! Feel free to submit your question here or to contact Rebekkah at rsmith@midhudson.org with the subject line: AMA Trustee Question.

Q. Does our board need to follow Robert’s Rules of Order during our board meetings?

A. Using Robert’s Rules of Order (RRO) is best practice. If the library’s bylaws specify it is used, then it should be used. Please be aware that Robert’s Rules of Order sometimes conflict with New York State Law, for example, in the area of calculating a quorum and executive session state law takes precedence over RRO. Check out the chapter on “Library Board Meetings” from the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State for more information on these issues.