Trustee Handbook Book Club
Join co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, and friends for this fun and informative series! For each session, trustees are encouraged to read a chapter of the Trustee Handbook and send in questions that the authors will address during each session.
Trustees from all public library systems in New York State are welcome. Library Directors from across the state are welcome to attend as well. The Mid-Hudson Library System is an approved trustee education provider in the eyes of New York State. All trustee events offered by the Mid-Hudson Library System are eligible under the New York State Trustee Education Requirements.
Attendance Certificates
MHLS Member Library Trustees should watch these recordings through the MHLS Training on Demand platform in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance. View MHLS’s Statement on Trustee Education Certificates.
Non-MHLS Member Library Trustees will not be issued a MHLS Certificate of Attendance but can use the Self-Assurance Reporting Form found on the NYS Division of Library Development’s web site.
The 2023 Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State can be accessed for free online. Print copies can be ordered through your library system.
Upcoming Sessions
July 15, 2025 5:00-6:30PM – Trustee Handbook Book Club: Recruiting & Retaining Quality Staff | REGISTER
November 18, 2025 5:00-6:30PM – Trustee Handbook Book Club – Next Level Trusteeship: Building an Effective and Impactful Board Culture | REGISTER
SUBMIT a question for the presenters.
Recent Recordings
Board Development: Recruitment, Orientation, Education and Evaluation | April 30, 2025
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System; as they discuss board development strategies and best practices.
Resources mentioned in this video:
- Trustee Education Requirements
- Trustee Information & Application (Patterson Library)
- Orientation of New Trustees Chapter
- Board Self-Evaluation Questions
These questions and corresponding statements are provided in a survey & board members use a ranked scale to indicate their level of agreement with the statements.
Advocacy | January 22, 2025
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System; and guest speaker Kevin Verbesey from the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, as they discuss library advocacy.
Resources mentioned in this video:
- A History of Library Aid Chart-NYLA
- Libraries an American Value (ALA)
- New Yorkers for Better Libraries
- NYLA Advocate Sign Up
- Libraries & Immigration Enforcement (ALA)
- Information to Help New York’s Libraries Safeguard the Rights of Immigrants (NYS Library)
After Party IV
Join Jerry Nichols & Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, the authors of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State; Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System, as they ask and answer a round-up of previously unanswered questions from the 2024 season.
Resources mentioned in this video:
- Committee on Open Government guidance on the use of videoconferencing & sample policy
- Trustee Education Requirements: Division of Library Development: NYS Library
Governance Structure: The Role of Board Officers and Board Committees
Join co-author of the Handbook For Library Trustees of New York State Rebekkah Smith Aldrich and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System as they take you through Governance Structure: The Role of Board Officers and Board Committees.
Resources for this event include:
- Presentation Slides
- Fiduciary Questions
- Non-profit glossary
- Open Meetings Law, Section 106: Minutes
- Trustee Oaths of Office [New York State Library]
- Trustee Education Requirements [New York State Library]
- Role of a Board President [Helping All Trustees Succeed (HATS)]
- The Public Library Treasurer: Their Role and Legal Responsibilities [Helping All Trustees Succeed (HATS)]
- Evaluating Board Effectiveness
- Individual Trustee Report Card [Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners]
- Evaluating Board Effectiveness [Mid-Hudson Library System]
- Director Evaluation (Helping All Trustees Succeed (HATS)]
- Evaluating the Director Resources
Libraries for the Future: An Introduction to Sustainability as the Newest Core Value
Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System, as they introduce you to the newest core value, Sustainability.
Resources discussed during this session include:
- Sustainability in Libraries: A Call to Action (ALA)
- Collective Impact (ALA Center for the Future)
- Concord Free Library Sustainability Plan
- NYS Citizen Preparedness Corps
- Repair Cafes
- Road Map to Sustainability (SLI)
- Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLI)
- U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
- The Librarian’s Disaster Planning and Community Resiliency Guidebook (New Jersey State Library)
- Ready.gov
- Presentations from Certified Libraries
- The presentation slide deck
What’s New in the 2023 Edition of the Trustee Handbook | March 19, 2024
Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System, as they introduce you to what is new in the 2023 Edition of the Handbook For Library Trustees of New York State and answer a variety of trustee questions live!
Resources discussed during the session include:
- Public Library District Toolkit: Strategies to Assure your Library’s Legal and Financial Stability
- Open Meeting Law guidance on videoconferencing (includes a model resolution and model procedures)
- Trustee Education Requirements
- Information on Required Policies
- Information required to be posted to your website
- Sample Public Library Policies & Policy Development Tips
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy and Training from NYS
- E-Rate
- Public Library Collection Policy Template and Guide
- Unite Against Book Bans
- Check out the Trustee Handbook Book Club Archive to view past session recordings mentioned during this session.
After Party III | January 25, 2024
Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director, Southern Tier Library System; and Ron Kirsop, Executive Director, Pioneer Library System, as they ask and answer a round-up of previously unanswered questions from the 2023 season.
Topics include:
- committee on open government
- board director relationship
- financial planning & budgeting
- strategic planning, equity
- diversity, inclusion, access & justice
- financing and managing construction projects.
Have a question for the team? Submit your question here.
Looking for past recordings?
View recordings from previous years in the Trustee Handbook Book Club Archive. Previous sessions include:
- The Board-Director Relationship
- Budgets & Finance
- Duties & Responsibilities
- Effective Meetings Using Parliamentary Procedures
- Ethics & Conflicts of Interest
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access & Justice
- Facilities
- Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Financing & Managing Construction Projects
- Library Board Meetings
- Open Meetings Law
- Personnel
- Planning & Evaluation
- Policies & Risk Management
- PR & Advocacy
- Strategic Planning
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