Library Governance

OK…To begin with…

T

There are the lawsthat pertain to

public libraries...

– 5 different kinds of libraries• County Free Public Libraries 3375.06• County District 3375.19• Municipal 3375.12• School District 3375.15• Township 3375.09• Association

Ohio Revised CodeSection 3375

Some highlights...

– Service area is entire county.– Receive all the LLGSF for that county– 6 board members appointed by county

commission– Tax authority…county commission

County Libraries.…

– Service district is everywhere except within the boundaries of any other library.

– Receive just part of the LLGSF…but often the most.

– 7 board members appointed 3 by common pleas judge, 4 by county commissioners

– Tax authority - County commissioners

County DistrictLibraries...

– Service district is within the boundaries of the school district.

– Receive just part of the LLGSF…– 7 board members appointed by local board

of education– Tax authority - Board of Education

School District Libraries...

– Service district is within the boundaries of the municipality.

– Receive just part of the LLGSF…– 6 board members appointed by the mayor– Tax authority - City Council

Municipal Libraries...

– Service district is within the borders of the township.

– Receive just part of the LLGSF…complete with other libraries

– 3 board members appointed by the township trustees

– Tax authority - Township Trustees

Township Libraries...

– Service district is usually within the boundaries of the community the association was formed in.

– Receive just part of the LLGSF…– Board members are apponted or elected in

accordance with association articles of each indiviual association.

– Tax athority - County Commission

Association Libraries...

All these

libraries

are run by

a library

director....

A Clerk

Treasurer....

And a Library Board....

The Library...A Vital Link to the Community…That Is Much Like A Business

Taxpayers are stockholders

Patrons are customers

Staff are employees

County budget commisiion is the banker

Board has responsibility to all four groups…

Taxpayers…

expect their money to be spent in a judicious manner

Patrons…

want servcie that meets needs & is delivered effectiviely & efficiently

Employees…

need enough staff to get the job done, want to be well managed & competitively paid

Budget commission…

wants assurance that there is a plan for current & future use of library funds

How do we do this??!!

• Role of the Library Board

• To see that the library is operated in an efficient & productive manner.

• Under the administrate guidance of the director…hired by the board

• HIRING AN ABLE ADMINISTRATOR IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES OF THE BOARD

• The board expresses views in the policies it adopts

• The board is a prime advocacy group…before the budget commission, state legislature, civic & cultural organizations, & the general public

Legal Counsel…

In Ohio…the county prosecutor is the legal counsel for public libraries…

except when one library in a county is against another library in the same county..

Setting Policy…

One of the primary responsibilities of a board.

Meetings…

Regular meetings held on a pre-determined schedule…usually monthly & in the by-laws

Special meetings held separate from the regular meetings…also in the bylaws.

Executuve sessions are held to descuss matters of a confidential nature…

personnel, real estate, etc.

The Trustees and the Director

• The relationship between the library board and the director is a partnership.

• The director is charged with administering or managing the library on a daily basis.

• It is the director's responsibility to exercise professional judgement about the

library's operations and procedures.

• Trustees represent the public in the governing of the library.

• The trustees are responsible for evaluating services, establishing policies, & setting goals

& objectives to be implemented by the director and staff.

• Trustees develop the plans & policies which guide the library's operation,

but they do not operate the library.

• Ideally, the relationship of the director & trustees is cooperative and complementary.

• They treat one another with respect, communicate carefully, &

act on the basis of mutual understanding.

Any Questions...