LIBRARY BOARD JOB DESCRIPTIONS



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Library Board Job Descriptions | |

Some boards have found it quite effective to have job descriptions for board members. A job description outlines the responsibilities for a new board member and helps remind current board members of their responsibilities.

Below are some elements to consider when creating job descriptions for board members.

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications for board members can change depending on the strengths and weaknesses of your current board members. Some of the following qualifications might be considered mandatory for every board member, while other qualifications might be qualities you want to have represented on the board spread out over a number of individuals.

➢ Interest in the library and community

➢ Excellent written and verbal communication

➢ Public speaking skills

➢ Effective at leading meetings

➢ Ability to negotiate with town/city/village managers and councils

➢ Computer and/or word processing skills

➢ Ability to lead committees

➢ Good organizational skills

➢ Holds a current library card

➢ Capable of raising funds for the library

➢ Willing to devote time to all board activities

➢ Planning experience

➢ Awareness and appreciation of the library’s past, present and future role in our community

➢ Has ability to gracefully handle opposition and make decisions in the best interest of the library

➢ Knowledgeable of political issues that may affect the library

➢ Willingness to learn about the library and its services

Duties

Duties may vary depending on the authority of the library board. Advisory boards represent the community and the community’s needs. Advisory boards do not have the power to hire library staff or make policy. Policy Making boards are often a library’s link to its governing body. Policy boards have the ability to make decisions about programs, budgets, and policies. A policy Making board hires the library director, and the library director is directly responsible to the board. Duties assigned to board members will depend on the library board’s Advisory or Policy Making authority.

➢ Attends all regularly scheduled Library Board meetings

➢ Attends special meetings as needed

➢ Attends library functions as appropriate

➢ Knows and abides by library board bylaws

➢ Reads board meeting minutes and other materials sent out before the board meetings

➢ Abides by New Mexico’s Open Meetings Act

➢ Participates appropriately in board meetings

➢ Visit the library on a regular basis

➢ Works with library director on community assessment and long range plans

➢ Hires and evaluates library directory (Policy Making Boards)

➢ Develops and writes policies that govern the operation and programming of the library (Policy Making Boards)

➢ Assist in writing of library’s long range plans (Policy Making Boards)

➢ Give library directory input about library’s long range plans (Advisory Boards)

➢ Adopts annual budget (Policy Making Boards)

➢ Develops and maintains capital improvement plan (Policy Making Boards)

➢ Supports and participates in library’s public relations programs

➢ Represents the library’s point of view at city council meetings and other public forums

➢ Looks for ways to build a positive image for the library

➢ Listens to community needs and concerns

➢ Participates in library conferences and workshops as time permits

➢ Knows and supports the basic library tenets such as Intellectual Freedom, Freedom the Read, Confidentiality of Patron Records, and the Library Bill of Rights.

➢ Becomes knowledgeable about local, state and federal laws affecting libraries when appropriate

➢ Abides by the majority decisions reached by the board, and publicly supports these decisions

|[pic] |Job Descriptions |

| |In addition to the qualities and qualifications listed above, the library board might decide to create |

| |individual job descriptions for specific positions on the board. The following are examples of job |

| |descriptions a board might draw upon when writing descriptions specific to the board needs. |

President job description

Duties

➢ Presides at all board meetings

➢ Sets board meeting times and locations

➢ Prepares meeting agendas

➢ Serves as the chief spokesperson for the library board

➢ Creates committees and appoints members as necessary

➢ Communicates as necessary with the library director

Vice-President job description

Duties

➢ Presides when president is absent

➢ Accepts responsibilities as delegated by the board president

Secretary job description

Duties

➢ Presides over meetings when the president and vice-president are absent.

➢ Prepares written agenda and ensures that it is publicly posted 24 hours before the board meeting.

➢ Prepares and maintains a list of all board members and their contact information.

➢ Responsible for recording meeting minutes.

➢ Manages all records created by the board

➢ Handles all incoming correspondence and mail distribution.

Treasurer job description

Duties

➢ Monitors the library’s budget

➢ Works with the library director to make regular financial reports to the board

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