Public Library Boards of Trustees
This webpage for public library board members (as well as for library Friends) offers a "one-stop shop"—a guide that
board members can turn to for information, help, and advice. Public library boards are vital links between the community and
the public library that serves the community. As such, these boards should have ready access to the tools they need to
fulfill this role.
The Nebraska Library Commission's Library Development team provides resources and support services for
Nebraska public library boards. Contact
Holli Duggan, Continuing Education Coordinator, with questions about the research and advocacy efforts of
the NLC on behalf of public library boards.
- United for Libraries: Association of Library Trustees,
Advocates, Friends and Foundations, A Division of the American Library Association
- The Nebraska Library Commission has provided a membership to United for Libraries for each public library in Nebraska.
Quick Links to Frequently Used Pages
- Continuing Education Reporting Form for Trustees
- Let us know, or ask your library director to let us know, when you've attended a workshop,
viewed a webinar, or participated in some other type of continuing education event.
- Nebraska Public Library Board Certification Status
- Check your board's CE record. A board must participate in 20 contact hours of
continuing education (earn 20 CE credits) during each 3-year certification period in order to remain certified.
- Public Library Board Certification
- A library board of trustees must be certified for the library to be accredited.
- Board Certification Application Form
- Public Library Accreditation
-
Nebraska Library Association, Public
Library and Trustee Section
Reference Materials
- Nebraska Library Board Manual (formerly the Nebraska Trustee Handbook)
- Sample Job Description of a Library Trustee
- Residency Requirement for Boards of Trustees
-
Library-Related Laws
- Annotated Checklist on Public Library-Related State Statutes
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Nebraska Library Laws
Books from the Nebraska Library Commission Collection (available for check out):
If you would like to check out a book from the Nebraska Library Commission collection, please call 1-800-307-2665
and ask for Reference Services. You may also choose to use our online
Interlibrary Loan form. To find materials, search our
online catalog.
- Call #: Z681.7 .U5 R445 2010
- The Complete Library Trustee Handbook , by Sally Gardner Reed and Jillian Kalonik. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers, c2010.
- Contents: Library trustees: guardians of the public trust — Library sustainability: fund-raising and advocacy —
Critical but different roles: the library's board and its director — Ensuring a better future: strategic planning —
An essential role: developing and approving policies — Doing it right: the best practices of effective library boards —
Today's and tomorrow's concerns: key issues facing libraries.
-
Call #: Z681.7.U5 M55 2007
- Library Board Strategic Guide: Going to the Next Level , by Ellen G. Miller and Patricia H. Fisher. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, c2007.
- Contents: Managing risk — Local values, the first amendment, and challenges — Leadership and management that
achieve your library's vision — Getting and growing the funding your library needs — Getting on your community's
leadership team — Afterword: going to the next level.
-
Call #: Z681.7 .U5 L53 1995
- The Library Trustee : a Practical Guidebook , 5th ed., by Virginia G. Young. Chicago : American Library
Association, 1995.
-
Call #: Z681.7 .U5 M66 2005
- The Successful Library Trustee Handbook , by Mary Y. Moore. Chicago : American Library Association, c2005.
- Contents: Getting started — Relationships — Meetings, meetings, meetings — Advocacy: a basic board
responsibility — Policy development — Strategic planning — Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate — Hiring and
firing a director — Budgets, liability, and fund-raising — You are not alone — Resolution on the U.S.A.
Patriot Act and related measures that infringe on the rights of library users — Useful websites for library trustees —
Freedom to read statement — Library bill of rights.