Library Governance

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Library Governance
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OK To begin with T
There are the laws that pertain to public
libraries...
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Ohio Revised Code Section 3375 Some highlights...

• 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

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County Libraries.

• Service area is entire county.
• Receive all the LLGSF for that county
• 6 board members appointed by county commission
• Tax authoritycounty commission

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County District Libraries...

• Service district is everywhere except within the
  boundaries of any other library.
• Receive just part of the LLGSFbut often the
  most.
• 7 board members appointed 3 by common pleas
  judge, 4 by county commissioners
• Tax authority - County commissioners

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School District Libraries...

• 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

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Municipal 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

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Township Libraries...

• Service district is within the borders of the
  township.
• Receive just part of the LLGSFcomplete with
  other libraries
• 3 board members appointed by the township
  trustees
• Tax authority - Township Trustees

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Association 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

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All these libraries are run by a library
director....
A Clerk Treasurer....
And a Library Board....
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The Library...A Vital Link to the CommunityThat
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
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How do we do this??!!
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• Role of the Library Board
• To see that the library is operated in an
  efficient productive manner.
• Under the administrate guidance of the
  directorhired 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 groupbefore the
  budget commission, state legislature, civic
  cultural organizations, the general public

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Legal Counsel In Ohiothe 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 scheduleusually monthly in the
by-laws Special meetings held separate from the
regular meetingsalso in the bylaws. Executuve
sessions are held to descuss matters of a
confidential nature personnel, real estate, etc.
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• 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.

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Any Questions...