Introduction
Montana Public Library Trustee Handbook
The State of Montana started supporting library services in 1929, when the State Library Extension Commission was created by an act of the Legislative Assembly. The Commission's job was to develop libraries in Montana, but it wasn't until 1945 that the Legislature appropriated money to finance its work. Today, Montana is home to more than one hundred public libraries, providing a range of information services to citizens free of charge.
Libraries are at the heart of sustainable communities because of the hard work and commitment of people like you. Over the years, public library trustees have put in long hours to promote public library services. In turn, they have had the satisfaction of seeing their libraries grow and their communities benefit from enhanced lifelong learning and a free exchange of ideas.
The Montana Public Library Trustee Handbook will help you continue that vital work.
In addition to describing your roles and responsibilities as a trustee, the handbook provides sample documents, checklists and other resources you can turn to when you need information about specific topics. It also provides valuable information for your director. Because trustees and the director must work together to provide quality information services to the community, cooperation and teamwork are emphasized throughout.
Treat the handbook as a tool. For example, you will want to have your handbook available for reference at each Board meeting. And when you retire from the Board, you can pass your handbook on to the next trustee.
The loose-leaf format makes it easy to update the handbook, replacing pages as new information becomes available. You can also insert related materials such as your Board's bylaws, policies, meeting minutes and latest planning document to create a comprehensive reference resource. Use the topic dividers, glossary, index and references throughout the text to help locate specific information quickly when you need it.
The Montana Public Library Trustee Handbook is a reference you will return to again and again. But please remember that it is not a substitute for
working closely with your community, professional library organizations, other libraries and the Montana State Library. Making use of all of these resources will help you better understand and meet your community's needs for information services.
Acknowledgements
Montana State Library is grateful to the members of the Trustee Handbook Review Committee for donating their time and expertise during production of this handbook:
Joan Bishop, Trustee, Lewis and Clark Library, Helena
Steve Gannon, Trustee, Big Sandy Branch Library
Eleanor Gray, Trustee (former), Miles City Public Library
Elizabeth Kearney, Director, West Yellowstone Public Library
Gloria Langstaff, Director, Bitterroot Public Library, Hamilton
Sheila Lee, Director, Sheridan County Library, Plentywood
Steve Owens, Trustee, William K. Kohrs Memorial Library, Deer Lodge
Montana State Library also thanks:
- Idaho State Library for allowing Montana to borrow freely from the Idaho Library Trustee Manual (1996)
- State Library of Iowa for allowing Montana to borrow freely from the Iowa Library Trustee's Handbook 1998
- Maryland, South Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota and others for sharing information from their trustee manuals
- Cain Consulting Group for allowing Montana to adapt material from The Board Team Handbook: A Complete Guide to Boardsmanship Basics for the Board Team of the 90's
Notices
This handbook is a revision of the 1993 Montana Public Library Trustee Manual, published by Montana State Library. It was prepared as an educational resource and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. The publication was funded in part with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funds. These funds are administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Montana State Library Commission.
This handbook was produced by the Library Development Department of the Montana State Library—Bob Cooper, John Finn, Diane Gunderson, Sue Jackson, Suzanne Reymer and Darlene Staffeldt—in conjunction with Kristine Ellis and Linda Brander, TECO Management Group.