Being a library trustee means that you have been entrusted with the welfare of an important community institution capable of serving everyone in your community. A trustee’s first loyalty is to the library and the community it serves.
Slides
- Library Law for Trustees (PowerPoint) – Michael Cerone, Esq.
- Roles and Responsibilities of Trustees (PowerPoint) – Pat Tumulty
- Working with Elected Officials (PDF) – Catherine Alloway
- Library Policy Making (PDF) – Eric Stroshane
- Hiring and Evaluating the Library Director – Maura Deedy
- Community Focused Strategic Planning by Alliance Research and Training (YouTube) – February 7, 2024 – Slides (PDF)
- Intellectual Freedom and Materials Challenges – What You Need To Know (YouTube) – March 22, 2022
Trustees on Track (YouTube)
This collection of eight videos features library trustees sharing their experiences and thoughts on topics that every library board across the country faces.
ALA United for Libraries
On February 1, 2009, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) and the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) joined forces to become an expanded division of ALA known as the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, now United for Libraries. Through this partnership, United for Libraries brings together libraries voices to speak out on behalf of library services and free public access to information.
United for Libraries is a national network of enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities and campuses. No one has a stronger voice for libraries than those who use them, raise money for them, and govern them. By uniting these voices, library supporters everywhere will become a real force to be reckoned with at the local, state, and national levels.
Trustee Manual for New Jersey Public Libraries
Downloadable files below are available in PDF format.
- New Jersey Public Libraries: A Manual for Trustees (Download the whole manual)
- Introduction
- Section 1: The Job of a Trustee and the Operation of the Board
- Section 2: Policy Making for the Library
- Section 3: Personnel Matters
- Section 4: Laws Governing Trustee Actions
- Section 5: Funding
- Section 6: Strategic Planning
- Section 7: Capital Planning
- Section 8: Marketing and Public Relations
- Section 9: Institutions Supporting Public Libraries
- Section 10: Trustee Continuing Education
- Section 11: Resources
- Supplementary Documents
Library Trustee Online Resources and Reference Center
NJSL Continued Education (CE)
Visit the NJSL CE page for more Trustees training.
Advocacy and Outreach
- The Trustees Role in Developing a Culturally Responsive Library (PowerPoint)
- Connecting with Elected Officials (PowerPoint)
Capital Planning
Friends of the Library
Downloadable files below are available in PDF format.
- When Friends Aren’t Friendly -Update
- How to Organize a Friends Group
- The Role of the Friends Board
- Responsibilities of the Library Director, Trustee, and Friends Chart
- Friends Board Development
- Guidelines for Giving (1)
- Guidelines for Giving (2)
- Sample MOU for Libraries & Friends
- Why Can’t We All Get Along: Friends & Foundations (YouTube)
Fundraising
- Fundraising (PowerPoint)
- How Trustees, Friends, and Foundations Raise Funds Differently (Word)
Hiring and Evaluating the Library Director
- Director Evaluation for Trustees (Word)
- Director Self Evaluation Form (Word)
- Director Review Form (Word)
- Guide for Transitioning Library Directors (PDF)
- Hiring and Evaluating the Library Director – Maura Deedy
- Sample Library Director Performance Appraisal (PDF)
- NJLA Personnel & Salary Guide (PDF)
- Sample Interview Questions for Library Director Candidates (PDF)
Library Finance and State Aid
Library Law
- Library Law for Trustees (PowerPoint) – Michael Cerone
Library Structure and Funding
- Library Structure and Funding (PowerPoint)
Strategic Planning
Trustee Core Knowledge
- ALA Library Bill of Rights
- Core Competencies (PDF)
- Library Trustee Oath of Office/Oath of Allegiance (PDF)
- Open Public Meetings Act (“The Sunshine Law”)
- Policy & Its Development (PowerPoint)
- Rice Notice (PDF)
- Role of Trustees (PDF)
- Roles of the Library Board – COSLA (Word)
- Sample Board Resolution Generic Template (PDF)
- Sample By-Laws (Word)
- Trustee Trouble Videos
- Trustees on Track Videos
NJSL would like to thank our Trustee Institute presenters for allowing these handouts to be posted.
For More Information
Bob Keith
Director of Library Law, State Aid & Statistics
New Jersey State Library
at 609-278-2640 Ext. 192
rkeith@njstatelib.org