Community Leadership as an Effective Library Trustee Community Leadership as an Effective Library Trustee Nancy Bolt Nancy Bolt & Associates

Trustee Responsibilities as Community Leaders What is the role of a Library Trustee? Recommended Qualifications Legal Duties and Restrictions Advocacy and Community Activity Interaction with Librarian and Staff Policy and Budget Development

Nancy Bolt & Associates Overview Getting the job done as a team Economic impact of the public library Cultural and educational value

Nancy Bolt & Associates Advocacy is not Accidental What the Trustees can do What the librarian and staff can do What the friends and volunteers can do

Nancy Bolt & Associates Where Do We Go From Here? Continued training for Trustees and staff Upgrade technology as needed Consulting services Professional associations Evaluation of services by patrons Celebrate achievements

Nancy Bolt & Associates YOUR ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE Support your library’s needs and services Support quality library service statewide Understand the inter-dependence of libraries Communicate your concerns to elected leaders Support your library’s continued participation in cooperative programs Join professional associations

Nancy Bolt & Associates THE INTER-DEPENDENCE OF LIBRARIES Your patrons can borrow books from almost any library via the Colorado Library Card –Funded locally –Saves on Interlibrary loan costs Your patrons get books via courier –Funded with federal, state, and mostly local funds –Saves your library thousands of dollars Your patrons get books via interlibrary loan –Funded with state and local funds Your library gets a discount on books via the Cooperative Purchasing Program –Negotiated statewide and funded locally

Nancy Bolt & Associates More Inter-dependence Your patrons get access to commercial databases –Funded through federal and local funds, deep discounts for your library Your patrons get questions answered via AskColorado –Funded through federal and local funds from some libraries Your patrons know where books can be found via the Colorado Virtual Library –Funded through federal, state, and local funds Regional and centralized training for library staff and trustees –Funded through federal, state, and local funds

Nancy Bolt & Associates YOUR ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE Support your library’s needs and services Support quality library service statewide Understand the inter-dependence of libraries Communicate your concerns to elected leaders Support your library’s continued participation in cooperative programs Join professional associations