Board of Trustees

Our board meets the first Wednesday of the month (September, November, January, March, May) at 6:30 pm in the Library conference room.

The board meetings are open to the public and we encourage people who are interested in serving on the board to come and observe the meeting to see what we do and ask questions.

Contact the library for further information.

The Alberta Library Trustees Association Code Of Ethics

Library Boards exist to develop, promote and monitor library services as a public trust. To this end, library trustees should be committed to the following principles:

1. The primary goal of public library trustees is to ensure that the public has access to the highest quality of library services possible.
2. Trustees should ensure that each person has access to the most complete library service possible compatible with equal service for others. Where limitations in service are unavoidable, any inherent inequality of service should favor those residents least able to obtain alternate service.
3. Library Trustees should observe ethical standards with truth, integrity, and honor.· Trustees should avoid situations where personal advantage or financial benefits may be gained at the expense of other library users.
   • Trustees should distinguish between their personal views and those of the institution by respecting the position of the board, even though they may disagree.
   • Trustees should respect the confidential nature of library records within the framework which allows for the monitoring of material usage and the need for public accounting.
4. Trustees should respect the established structure of the library.
   • Trustees should attempt to work harmoniously with the board and ultimately accept its will.
   • Trustees should limit their trusteeship role to policy governance and advocacy.
5. Trustees are expected to take responsibility for their personal development through continuing education opportunities and participation in provincial and national library organizations.
6. Trustees should support intellectual freedom in the selection of library material.

No business would expect a new employee to take on the responsibilities of a new job or be an asset to the company without extensive education, training, or experience-preferably in combination.

Through orientation, our board ensures that a new trustee has enough information about the mission, policy and goals of the library and sufficient understanding of responsibilities and duties to become an effective and contributing member.

Trustee Orientation is in place to:

• make the new trustee feel welcome and needed
• increase efficiency and save time
• decrease frustration,
• help the new trustee to fully utilize skills and explore interests
• foster a sense of unified purpose
• provide continuity

The orientation process includes:

• prior to joining the board, attend a meeting to see what it is all about
• a tour of the library and a review of the services offered
• an explanation of library funding
• an explanation of board operations, including meeting schedules, committee structure, and trustee roles and responsibilities
• a review of the board manual
• a review of committee responsibilities

After attending at least one meeting, a request for appointment form may be filled out and sent to council for approval of the potential board member. 

Trustee Education

Orientation is only the beginning of the education you need. Effective trustees will look for opportunities to enhance their skills.

• Some of the ways to cultivate excellence include:
• developing skills in policy making
• learning to make effective presentations to councils, staff and the community
• enlisting the expertise of the librarian
• studying appropriate information: board manual, legislation, library resources
• becoming involved in provincial, national and international trustee organizations
• participating in library related conferences, workshops and meetings
• becoming familiar with the needs of the community
• taking advantage of any available opportunities for personal growth

Some examples of trustee education opportunities are:

• The annual Alberta Library Conference in spring
• Board Development workshops (sponsored by Alberta Community Development)
• Trustee Orientation Workshops (sponsored by the Alberta Library Trustees Association)
• Workshops presented by regional library systems
• Online training through the Alberta Library Trustee Association
• Alberta Library Trustees Association workshops on specific topics presented from time to time
• Other library events, conferences and seminars
• Personal growth courses (adult education, etc)

Good trustees continually qualify themselves for the job as they serve.

The Library Trustee
By agreeing to become a public library trustee, you have consented to undertake several legal and moral obligations. The moral obligations include a belief in the importance and value of libraries, and a desire to contribute to their growth and development. The legal obligations are more complex.

Responsibilities of Trustees
By consenting to serve as a trustee, you are participating in the responsibilities of the board and may agree to do the following:

• The primary goal of public library trustees is to ensure that the public has access to the highest quality of library services possible.
• Trustees should ensure that each person has access to the most complete library service possible compatible with equal service for others. Where limitations in service are unavoidable, any inherent inequality of service should favour those residents least able to obtain alternate service.
• Library Trustees should observe ethical standards with truth, integrity, and honour.
• Trustees should avoid situations where personal advantage or financial benefits may be gained at the expense of other library users.
• Trustees should distinguish between their personal views and those of the institution by respecting the position of the board, even though they may disagree.
• Trustees should respect the confidential nature of library records within the framework which allows for the monitoring of material usage and the need for public accounting.
• Trustees should respect the established structure of the library.
• Trustees should attempt to work harmoniously with the board and ultimately accept its will.
• Trustees should limit their trusteeship role to policy governance and advocacy.
• Trustees are expected to take responsibility for their personal development through continuing education opportunities and participation in provincial and national library organizations.
• Trustees should support intellectual freedom in the selection of library material.

Code of Ethics
Library Boards exist to develop, promote and monitor library services as a public trust. To this end, library trustees should be committed to the following principles:

• Believe in and support the mission of your library.
• Be aware of your legal responsibilities as a trustee.
• Contribute knowledge or expertise in a major management area: financial personnel, program, policy or advocacy.
• Be aware of issues affecting your library.
• Handle board business effectively and fairly.
• Participate in development framework, governance and operational policies.
• Help to develop goals and objectives congruent with the library’s mission, designed to carry out board policies.
• Regularly evaluate and review policies, goals and objectives and amend as required.
• Help to secure adequate funds from government and alternate sources to carry out the goals and objectives.
• Participate in the financial management of the library.
• Develop awareness of the difference between board and staff roles.
• Participate in lobbying all levels of government for positive action for libraries.
• Increase your own and other trustees knowledge of library matters through discussion, ongoing orientation and attendance at workshops and conferences.
• Sit on at least one board committee.
• Participate in the organization and implementation of marketing plans and activities.
• Assist in the formation of partnerships with other community organizations.
• Comply with the Alberta Libraries Act and Regulation.
• Embrace the Alberta Library Trustees Association Code of Ethics and Canadian Library Associations Statement of Intellectual Freedom.

It is vital to remember that, as a trustee, you will always be perceived as representing the library in your community. Even though you may personally disagree with a board decision and are free to debate it during board meetings, you must endorse it in public.

The Public Trust
As a library trustee, you are trusted by your community to be responsible for your library. You represent the public interest of this and future generations in the management of that library and the services it provides. You are a creator of policy, employer of personnel, controller of finances and advocate of libraries.

You are expected to take the same care in managing the library’s affairs as you would your own. You must not manipulate the library’s affairs to your own advantage, and you may not agree in advance to turn a decision in a particular direction. If you are negligent or in breach of your duty as a trustee or knowingly collaborate on a breach committed by another trustee, you are liable for any loss sustained by the library as a result.