Wisconsin Library Trustee Resource Page

Tools and Resources for Wisconsin Public Library Board Members

This page provides resources of value to Wisconsin public library board members (trustees), as well as tools that can be used to support trustee training and trustee continuing education. For many, many more resources for the Wisconsin public library community, visit the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning's Public Library Development Team Home Page.

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for additional resources.

John DeBacher, Public Library Administration Consultant <

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Contents

Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Handbook

Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees This new handbook comprises 27 "Trustee Essentials", each covering an issue of importance to library board members. Additional "Trustee Tools" provide important reference information. Electronic versions of each section of the handbook are available here.

Wisconsin Trustee Training Modules

You can use these trustee training modules either with the full version of Microsoft PowerPoint, or with the free version of PowerPoint Viewer. You can download the free installer for PowerPoint Viewer 2003 from Microsoft's site. Feel free to print and copy these modules for use in trustee training or continuing education as well.

• Introducing Trustee Essentials MS PowerPoint file
• Library Board Powers and Duties Trustee Training Module #1 MS PowerPoint file
• Development of Essential Policies for Public Libraries Trustee Training Module #2 MS PowerPoint file

Other Trustee Training Resources

The Pennsylvania State Library offers over a number of useful Trustee Toolkit Training presentations in PowerPoint format. These presentations, prepared by The Ivy Group and funded by an LSTA grant, may be useful for discussion of corresponding issues with Wisconsin library boards. Be aware, however, that some of the laws, guidelines, and provisions covered in the presentations may apply only to public libraries in Pennsylvania.

Library Administration and Legal Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Public Library Administration and Governance.
• Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors.
• Chapter 43 - Wisconsin Public Library and System Statutes PDF file
• Copyright - Copyright Resources for Schools and Libraries
• Wisconsin Statutes, Acts, Attorney General Opinions, Revisor of Statutes Bureau
• Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law and Library Board Closed Sessions
• Wisconsin Attorney General's Open Meeting Law Compliance Guide PDF file
• FAQ About Wisconsin's Public Records Law
• Records Retention Schedule for Wisconsin Public Libraries and Public Library Systems approved by the Public Records Board for adoption and use by public library boards
• Wisconsin Attorney General's Public Records Law Compliance Outline PDF file
• County Library Planning and Funding and Other Act 150 Library Law Changes
• Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance With the Parental Access to Library Records Law
• Wisconsin League of Municipalities Frequently Asked Municipal Legal Questions
• Wisconsin League of Municipalities Article on Municipal Library Board Authority

Newsletters

Two newsletters published by the DLTCL provide news and other information of interest to the Wisconsin library community. Channel is distributed to every public library trustee and library system trustee in Wisconsin. Channel Weekly is the electronic newsletter of the DLTCL. More information, including how to subscribe to Channel Weekly, as well as access to current and back issues of both publications, is available below.

• Channel
• Channel Weekly

Public Library Standards

These standards define a basic level of library service that should be available to all residents of Wisconsin and also provide a pathway to excellence in library service.

• Wisconsin Public Library Standards, Fourth Edition (2005)
• OWLS Public Library Standards Web Page Rick Krumwiede, Director of the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS), has developed this web page covering use of the Wisconsin Public Library Standards. Included is a handy tool that will automatically calculate the quantitative standards levels for your library. All you need to input is your library name, municipal population, and library service population.

Trustee and Related Library Organizations

• Wisconsin Library Trustee Association (WLTA)
• Wisconsin Library Association (WLA)
• Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL)
• Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA)
• Friends of Wisconsin Libraries (FOWL)
• Friends of Libraries U.S.A.(FOLUSA)

Wisconsin Public Library Statistics

• Wisconsin Public Library Statistics (http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/dm-lib-stat.html). The statistics available from this page allow for comparisons of each Wisconsin public library to similarly situated public libraries in Wisconsin. Statistics are available in Excel and HTML format.

Public Library Policies and Board Bylaws

An important library board responsibility is establishing regulations and policies for the operation of the board and library and for the services provided by the library to the public.

• Wisconsin Public Library Policy Resources Page. This web page provides resources to help Wisconsin public libraries develop local library policies. Links to Wisconsin public library policies are provided as a resource to help libraries develop and refine their own policies.
• Sample Policies for the Small Public Library. These sample polices were developed by the Small Library Committee of the Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians. 2nd Edition, Revised by David L. Polodna, 1999.
• Sample Library Board Bylaws for Wisconsin Public Libraries. These sample board bylaws were developed by DLTCL staff and may be freely adapted for local library use.

Public Library Director Certification

Wisconsin library boards must hire a library director who qualifies for appropriate certification and who maintains that certification through required continuing education. See the links below for further information on this requirement.

• Certification Resource Page for Wisconsin Public Library Directors. Forms and information on the certification requirements and process for public library directors. Appendix C of the manual summarizes the issues relevant to public library boards in Wisconsin.
• Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors. The entire Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors is available here in PDF format.

Other Resources for Library Trustees

• Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) Trustee Page. This web page also provides links to many resources in Wisconsin and beyond that may be of interest to trustees.
• Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) Public Library Trustee Links. Another web page with trustee links.
• South Central Library System (SCLS) Trustee Page. Provides resources for library trustee orientation and Wisconsin library law.
• Ethics Statement for Public Library Trustees. PDF file This statement was adopted by the Board of the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA).

For questions about this information, contact John K. DeBacher (608) 266-7270

Last updated on 2/25/2008 12:51:43 PM