RESOURCE MATERIALS
"What do Trustees do?"
NHLTA has compiled a package of materials for the newly elected trustee as an introduction to understanding their position: a description of the Library Trustee Board, Code of Ethics, Trustee Job Description and Qualifications, a chart identifying the delegation of responsibilities between the library director and the board, description of Friends of the Library, list of RSAs applicable to libraries and additional resources. Trustee 101.
"FIRST AMENDMENT" Audits: What Are They and How Do You Handle One?”
Excellent article in the NHMA July/August 2023 Town & City magazine.
LINK to the webinar available on NHMA Youtube.
BUILDING PROJECTS
Architects, Planners, Project Managers, Builders, etc. LIST
MANAGEMENT MATERIALS
Management materials such as "Best Practices" and samples from other libraries are provided for trustee board use. Be aware that the contents have not passed any legal review.
Information on Right-to-Know law including Nonpublic Session Checklist and Minutes Form on the NH Municipal Association (NHMA) website
The following articles are for reference only and are available with permission from the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA). New Hampshire Town and City magazine articles are copyright protected by the New Hampshire Municipal Association, Concord, NH.
Legal Q & A: The NH Right-to-Know Law: A Year in Review July/August 2018
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
PERSONNEL
GOVERNANCE
Funds Management:
Volunteers Best Practices NH State Library (Rev 12-2019)
NH RSA 202-A:11 authorized trustees to "Adopt bylaws, rules and regulations for its own transaction of business and for the government of the library."
Bylaws
Bylaws define the governing and operational rules and procedures of the library and the trustee board. For example, typical bylaws would include election and terms of board officers, officer position descriptions, meeting schedule, templates for agenda and minutes. Bylaws should be reviewed on a regular basis to keep current with changing needs and statutes. Bylaws cannot override or be counter to existing laws. NHLTA recommends that byllaws be reviewed by an attorney to ensure compliance. Bylaws are a public document and should be available to the public. NHLTA has compiled a list of samples.
Personnel policies
Every library should have library-specific personnel policies that include employment position descriptions and classifications, conditions of work, benefits (including all leave and vacation policies), employment practices, and personnel processes (including paycheck distribution, discipline and grievance procedures). Personnel policies should be reviewed on a regular basis to keep current with changing needs and statutes. Personnel policies cannot override or be counter to existing laws. NHLTA recommends that personnel policies be reviewed by an attorney to ensure compliance. Personnel policies are a public document and should be available to the public.
Library policies
Library policies are set by the board to define library services and operations such as hours of operation, customer relations, staffing, employee conduct and other operational matters. Policies should be reviewed on a regular basis to keep current with changing needs and statutes. Policies cannot override or be counter to existing laws. NHLTA recommends that policies be reviewed by an attorney to ensure compliance. Policies are a public document and should be available to the public. NHLTA has compiled a recommended LIST of library policies.
SAMPLES
Community Health & Safety Policy (post pandemic) Jaffrey Public Library (Jan 2023)
NETWORKING
Co-ops
Public libraries in New Hampshire are clustered into 11 library co-ops. These co-ops are a good source for finding neighboring library trustee boards to organize regional gatherings to network and share information, and talk about issues that are common to all trustees.
The following lists contain co-op and population information and can be downloaded.
Library list sorted by city/town name in alpha order with co-op
Library list sorted by population
Library list sorted by co-op in alpha order
Library list sorted by co-op and population
PDF files are opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader, available at Adobe's web site.
