2026 United for Libraries Virtual - Trustee / Board Member Day

 

Be the BEST Public Library Trustee You Can Be

Leanne Furby, Project Manager and Developer of the iLEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Accessibility, and Development for Public Library Trustees) initiative at the Illinois Heartland Library System

This program is built specifically for library Boards of Trustees, focusing on the topics that matter most to them. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of board experience, this session is packed with practical insights to strengthen your leadership. We’ll dive into ethics, proven strategies for running effective board meetings, and how to structure your board for success. You’ll gain a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities, especially the key differences between the library director and trustee roles. Plus, we’ll share innovative ways to bring this training to your trustees through online learning, making it easier than ever to build strong, informed boards.

Breaking Down Silos: Building Stronger Partnerships Between Boards and Library Leadership

Jaketha Farmer, Assistant Library Director, DeSoto (TX) Public Library

Libraries depend on strong relationships between leadership, staff, and governing bodies to effectively serve their communities. However, many organizations experience internal silos that create barriers to communication, alignment, and shared decision-making. This session explores how silos can develop not only within library operations, but also between leadership and governance. Participants will examine common patterns that contribute to misalignment and learn practical strategies to strengthen communication, clarify roles, and support more effective collaboration between directors and trustees.

Drawing from professional experience and organizational leadership research, this session provides a framework for recognizing silo behaviors and offers actionable approaches that support transparency, collaboration, and shared understanding across all levels of the organization.

From Strategy to Advocacy: How State Libraries and Boards Drive Innovation and Funding for Local Impact

Nicholas Alexander Brown-Cáceres, Chief of the Library of Congress Music Division, and Morgan Lehr Miller, Maryland State Librarian and Head of the State Library Agency

State libraries are often the unseen engines behind local library success, driving innovation, coordinating services, and ensuring equitable access across entire states. Using Maryland as a case study, this session explores how a modern state library agency, in partnership with its state library board, functions as both an innovation hub and a strategic advocate. Participants will gain insight into how statewide planning, cross-sector partnerships, and data-informed decision-making translate into real-world impact—from digital inclusion and broadband initiatives to specialized services like the Maryland State Library for the Blind & Print Disabled. The session will also highlight how state library boards play a critical governance role in setting direction, ensuring accountability, and advancing a vision for innovation.

Equally important, this session introduces a second, often underexplored dimension of board leadership: advocacy. Attendees will learn how state library boards can effectively champion funding for innovation at both the state and federal levels, including engagement with programs such as IMLS/LSTA and partnerships that expand resources for local libraries. Grounded in practical examples, this session offers trustees a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how state-level leadership and advocacy work together to strengthen libraries at every level.

Library Champions: Building Advocates Through Shared Learning

Sheila Schofer, Director, Ames (IA) Public Library; Megan Klein-Hewett, Adult Services Manager, Ames (IA) Public Library, Tracy Briseño, Customer Account Services Manager, Ames (IA) Public Library, Brianne Anderson, Youth Services Manager, Ames (IA) Public Library, and Alissa Dornink, Resource Services Manager, Ames (IA) Public Library

In the last five years, Iowa has seen an overwhelming number of library averse bills in the state legislature. As a way to combat misinformation and build community trust, Ames Public Library created a program for library advocates called Library Champions. Through this four-part series, library staff teach community advocates about library principles, policy, and procedures, then give participants a chance to use the knowledge they’ve learned through engaging exercises.  

This program will share how the Library Champions program was created, clarify the vital role of the Library Board in supporting library advocacy, and provide details about how your public library can create a similar cohort of library advocates.

Navigating the Hiring Process: Finding the Right Director for Your Library

Tanya Ryals, Integrated Library Systems Specialist, University of Northern Iowa and former Public Library Director

Hiring a new library director comes with many challenges but, also, with many opportunities for the future growth of your library. This session will prepare trustees for how to navigate the process and find a great candidate. This session is a great fit for all trustees, even those who do not foresee an upcoming director transition.

If you experience any problems registering, please email united@ala.org for assistance.