Short Takes for Trustees

Short Takes for Trustees is a series of 10 short videos (8-10 minutes each) that can be shown during Trustee meetings to stimulate discussion about the important role that Trustees play in the governance of their libraries. Topics in the series explain the basics, such as what it means to be a Trustee (discussing the broad fiduciary responsibilities of governing boards as well as the limits of an advisory board), as well as how to set policy, how to evaluate the library director (and why you should!), along with board self evaluation, and the ethical and parliamentary standards for boards — both governing and advisory.

The topics are:

• What It Means to Be a Trustee
• Board Meetings
• Board Ethics
• Library Advocacy
• Library Policies
• Strategic Planning
• Working with Friends
• Evaluating the Library Director
• Board Self Evaluation
• Succession Planning and New Board Orientation