By Ellen Miller
Library board culture rules! So where does yours fit on a six-point continuum, from passive to passionate? At the July 31st “Motivating Your Board” webinar, most participants chose the middle ground.
Boards listen to three proven motivators—lawsuits, money and facilities. Trustee Jim Connor told how a meeting room policy caused a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court. Partnerships should include for-profit entities, too. And whether you repaint, remodel or get a new building, you’ve boosted the library’s and the board’s image.
Transitioning from one board to another can be thorny. The previous Aztec, NM advisory board loved high-profile partnerships that got national kudos. The new board worried about being over-extended. To bring the new board on board, director Leanne Hathcock:
- Invited state library staff to talk about legal responsibilities and roles
- Reviewed facts about the library’s acclaimed partnerships
- Had the board do more, e.g., set its meeting agendas
One bonus for having a passionate board? It makes recruiting the trustee skill set you need easier!
View the webinar archive for more tips and register now for the upcoming two-part trustee/board webinar, “Library Value: What’s Your Score?”
- October 9, 2008—“TWO goal posts: Library & Community”
- November 13, 2008—“Your Library’s Role: Bulls-eye or Fringe?”