Public Library Administration Welcome! This class is presented by the Institute in Public Librarianship and sponsored through a grant from IMLS.

Piece by Piece: How To Assemble a Public Library

What is a public library? No notes The library is many things, to many people. Video

What are we up to?

Getting the Pieces Together How do we build a public library?

The Government Piece The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man. -T.S. Eliot

How do you get from an idea of a library to an actual, finished product? (Hint: You can’t wish it into existence!) Oklahoma Title 11/Oklahoma Statutes Steps to Create a Public Library Sample Ordinance

Your group has just been given a library, check it out. Group Work

Take a Break

The Library Board & Library Director Piece Someone has to be in charge—in this case it’s a group of people. Responsibilities of the Library Board Responsibilities of the Library Director The Library Board & Library Director Piece

An ordinance has passed An ordinance has passed! Each of you at the table has been appointed as a municipal library board member. Discuss what you need to do as a board to get the library started and prioritize the responsibilities. Discuss as a group. What are the major differences from a municipal board and a system board? Group Work

Group Work Next, you need to hire a Library Director Group discussion: Qualifications Qualities Group discussion: Board vs. Director Advisory vs. Governing Board Board-hires vs. City-hired Library Director Board-hired vs. City-hired Library Employees Group Work

Additional Help-which is best for your community. Volunteers Additional Help-which is best for your community? Volunteers Friends of the Library-Link Library Foundation

Lunch

You have your library ordinance in place, you have a board of directors, & you have a library director. Now, let’s put together a budget. The Money Piece

The Budget Piece

Take a Break

The Policies Piece

Now that your project library is up & running, you are prepared to sit back & relax, right? Every library will need to decide what general policies best suit their community & make the most sense for them. These policies may change over time as the community changes.

What’s happening? It’s all about the policies! There are some strange things happening at your little library…… Young children are running rampant People are monopolizing computer time– all day! Someone is bathing in the men’s room Groups are using meeting room space to sell There is a bomb threat Staff are not following policies Customers report that inappropriate videos are being watched What’s happening? It’s all about the policies!

Policies Types of Policies to consider: Circulation Computer & Internet Use Emergencies Exhibits Meeting Rooms Reference Rules of Conduct for Library Behavior Safety for Children Computer Use What else? Policies

Sample Policy Statements Child Safety   Watonga - overview of a small/rural library  EODLS Meeting Room policies  Stillwater Computer Usage  Rules of Conduct for Metro  Sample Policy Statements

How to Write & Evaluate a Policy Clearly DEFINE the position on an issue Have a clear PURPOSE for the policy DEVELOP the policy to make sure it accurately reflects the intention EVALUATE policies on an annual basis to make sure they are still up to date & relevant to your library How to Write & Evaluate a Policy

Each group work together…..

What policies did you come up with that you think are universal for public libraries? What policies did you think might be specific to your project library? Do you have anything different or unique at your home library? What are policies VS. procedures? Discussion

Stillwater Patron Confidentiality Advocacy & The Patriot Act

Putting the Pieces Together What Now? Get Involved & Advocate State Associations- Oklahoma Library Association, FOLIO National Associations- ALA, PLA, ARSL, & special interest groups State Resources- Oklahoma Department of Libraries Local Resources- city councils, county commissioners, mayors, other government or nonprofit entities, police, fire, community groups, OSU extension office, friends group, and churches. Putting the Pieces Together

Change is Constant! Continually Evaluate How The Library is Doing: Staff Surveys Customer Surveys Performance Measures Tracking Impact Surveys Be Willing to Change to Fit the Changing Needs of Your Community Change is Constant!

The End Game – Who else is gonna do it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa6ERdxyYdo The End Game – Who else is gonna do it?

Wrapping Up How do you feel about your library? Is it off to a good start ? Is there anything that should be added to help it run well? Thoughts and Questions? Wrapping Up

Thank You!