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

2. Piece by Piece: How To Assemble a Public Library

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

4. What are we up to?

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. Take a Break

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Lunch

16. 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

17. The Budget Piece

18. Take a Break

19. The Policies Piece

20. 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.

21. 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!

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Each group work together…..

26. 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

27. Stillwater Patron Confidentiality Advocacy & The Patriot Act

28. 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

29. 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!

30. The End Game – Who else is gonna do it?
The End Game – Who else is gonna do it?

31. 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

32. Thank You!