Administrative Essentials:
A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors

Contents Page

Note: Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors is being drafted and developed by the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning ©Copyright 2008, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Links are provided below to those chapters that have been reviewed by the advisory panel, but the documents should still be considered to be drafts. As more chapters are drafted, reviewed, and corrected, they will be posted and linked to this DPI Website. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to John DeBacher, Public Library Administration Consultant, DPI, (608) 266-7270, john.debacher@dpi.wi.gov

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Administrative Essentials:

AE 1: The Mission of the Public Library
The public library's mission | The library in the community | Basic characteristics of a public library in Wisconsin | Brief history of public libraries in Wisconsin | Statutory basis of a public library in Wisconsin | Sources of additional information

AE 2: The Director's Job Description

AE 3: Who Runs the Library?
Responsibilities of the library director | Responsibilities of the library board | The division of labor between the library director and the board | Responsibilities of the municipal government | Sources of additional information

AE 4: Working with the Library Board Administrative support for the library board | Leadership issues | Communication with the board | Director and board relationship | Recruitment of new board members | Continuing education for trustees | Orientation of new board members | Sample Trustee Orientation Checklist

AE 5: Effective Library Board Meetings
Preparation of the meeting agenda | Director's report | Legal requirements | Conduct of meetings | Effective decision-making | Continuing trustee education at meetings | Sources of additional information | Sample Board Meeting Agenda | Sample Annual Library Board Calendar

AE 6: Orientation of a New Library Director
Library Director Orientation Checklist for Library Boards and Systems

AE 7: Library Director Certification
Wisconsin's Public Library Director Certification Law | Your responsibilities | Summary of certification requirements | Recertification and Required continuing education | Sources of additional information

AE 8: Public Services
Library service philosophy | Library service to children | Library service to young adults | Library service to adults | Library service to people with special needs | Reference and information services | Public access computers | Measuring library service | Sources of additional information

AE 9: Accessible Library Services
Library services to people with disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act | Mobility impairments | Blindness and vision impairments | Deafness and hearing impairments | Developmental delays / brain injury / mental illness | Sources of additional information

AE 10: Technical Services
Technical services and library automation Selection and acquisition of materials | Organization and cataloging of library materials | Circulation of materials | Interlibrary loan | Delivery of materials | Processing and repair of library materials | Sources of additional information

AE 11: The Library as Employer
Role of the board and role of the director | Legal issues in hiring and employment | Lines of communication | Board meetings on personnel issues | Staff compensation | Promotions | Personnel policy | Library employee unions | Grievance procedures

AE 12: Managing the Staff
Staff selection | Staff training | Supervision and discipline | Evaluation | Personnel records | Continuing education for library staff | Volunteers

AE 13: Developing the Library Budget
The process of budget development | Sources of funding | Grant writing | Desirable budget characteristics | Terms and distinctions | Sample Format of a Minimal Library Budget

AE 14: Managing the Library's Money
Approval of library expenditures | Financial record-keeping/statements/reports | Gifts and donations | Sales tax | Annual report | Audit | Sample Trust/Gift Fund Report

AE 15: Policies and Procedures
Typical library policies | Policy development steps | Legally defensible policies | Policy versus procedure | Policies for Results | Policy Audit | Procedure and procedure manuals

AE 16: Planning for the Library's Future
The importance of planning | Planning basics | PLA's New Planning for Results | Wisconsin Library Standards | County library standards | Technology planning | A plan outline

AE 17: Membership in the Library System
Benefits of library system membership | History of Library Systems in Wisconsin | Membership requirements for libraries | Membership requirements for counties | Required system services | How to be a good system member

AE 18: Library Advocacy, Public Relations and Marketing
Staying informed | Ways to advocate | Public relations techniques | Development and implementation of a marketing plan | Role of other organizations (WLA, ALA, etc.)

AE 19: Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law
Meeting notice | Location and conduct of meetings | Meeting minutes | Closed sessions | Avoiding legal penalties

AE 20: Wisconsin's Public Records Law
Responding to public records requests | Which records are public? | Records custodian responsibilities | Personnel records | Records containing personal information | Records copying fees | Records retention | Penalties for violations

AE 21: Ethics and Conflict of Interest Laws
Code of ethics for local officials | Acceptance of gifts | Private interests in public contracts | Misconduct in office | Employment and "incompatible" positions | Penalties | Liability issues

AE 22: Library Building Accessibility
Role of the board / role of the director / role of the municipality | ADA background on building compliance | General access issues | Outside the library | Inside the library | Specific ADA regulations for public libraries

AE 23: Facilities management
Policies | Role of the municipality | Safety | Signage | Maintenance and repairs | Space planning | Remodeling projects | New building projects

AE 24: Collection Development
Selecting library materials | Collection development policy | Gift materials | Weeding the library's collection | The 1st Amendment and the Library Bill of Rights | The challenge policy |The director's role in dealing with challenges | Public hearings | Sample Complaint / Concern Form | Sample Board Policy for Handling Material Complaint / Concerns

AE 25: Freedom of Expression and Privacy Policies
Internet access policy | Internet filtering | Meeting room and exhibit and display policies | Confidentiality of library records and library use

AE 26: Library Friends and Library Foundations
"Friends" organizations | Library foundations | Financial support from Friends and library foundations | Donations to the library

AE 27: Copyright Issues
Basic law | Copyright notices | Copyright and interlibrary loan | Copyright and programming | Licenses and digital materials

Administrative Tools:
A: Important State and Federal Laws Pertaining to Public Library Operation
B: Library System Map and Contact Information
C: DLTCL Contact Information
D: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

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Administrative Essential: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors was prepared by the Division for Libraries, Technology & Community Learning. ©Copyright 2008 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Duplication and distribution for not-for-profit purposes permitted with this copyright notice.

For questions about this information, contact John K. DeBacher (608) 266-7270

Last updated on 6/26/2008 12:24:48 PM