IFLS Blog

Library Personnel:

Library Y has three part time staff members including the director. The library has recently hired a new director. One of the staff members served as interim director during the hiring process. Some library board members continue to discuss library business with the staff member and not the director.

Is this a problem? Yes. It undermines the lines of authority between the Library Board, Director and Staff. The Library Board hires the Library Director to manage the library. The Library Director in turn has the authority by statute to hire and supervise the staff. The Library Board would set the number of employees for the library while the Director would recruit and hire those individuals. Communication from staff to the board except in very unusual circumstances should occur via the director.

Based upon Trustee Essential #2 Who Runs the Library? & Trustee Essential #7 The Library Board and Library Personnel

For additional Trustee Resources visit the IFLS Trustee Web Page