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Trustees and the Board
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Chapter 1: Getting Started
Section: Continued Learning
Effective library trusteeship requires ongoing learning and training. There are many opportunities for you and your Board to keep learning, including the following recommendations.
- Montana State Library: http://msl.mt.gov
- MLA: www.mtlib.org
- ALA : www.ala.org
- ALTA: www.ala.org/alta
- MPLA: www.mpla.us
- PNLA: www.pnla.org
Essential
- Set aside time at each meeting to review an aspect of the library’s administration or services.
- Rotate meeting locations at branches of a system.
Good ideas
- Join the Montana Library Association (MLA).
- Attend MLA’s annual conference and other events.
- Attend State Library-sponsored events.
Other opportunities
- Attend the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference.
- Participate in professional organizations: Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA), the Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) and Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA).
See Chapter 18, Libraries and Library Organizations, for more information about the library organizations mentioned here.
Library Board Education Program (LBEP)
LBEP provides free customized Board training on a variety of topics related to trustee responsibilities and library law. Conducted by experienced trustees who volunteer their time, the workshops run from one to three hours and are held at the local library. The program is funded by the Library Services and Technology Act. You can contact the State Library for more information or to schedule a training workshop.
Montana Library Event Calendar
This online statewide training/event calendar provides a focused source of information for library-related activities that trustees and libraries can use as a planning tool. The calendar is managed by the State Library and Lewis and Clark County Library in Helena.
