Trustee Newsletter

News and information relevant to public library trustees, sent monthly on the second Tuesday.

In this Issue Continuing Education Spotlight Resource Spotlight Looking Back

Continuing Education Spotlight

Libraries and Literacy: A conversation with Crosby Kemper and Jennie Stapp

The third installment in our series on Connecting with Local Government Officials.

Join State Librarian Jennie Stapp as she interviews Crosby Kemper, IMLS Director (retired), about libraries, literacy, and how to join forces with local governments in solving issues around literacy in our communities.

• Thursday, October 17
• 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• 1 credit - Library Administration

Resource Spotlight

Written Plans

If you were not able to attend one of the three planning workshops held in October (the last one is in Livingston on October 22), please take a few minutes to review the MSL Public Library Strategic Planning Handbook. The handbook includes sample planning documents.

Handbook Introduction

What is Strategic Planning? 

Strategic planning is a responsibility of the library board, a process which helps set mission driven priorities for the library. 

ARM 10.102.1158 LIBRARY BOARD, GOVERNANCE, AND WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR  (8)  The public library board, in consultation with the director, shall identify in writing what they want to accomplish in the next three to five years, and that plan shall be focused on meeting community needs.  The board and director shall annually review their plan and progress made. 

The result of this planning process is a strategic plan, a written plan that identifies the outcomes, or changes, you want to create in your community, and what the library needs to do to achieve these outcomes. The plan is designed to help guide the board as you work with your director to make decisions about staff and budget priorities for the next few years. 

Without a plan, your library would probably continue to provide good day-to-day service, but you might not be preparing for the library’s role in the community’s future as well as you could with a thoughtfully written plan. If the library’s budget changes, for better or for worse, a plan can help make funding priorities clear so that the board’s responsibility in setting the budget is made easier. Planning can also help with achieving goals that span multiple years or require significant effort and/or funding.

• Is your community changing?
• Is it growing, shrinking?
• Are there new challenges or opportunities in your community?
• What does your community need?
• How might the library help address those needs? 

Think about your library’s mission. What does your community need the library to do to successfully navigate these changes, challenges, and opportunities?  You can answer these questions through your strategic plan.

If you have any questions about planning, please contact your MSL Consultant for additional support.

Looking Back

Montana Libraries Newsletter - April 1963

Read past issues of the Trustee Newsletter and important announcements from MSL.

Visit this webpage for handbooks and resources just for trustees.

Statewide Consulting Librarians are assigned to individual public libraries within specified consulting territories. These territories are based on the six Library Federations. 

The consulting program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Montana State Library.