Trustees: Virtual Trustee Orientations

MBLC: 

• Commissioners
•  Library Funding Organizational Chart 

Library Funding 101

• Library Statistics - Financial Data 
• General Fund and Library Expenditures from Division of Local Services 
• State Aid and ARIS
• State Aid: Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR)
• State Aid: Minimum Standards of Free Public Library Service
• Federal Funding: IMLS Grants to States 
• Private Funding from Friends, Foundations, Trust Funds 

United for Libraries Statewide Access: 

• Register for Statewide Access
• United for Libraries, division of the American Library Association

Board Roles and Responsibilities:

Diversity on Boards: 

• Friends and Trustees Under 40: Recruit Them, Retain Them, Engage Them from United for Libraries 
• Recruiting for Board Diversity — Without Disrespecting People of Color by Jim Taylor, BoardSource 
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion  
• Integrating Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity into Your Board Culture with Jim Taylor, BoardSource
  United for Libraries Virtual Conference -  August 2020 
• Board Assessments Tools: 
  • Taking Action on Board Diversity: Five Questions to Get You Started
• AWAKE to WOKE to WORK: Building a Race Equity Culture

The Monthly Board Meeting: 

• Great Boards Don't Happen by Accident from United for Libraries Virtual Conference - August 2020
• Communication and Dispute Resolution Strategies for Board Problems from United for Libraries Virtual Conference - August 2020
• Preparing for More Effective, Focused, and Strategic Board Meetings from BoardSource 

By-laws, Policy, and Planning: 

• Overview of Bylaws by BoardSource
• Bylaws Dos and Don'ts by BoardSource 
• Massachusetts Policy Collection from the Massachusetts Library System 
• Collection Development Policy as mandated in Massachusetts General Law Chapter 78 Section 33 
• ALA's Library Bill of Rights 
• Strategic Planning for Libraries from the Massachusetts Library System
• Planning Requirements from MBLC 
• Disaster Planning Resources 
• MBLC Disaster Assistance 

Legal Responsibilities:

• MGL Chapter 78
• Ethics Commission and Conflict of Interest Law
  • FAQs on Libraries 
  • Special Municipal Employee status
• Town/City Charters and Home Rule Petitions 
• Open Meeting Law
  • Educational Materials
  • FAQs
• Open Meeting Law + Covid19
  • Trustees: Open Meeting Law and Social Distancing
• Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance
• • Public Employees, Public Resources and Political Activity Guide

Know when to ask for help: 

• MBLC Consultants and Staff
• Trustee Discussion List - Massachusetts and National (Statewide Group Membership from United for Libraries) 
• Massachusetts Municipal Association 

Public Library Construction Program: 

• FY21 Construction Grant FAQ

Advocacy: 

• Advocacy and Equity-How Library Boards Can Create Lasting Impact through Compelling Cases and Outreach
  from United for Libraries Virtual Conference - August 2020
• Your E? - The E's of Libraries from United for Libraries Everyday Advocacy Series 

Know your Elected Officials

• Find My Legislator

Get Involved + Stay Informed

• United for Libraries Statewide Access
  http://www.ala.org/united/login/mass
• Massachusetts Library Association
  https://www.masslib.org/
• Massachusetts School Library Association
  https://www.maschoolibraries.org/
• Massachusetts Library Trustee Association
• Western MA Library Advocates
  http://www.wmladvocates.org/
• Central MA Library Advocates
  https://www.cmlagroup.org/
• New England Library Association
  http://nelib.org/
• American Library Association - United for Libraries 
  http://www.ala.org/united/

At our in person orientations. we provide a packet with various MBLC materials to assist trustees. Those materials are linked below.