Our partnership with United for Libraries (a division of the American Library Association) provides you with online trustee training resources. You will need to log into our website for access information.
Trustee Academy
The Trustee Academy is a series of online courses offered by United for Libraries to help Trustees become exceptionally proficient in their roles on behalf of their libraries.
All of the online courses are taught by a professional in the field. Courses include:
- Trustee Competencies
- Working Effectively with Your Library Director
- The Library's Budget for Trustees
- Standing Up for Intellectual Freedom
- Everyday Advocacy - Why the Library Matters!
Short Takes for Trustees
Short Takes for Trustees is a series of short videos (8-10 minutes each) that can be shown during board meetings to stimulate discussion about the important role that Trustees play in the governance of their libraries.
Topics in the series explain the basics, such as what it means to be a Trustee (discussing the broad fiduciary responsibilities of governing boards as well as the limits of an advisory board), as well as how to set policy, how to evaluate the library director (and why you should), along with board self evaluation, and the ethical and parliamentary standards for boards — both governing and advisory.