Public library board development

Resources for board members

The following is some information that may assist library board members with their ongoing education.

Governance pagers

Public Library Services Branch (PLSB) provides pagers on a variety of governance topics. These are short and specific documents designed to assist boards and councils in understanding their roles and responsibilities.  

• Appointments to the Municipal Library Board
• Appointments to the Intermunicipal Library Board
• Appointments to Library System Boards
• Municipal Councils and Library Boards: Roles and Responsibilities

Virtual Library Board Orientations

Public Library Services Branch offers online Board Orientations. During a Board Orientation, PLSB staff will present information about the structure of library service and board responsibilities in a two hour meeting.

Topics covered include:

• The structure of library service in Alberta, including a brief history of library service in Alberta and the roles of the province, the library system, the municipality and the board in library service delivery.
• The role of the board as whole, including essential information from the Libraries Act and Libraries Regulation, and information about the board’s plan of service, policies, bylaws, and budget.
• The roles and responsibilities of individual board members.

Contact us at 780-427-4871 or [email protected] to request a Board Orientation.

Library Board Basics workshops

Library Board Basics workshops presented by the Public Library Services Branch is great for new or experienced board members. All important issues are covered, including the Libraries Act and Libraries Regulation.

Alberta Library Trustees' Association

The Alberta Library Trustees' Association (ALTA) is the collective voice for library board members across Alberta and promotes effective library service and leadership through training, resources, communication and advocacy.

Board Development Program

The Board Development Program (BDP) focuses on improving the governance of non-profit organizations through curriculum-based training for groups on topics like board roles and responsibilities, policy development and effective use of committees.

BDP offers multi-board training in the form of open workshops, which are sponsored by any organization on behalf of the larger community anywhere in Alberta.

The workshops are for individual board volunteers and non-profit staff from any non-profit organization as well as anyone generally interested in governance.

BDP also provides a number of helpful information bulletins and workbooks (scroll down to the bottom of the Board Development Program page) for boards.

Contact

Connect with the Public Library Services Branch:

Phone: 780-427-4871
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
17th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 4L4