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Policy and bylaw requirements, templates and examples for public library boards.
Our Policies and Bylaws: A Guide for Alberta Public Library Boards document can help you develop effective policies and bylaws for your board.
Policies provide shape to the library service your staff provides. Good policy benefits your library in several ways.
To ensure they meet the changing needs of your community, your board should regularly review and update its policies.
According to the Libraries Act, public library boards may pass bylaws for the safety and use of library facilities. These bylaws protect your library and the people and things within it.
For more information on library bylaws, see:
Library board bylaws may be passed by a single motion of the board. However, boards often choose to read and pass the bylaws 3 times to ensure the information in them is complete and accurate.
Once your board has passed its bylaws, a copy must be sent to municipal council. Council may accept or disallow your board’s bylaws.
If your bylaws are disallowed, it's a good idea to ask your council why the bylaws were disallowed, so you can make appropriate changes that will be acceptable to municipal council.
After the bylaws are changed, they must be passed by your board once again before they are sent back to municipal council.
Your policies must comply with all applicable legislation, including the Libraries Act and Libraries Regulation.
Section 7 of the Libraries Regulation identifies 10 policies that your library board must have in place. These required policies are listed below. If your library board does not directly operate a physical service point, you only need the first 3 policies.
Your board may create other policies to suit your local needs (for example, public computer use and other personnel policies).
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
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