policies check-up for montana public libraries
TRANSCRIPT
Jo Flick & Sarah McHugh
Montana State Library
Fall Workshops 2015
Assess the status of policies at your library
Explore resources for developing better
policies
Review legal issues related to library policies
Name a library policy on the index card
List 1-7 below the name of the policy
On the opposite side, predict how well this policy will score on our scale. Will it be: GREAT
Okay – could be tweaked a little
Needs work
Needs to be completely overhauled
1. statement, regulation, procedure & guidelines
2. legal
3. created with opportunity for public input
4. in writing, published & accessible
5. applied objectively
6. enforced consistently
7. reviewed regularly
http://midhudson.org/topics/director-resources/policies/
0-4
5-8
9-15
16-21
Needs to be completely overhauled or
repealed
Needs work – or repeal
Okay – needs some tweaking
GREAT! But, make sure it gets
reviewed once every 3 years anyway
Merriam-Webster:
Prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs
A high-level overall plan embracing the general goals
and acceptable procedures especially of a
governmental body
Dictionary.com
A definite course of action adopted for the sake of
expediency
BusinessDictionary.com
Principles, rules and guidelines formulated or adopted
by an organization to reach its long-term goals and
published in a booklet or other form that is widely
accessible
Translate service priorities into actions
Allow staff to perform jobs effectively
Ensure equal treatment for all
Educate public
Provide legal support
Other reasons?
“The board develops, studies, evaluates, reviews, updates and adopts as necessary all library policies at least once every three years. When the board reviews library policies, the policies effect on the library’s relations with the public are evaluated.
The public must have easy access to written policies, procedures, and bylaws.
The board as adopted and reviewed a personnel policy within the last three years.
The board adopts a collection management policy that I reviews every three years. The policy addresses the use of electronic resources
The library has policies and/or procedures for services provided.
The board develops, studies, evaluates, reviews, updates and adopts as necessary all library policies at least once every three years. When the board reviews library policies, the policies effect on the library’s relations with the public are evaluated.
The public must have easy access to written policies, procedures, and bylaws.
The board as adopted and reviewed a personnel policy within the last three years.
The board adopts a collection management policy that I reviews every three years. The policy addresses the use of electronic resources.
The library has policies and/or procedures for services provided.
Brief statement of WHY
Define regulation, procedure or guideline –
WHAT the policy establishes
Outline HOW staff implements policy and any
enforcements
Include public and staff input
Conduct discussion of the proposed policy in
open, announced, public meetings
Gain official approval by library board
Right to know – Article II, Section 9
No person shall be deprived of the right to examine
documents or to observe the deliberations of all public
bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions,
except incases in which the demand of individual privacy
clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.
Right to participation - Article II, Section 8
The public has the right to expect governmental agencies to
afford such reasonable opportunity for citizen participation
in the operation of the agencies prior to the final decision as
may be provided by law.
MCA § 2-3-203(1)
Meetings of public agencies and certain
associations of public agencies to be open to
public -- exceptions.(1) All meetings of public
or governmental bodies, boards, bureaus,
commissions, agencies of the state, or any
political subdivision of the state or
organizations or agencies supported in whole
or in part by public funds, or expending public
funds, including the supreme court, must be
open to the public.
14th Amendment - All persons born or
naturalized in the United States, and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the State wherein they
reside. No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Your county or city may have additional
protections for citizens that could affect what
policies you may implement
Your MSL Consulting Librarians:
Pam Henley [email protected]
Suzanne Reymer [email protected]
Lauren McMullen [email protected]
