This document provides information about the roles and responsibilities of trustees for public libraries in Tennessee. It discusses: - The organizational structure of the Tennessee public library system including the State Library and Archives, 9 regional libraries, and county/municipal library boards. - The various types of support and consultants provided to public libraries through the regional system including technology support, library information systems specialists, and regional library staff. - The key responsibilities of trustees which include actively participating in meetings, advocating for the library, following ethics and evaluation policies, and continuing their education about libraries and community needs. - The services provided through the regional system such as consulting, technology support, resource sharing, and continuing education opportunities.

1. What Every Trustee Should Know
What is your piece of the puzzle?
Presentation for the 2013 Tennessee Trustee Workshop

2. Your Library is
the
Center of the
puzzle.

3.  Secretary of State
◦ State Librarian and Archivist
 Director of Regional Libraries (and eight Planning and
Development support personnel)
 9 Regional Libraries with consultants – Regional Director and
Assistant Director – both with Master’s Degrees in Library and
Information Science
 County/Municipal library boards
 Public libraries and their staff members
TENNESSEE
A total of 27 state
consultants to support
public libraries

4.  In addition to the Planning and Development staff and
the professional librarians at the regional libraries,
Tennessee also provides
Technology Support personnel
through the
Information System Division of the Department of
State.
One Network Services Manager
Four Network Service Consultants
And
Nine Library Information Systems Specialists

5.  Annual Library Service
Agreement between
local library board and
Secretary of
State, Tennessee State
Library and Archives
(TSLA)
 Annual Maintenance of
Effort Agreement
between local
government funding
body(ies) and Secretary
of State, Tennessee
State Library and
Archives (TSLA)

8.  Prepare for and attend board and
committee meetings
 Actively participate in meetings
and library support events.
 Be a team player.
 Support all decisions of the board.

9.  Fight for the future of your
library.
 Be an advocate for the library
and the community – at all
times.
 Be a supporter of intellectual
freedom and lifelong
education for everyone.
 Show respect – for the role
of the library director, the
staff, and for other trustees.

10.  Adopt a library board
code of ethics.
 Recommend a library
staff code of ethics.

11.  Follow an appropriate hiring
process.
 Enable the director to
continue their education by
attending workshops,
conferences.
 Let them do their job.
 Evaluate regularly.

12.  Put forth an effort
to learn about
your library, other
libraries, library
trends, and your
community needs.

13. • Know and use your
library services.
• Attend your library
programs.
• Know your library staff.
• Use TEL.
• Download books or
audios.
• Take your children or
grandchildren to
children’s programs.

14.  Strengthening the Structure
for Better Support

16. Ocoee River Region Hatchie River Region
Red River Region Buffalo River Region
Obion River Region Holston River Region
Stones River Region Clinch River Region
Falling Water River Region
Our Tribute
to TVA

17. “We make
LIBRARIES
better”

18. Tennessee R.E.A.D.S.
Consulting
Technology/Computer Services
Acquisitions/Cataloging
Continuing Education
Resource Sharing
Tennessee R.E.A.D.S.

19. Attendance at local board
meetings for professional
guidance
Consultation visits to
library director, library
board, or government
officials
Guidance/Assistance in
grant applications
Guidance/Assistance in
planning processes
Research in library topics
Clearinghouse for
policies, plans, bylaws,
service ideas

20. Software
installs
Hardware
maintenance
Tech plans
and grants
Migrating and
troubleshooting ILS
Training for your
needs one-on-one
and group setting
NEW!
Toll-Free
Help Desk

21. Material
Allocations
State & Federal
Online Ordering
Billed to
Region, Drop
Ship to Member
Library
Preprocessing
with the Vendors
Original
Cataloging
Cataloging
Training

22. Statewide Workshops
Regional In-Service Training
Sessions
Webinars
One-on-one or small group
training on request
Annual Library Trustee
Workshops
Professional Collection for
Librarians
Partnership Programs Training
Examples:
• Every Child Ready to Read
• LIFT (Legal Resources for
Tennesseans)
• Rural Library Computer Labs
• Consumer Health Resources
Certificate program

24. TSLA LibGuides
http://tsla.libguides.com
Public Library
Management Institute
TSLA Webinars
TEL training
Trustee Workshops
Summer Reading
Program Conference
Other State workshops and
partnership programs

25. Summer Reading
Program
Continuing
Education
Statewide
Integrated Library
System
Standards and
Other Publications
TN-Libraries
Listserv
Statewide Public
Library Catalog
Interlibrary Loan
Public Library
Statistics
LSTA Technology
Grants
“Firefly”
Courier Service

26. From all of us working in the new
Tennessee Regional Library System