Library Board

 

Library Board Trustees:

Joneane Parker, President, Personnel Chair
Joined 2019

Sam Garchik, Vice-President
Joined 2021

Sherri Smith, Treasurer, Finance Chair
Joined 2019

Sharon Flinspach, Secretary
Joined 2020

David Thebodo, Building & Grounds Chair
Joined 2022

Brenda Diers
Joined 2023

Ann Gookin
Joined 2023

Rachel Brown
Joined 2023

Wayne Ades
Joined 2023

Fairfield Public Library Bylaws (Updated 11-18-24)

Public library boards have five primary roles:
 

1.  Hiring the Library Director
The board hires a qualified person to manage the daily operations of the library, working with and in support of the director while mutually respecting each other's roles.

2.  Approving and Monitoring the Budget
Library boards typically have a great deal of authority over the library budget, including approving expenditures and moving funds between line items.

3.  Developing and Adopting Policies
Library boards must be mindful that they adopt public policy for a public service.  They should take care to avoid writing policies that are reactionary or punitive.  Instead, policy development should keep community interests at the forefront. Once adopted by the board, library staff work to carry out the policies and communicate them to patrons.

4.  Planning for the Library's Future
Planning is another important function of the board and should be approached as a continuous process.  Planning leads boards to explore possibilities and opportunities, basing decisions on community input and packaging service in response to community needs.

5.  Evaluating Service and Advocating for Advancements
The community puts its faith in the library board to make sure the library is operating within the public trust.  The board helps determine whether the community is satisfied with library programming and services.  One of the most effective ways to gauge satisfaction with library service is by evaluating the library director's job performance.  Note that trustees can also evaluate their own performance!  In exercising this evaluation and advocacy role, boards are pushing for adequate funding, seeking technology advancements, fostering community relationships, and supporting the library staff in terms of salaries, benefits, and working conditions.

--Iowa Library Trustee's Handbook 2021