Roles and Responsibilities of Peace Library System Board Members

Authority and Responsibility

The Board of Directors is the legal authority for the Peace Library System. As a member of the Board, a Board Member acts in a position of trust for the community, and is responsible for the effective governance of the Peace Library System.

Responsibilities

• To view service on the Board as an opportunity to serve the Board member's own community because the Peace Library System is an effective and comprehensive agency for providing library and information services to communities throughout the region.
• To commit to the work of the Peace Library System.
• To keep abreast of library developments in Alberta and in Canada.
• To support and participate in all activities of the Peace Library System Board and to attend Board meetings so as to contribute to the operation of Peace Library System.
• To seek to improve effectiveness as a Board member by attending seminars, workshops and/or meetings of provincial and national library associations.
• To recognize that authority rests with the whole Board assembled in meeting and that an individual Board member has no legal status to bind the Board otherwise.
• To arrive at conclusions on library matters only after discussing the subject fully with other Board members and the library board or council represented.
• To offer expertise for the benefit of the library system's administration, but to recognize that a Board member's responsibility is not to run the library system, but to see that it runs well.
• To try to be impartial and make decisions in terms of the best interests of all residents in the System.
• To confine Board actions to establishing policies for the successful operation of the Peace Library System and to developing the financial support necessary to provide and promote its services.
• To support and protect library system personnel in the proper performance of their duties.
• To work for the improvement of library legislation and the betterment of library service in the Peace Library System.

General Duties of a Board Member

A Board Member should be fully informed on organizational matters, and participate in the Board's deliberations and decisions in matters of policy, finance, personnel, and advocacy.

The Board Member will:

• Attend Board meetings set in accordance with the Libraries Act, or more frequently if needed.
• Attend Annual General Meetings.
• Attend meetings of committees if serving on a committee. The Personnel Committee meets once or twice a year. The Plan of Service Committee meets two or three times a year. The Executive Committee meets five or six times a year.
• Approve, where appropriate, policy and other recommendations received from the Board, its standing committees, and senior staff.
• Monitor all Board policies.
• Review the bylaw and policy manual, and prepare necessary bylaw amendments in accordance with the Libraries Act.
• Participate in the development of the Peace Library System's Plan of Service, the annual review process, and goals and objective.
• Approve the Peace Library System's budget.
• Approve the hiring and release of the Director, based upon the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and the Executive Committee.
• Support and participate in evaluating the Director.
• Assist in developing and maintaining positive relations among the Board, committees, staff members, and the community to work towards achieving the Peace Library System's goals.