Responsibilities and Duties of the Library Board

The Waupaca Area Public Library Board has a great deal of responsibility and many important duties to perform. The basic building block for every Library Board is a set of bylaws. Bylaws should be updated at least every five (5) years. Included in the bylaws should not only be the composition of the board, officer's responsibilities, and information regarding meetings, committees, etc., but also terms of office, number of re-appointments allowed, action taken for frequent absence, and procedure for securing, appointing, and orientating new board members. I have outlined some of the major responsibilities and duties of the Library board below:

a) Create a set of bylaws.
b) Hold effective meetings.
c) Hire the library director.
d) Evaluate the library director.
e) Develop the Library budget.
f) Set library staff salaries and wages
g) Developing essential library policies.
h) Planning for the library’s future.
i) Cooperation with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System
h) Library Board Orientation Checklist
The current Wisconsin Public Library Trustee Manual provides details on the responsibilities and duties of the Library Board.

Revised 3/2007

Board Links

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction- Library Trustee Handbook