Registration Open for Trustee Training Week

Reading and understanding laws and regulations can be daunting, even more so when you are a trustee or on a library board. This session will focus on demystifying the law and will focus on specific statutes and cases that affect Wisconsin libraries as well as a discussion of how to best answer legal questions when they inevitably arise. Topics covered include open meeting laws, statutory delegation of library board authority, basics of legal research, and more. When the session has concluded, you will be able to better locate and answer legal questions that you may face as a library board member and also know what resources are available to you to get these difficult and stressful questions answered.

AI is changing libraries faster than most of us realize, and understanding it is increasingly a governance responsibility. This session cuts through the hype to give library trustees a grounded, practical picture of where things stand and what it means for their role. Participants will: Understand what AI is (and isn’t) in a library context, without the jargon; Learn what’s already happening in public libraries, from vendors and platforms to staff workflows and patron expectations; Leave with a clearer sense of what AI means for current and future library policy and budget decisions

Join Laura Meade, Certified Professional Parliamentarian, for an introduction to basic board documents, including agendas, minutes, and governing documents. Learning Objectives: Compare standard order of business with an agenda; Consider the value of a consent agenda; Review the content of board minutes and how to approve them; Review the hierarchy of governing documents; Explore what’s in your bylaws and what you need to look up most often; Review how to amend or suspend rules (or not); Consider some Frequently Asked Questions

The relationship between a library board and its municipality or county is unique compared to other appointed boards in the community. It’s a bit like each of you are playing your own melody, ideally collaborating to create a community symphony. Having a better understanding of the part each instrument plays can help you build trust, improve communication, identify common goals, and establish a healthy working relationship. This session will discuss the varied roles of municipal and county officials, the library board, and library staff. We’ll review the powers of the library board delineated in the Wisconsin Statutes, identify the points where the library and its municipality carry the melody together, and listen for some common sources of disharmony in the relationship. Finally, we’ll talk about where public library trustees sit in this ensemble and provide suggestions for steps trustees can take to strengthen the library’s connection to its community.