Open Meeting Law Overview

The library director or designee needs to post a notice and agenda for the meeting. After reading the notice an individual should know the following:

1. What day and time the meeting is happening?
2. Where is the meeting be held?
3. What is on the board’s agenda? What is the board going to discuss?

The law doesn’t specify how much notice must be given. The general rule of thumb is at least 48 hours' notice unless the board is discussing something of great interest to the public. In that case there should be at least seven days’ notice.

Sometimes board members will need to engage with each other outside of the normal meeting process. Be mindful of appearances. Avoid meeting at the local coffee shop to discuss library matters. This is exactly the type of behavior the open meeting law is trying to discourage.

Don’t use email or phones to avoid discussing items in public. Emails and any other exchanges between board members are subject to public records’ requests. Again, the law is designed to protect the public’s right to know what you are discussing and why you are making the decisions you are making. They can easily find out how a board voted. 

The open meeting law is about the public’s right to know WHY a board voted the way it did.

If a quorum of board members is going to be present at a training or library function, consider posting a notice saying a quorum of board members may be present – no official business will be conducted.