Property Laws

Similar to the relationship between the library board and the library director, a successful relationship between the library board and the local government must be built upon trust, respect, and an understanding of and appreciation for one another’s roles. As we see in this section, responsibility and authority are sometimes spelled out in law but must still be approached with tact and the desire to build or maintain a good working relationship. 

Developing trust and a good relationship is key. It can also be helpful for the library board and local governing body to have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that spells out responsibilities for maintenance, updates, and paying for anything facilities related. This is particularly helpful when personnel change as it spells out historically who is responsible for maintenance of the building. 

If you want your library’s relationship to its local governing body to be stronger and more resilient, you can explore this topic more in-depth in the guidebook Connecting with Local Government Officials.