Understanding Governance Structure

What do you imagine when you think about your library? 

• Is it led by a great director?
• Are the staff friendly and available?
• Is the facility safe, welcoming, and busy?
• Is the library's collection adequate to meet the needs of the patrons?
• Is it obvious that funding is adequate to support this vision into the future?

In order to keep that vision and imagine improvements, it is critical for public library trustees to understand and engage with local governments.

Most public libraries in Montana are connected to a city or county. Even independent library districts created under Montana Code Annotated Title 22, Chapter 1, Part 7 must work with the county for levying the money needed to fund the library and for election of board members.

While Montana law has given most public library boards a fair amount of authority, the governance structure of the library and the form of local government influences how that authority works. It’s important to understand the structure of your city or county’s local government. Knowing who does what and what laws they must follow helps you get your work done while building strong, positive relationships with your local government officials.