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Personnel Laws

How the Board interacts with the library director can have as much impact on library services as anything else the Board does. The two must work together closely, but they have very distinct areas of responsibility. Building a relationship of mutual respect and clear communication will ensure that both the Board and the director can do their jobs well. 

22-1-310, MCA says

Chief librarian -- personnel -- compensation. The board of trustees of each library shall appoint and set the compensation of the chief librarian who shall serve as the secretary of the board and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. With the recommendation of the chief librarian, the board shall employ and discharge such other persons as may be necessary in the administration of the affairs of the library, fix and pay their salaries and compensation, and prescribe their duties. 

A city library organizational chart board library director staff
The first thing to realize in working with the library director is that the director reports to the Board as a whole, not to individual trustees. Therefore, a trustee cannot give orders or suggestions to the director unless the action is approved by the entire Board. 

While the library director reports to the Board, the Board does not supervise the director's day-to-day activities. The Board's role is to define the director's duties in a written job description and perhaps prepare an annual work plan based on the library's long-term plan. It is then up to the library director to determine how to perform those duties. 

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