Preparing for your first board meeting?

book icon iLEAD has developed a Trustee Orientation Guide to share with all board members.

iLEAD Orientation for the Public Library Trustee 2025.pdf

iLEAD Orientation for the Public Library Trustee 2025.pptx

Would you like to conduct a group review? The PowerPoint presentation (.pptx) lets you project the handbook for group viewing. Please download and share this resource with all your board members.

Trustee Toolkit Check

While every library director and board will welcome a new trustee in their own way, the Illinois Library Association (ILA) does recommend that every trustee have a toolkit with the following information:

General library information
a. Mission statement
b. Organizational chart
Contact information
Board of trustees’ names and phone numbers
Key staff contact information
Calendars
a. Holiday Schedule
b. Annual calendar of actions to be taken at board meetings
Board meeting dates
Director’s reports (past six months)
Minutes (past six months)
Financial reports (past six months)
Annual library budget
Board bylaws
General library policies
Any other large-scale projects (master plans, capital improvement plans, etc.)
Additional resources from your local library system or association