Forum Spotlight - Library Trustee Forum

Library Trustee Forum (LTF)

September 12, 2024

The Library Trustee Forum is dedicated to helping trustees find resources and learn ways to better serve their libraries across the state. 

For those who may be unfamiliar, the Library Trustee Forum is a board of library trustees, currently with eleven members, that meets several times throughout the year via Zoom. Guests are encouraged to attend the meetings and learn more. Each Forum board member must be a personal member of the Illinois Library Association, and membership on this Forum is limited to one trustee from any single Illinois library. 

To help library trustees meet future challenges and better serve their library patrons, the Forum is busy with various activities such as:

  • Spring Webinars — the Library Trustee Forum hosts virtual webinars on three Saturdays in the spring. This past spring’s topics included programs on How to Be a Trustee, Executive Director Searches/Evaluations, and Inclusive Placemaking/DEI with overall attendance reaching 114. The recordings of these webinars are available to those who register. Watch for new programs to be offered in early 2025.
  • Trustee Day at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference — the Forum works to recruit speakers who will present topics of importance to trustees. This fall the Annual Conference will be held in Peoria, Illinois, and Trustee Day will be October 10. Topics will include Trustee’s Important Role in Financial Oversight, Social Media and Legal Considerations for Library Officials, and many other thought-provoking presentations that enable trustees to better serve their libraries. Moreover, the Forum hosts a breakfast and lunch on Trustee Day giving trustees the opportunity to learn more about the Forum and to network with each other. Registration information can be found here. Trustees have the option to register for the entire conference October 8-10 or just Trustee Day on October 10.  
  • Trustee of the Year Award — the forum has the pleasure to award this annual citation to a public library trustee for achievement, leadership, and service to libraries. Read more about our recent award winner here.
  • The Trusty Trustee Newsletter — under the Forum’s direction, library trustee members of ILA receive the Trusty Trustee e-newsletter.  This newsletter keeps trustees informed about upcoming educational opportunities and legislative meet ups. Past issues of the newsletter can be accessed here. 

Trustees are always invited to attend Trustee Forum Board meetings. The Forum welcomes input and suggestions from all corners of the state. The next meeting will be November 7, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Please register to attend and join the discussion!

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