June 2023 | Volume XLI, Issue 2 »
iLEAD Trustee Training Portal
June 1, 2023
Carol Hogan-Downey & Anna Yackle, Illinois Heartland Library System
If you’re reading this, you probably have enough experience in or with libraries to have a menagerie of pet misconceptions about them. You likely know that libraries offer more than just books and that library workers don’t just read all day. It’s safe to assume that you know something about the duties assigned to various kinds of library staff, from shelver to director. And you may have explained, on more than one occasion, that one usually needs a specific advanced degree—or a wealth of experience—to become a librarian. You know, in short, what it means to work as a library professional. But how much do you know about what it means to serve as a library trustee?
You may be surprised to learn how much library trustees must do and learn to help their public libraries remain vital centers in their communities. Whether appointed or elected, trustees represent people residing within their library’s service area in a collective, nonpartisan capacity. Together on the library board, these government officials serve their libraries in several important ways. Effective boards work closely with their library directors to oversee the library’s budget, plan strategically, create library policy, advocate for the library, follow the law, and serve the needs of all members of their community regardless of personal viewpoints.
In our experience working with public libraries at Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), I’ve seen these efforts both succeed wildly and stray wildly. People often become trustees with sincere intentions and a desire to serve their communities; what that looks like in real life and how trustees perform the role varies with interpretation. This is often because trustees must learn many laws, terminology, and best practices to lead and collaborate effectively. That’s why we started collaborating with the Illinois State Library to create a resource to support the vital work of library trustees.
Our IHLS colleagues and we recently contacted Illinois public library trustees to ask their opinions on their role and the importance of receiving additional training. Seventy-five percent of the survey respondents indicated that it is very important” for trustees to learn the requirements and duties of their position. Most of the responding trustees said they had received their trustee training from their library director and board president and were confident in their knowledge of the trustee’s role. Yet most still said they would like to improve, to become the “best trustee.” Even the most confident trustees saw the value of further learning and development.
These results made it clear that we needed to create a learning resource that will help public library trustees statewide develop a consistent understanding of their legal responsibilities and required duties. To enable all Illinois public library trustees to be the best, we needed to prioritize access. So, we decided to create an online learning portal. For support, we submitted a grant proposal to the Illinois State Library. The proposal was accepted, and the grant-funded project to create the iLEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Access, Development) trustee training portal began on July 1, 2022.
The iLEAD portal’s focus, content, and functionality are all rooted in established standards and driven by feedback from our trustee survey. We determined from the beginning that the information provided to trustees must be based on the laws governing Illinois public libraries and guided by proven best practices. In the IHLS trustee survey, the top three areas of interest were trustee roles and duties, financial management, and advocacy and community engagement. The other key component was 24/7 access to reach trustees at their point of need—a feature ensured by the online platform in our selection of an asynchronous (self-paced) modality.
For an even more meaningful experience, this resource utilizes the capabilities and possibilities of 21st-century learning tools. In this online training course, we are utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence) video, gaming, learning scenarios, real-life examples, and a plethora of resources and references to make information sharing more enjoyable, memorable, and actionable.
We’re also drawing on the knowledge and experience of subject matter experts across Illinois who are contributing content to the learning modules that matter most for our library trustees. For instance, two former ILA Trustees of the Year and a prior ILA Librarian of the Year are currently contributing their expertise as consultants to create content for our learning modules. Participating trustees will have the chance to earn a course certificate of completion, as well as learning badges for finishing modules like Library Trustee 101, General Administration, Policymaking, Fiscal Responsibilities, Planning, and Advocacy and Networking.
To ensure the learning portal resonates with trustees, we’ve formed two advisory committees consisting of trustees, directors, and staff members from IHLS, Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), and ILA. So, you can rest assured that library folks from all over the state are providing oversight and quality assurance. Still, credit must also be given to IHLS staff who have shared their skills and knowledge in curriculum design, technology, marketing, communication, finance, and administration. Like our consultants, our IHLS colleagues bring decades of experience working with and serving on library boards.
Together, we are working hard to create a resource for all Illinois library trustees statewide, whether they’re with IHLS, RAILS, or Chicago Public Library. Our goal is to create a sustainable and adaptable resource to meet trustees’ current and future needs. This portal is a place for Illinois public library trustees to share knowledge, standards, laws, and library trends. Participating in this online course will enable them to be more comfortable and effective in their roles while better serving their communities. IHLS may have been awarded the grant to develop the online course, but this is a statewide effort to produce a product useful to every trustee in the state regardless of size or location.
We are looking forward to inviting our inaugural learners in early fall of 2023. Watch for the iLEAD Trustee website coming soon and social media for more upcoming information on this important project for those leading our libraries. We firmly believe this portal will be a boon to trustees and public libraries by providing an informed and consistent base for effective governance. Trustees will be better prepared for the challenges libraries face, which will, in turn, greatly benefit Illinois communities. After all, as Andrew Carnegie once said, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.”
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