Thursday, June 26, 2008

New Chapters of Administrative Essentials

Three more chapters of "Administrative Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Directors" are now available on the DPI website at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/aecontents.html.

The new chapters are

-- AE 15: Policies and Procedures, covering typical public library policies, legally defensible policies, the PLA "Policies for Results" process, and the distinction between policies and procedures.

-- AE 16: Planning for the Library's Future, covering the importance of planning, PLA's New Planning for Results, utilizing Wisconsin Library Standards, county library standards, addressing technology planning, and an example of a plan outline.

-- AE 17: Membership in the Library System, including the benefits of library system membership, the history of library systems in Wisconsin, system membership requirements for public libraries, membership requirements for counties, and required system services.

The Administrative Essentials handbook is a Web-based resource designed to assist directors of small public libraries and those with limited administrative training and experience while also serving as a review for experienced library directors. Its chapters can help focus thinking and suggest resources when dealing with particularly challenging or unique situations. It also can be useful to public library trustees and public library system staff members who have a responsibility for assisting and supporting public library directors, and as a tool to assist in the orientation of new public library directors. Other completed chapters cover broad areas of public library service, the relationship of the director to the board and staff, employment issues for libraries, as well as developing and managing the library's budget. Future topics include open meetings and public records law, managing the library facility, collection development, and copyright law.