Library Governance

An organizational review provides valuable information to support organizational change and refocus the library. It also provides information to support advocacy with funders. This session will explain the process, outcomes and use of the information from the review.

"Perfect is the enemy of good", "the only bad decision is no decision", "where is the opportunity here" were some of the common phrases that library directors across the province started using as library services shifted, and shifted quickly, during the provincial response to Covid-19. By the end of this session, you will hear what these three Directors learned about themselves, their organizations and what it means to manage and lead in ambiguity.

Sometimes libraries have to ‘Find a Way’ to build – or rebuild - a relationship with their local governments. That relationship can be a positive, mutually reinforcing one; however, it can also be something less desirable. Municipal council members are elected by the people of their communities to deliver a wide range of programs and services, and there is always more work to do than there are resources available to do it. This is complicated with the notion with some that libraries have outlived their useful life, and some councillors will wonder why they waste money on a service that nobody uses. If trustees understand how local governments work, how they identify their priorities, and where they get their information, the library board stands a better chance of creating a positive relationship with local governments. Together trustees and staff can find a way to make it happen.
Learning Objectives:

• Understand Alberta local government structure.
• Learn how local governments choose from competing priorities.
• Discuss ideas about how library colleagues have kept the profile of libraries high.

Edmonton Public Library has an in-house Human Resources team who provide services and support in the areas of recruitment, performance management, employee and labour relations, employee recognition, workplace health, and payroll and benefits. The focus of this presentation is to provide a broad overview of human resource matters as they relate to public libraries, including best practices for recruitment and performance management, and a brief summary of relevant legislation. In addition, this session will offer some practical tools and resources that will be useful to those without dedicated human resources support. This presentation will be of most interest to those who work for small, medium and rural libraries with limited or no human resources support.
Learning Objectives:
 

• Understand recruitment and performance management best practices.
• Review problem solving strategies when faced with challenging employee matters.
• Indentify elevant Alberta legislation and how these impact the workplace.