Policies and Bylaws
Difference between bylaws, policies, and procedures
- Bylaws describe the structure and rules for library trustees, e.g., when the board meets, open meetings requirements and executive session exceptions, how board officers are chosen and their duties, trustee term limits, funding and how the library can handle money, etc. Kansas laws about boards should be distilled into every library board's bylaws. Not following bylaws may get the library board in legal trouble.
- Policies describe what work should be done by library staff and establish proper relationships between staff, patrons and library materials. Poor policies mean poor library service.
- Procedures describe how library staff does specific library work. The Board approves policies describing what work should be done. The library director and staff write procedures describing how library work is done. Poor procedures mean inefficient library service.
Information about policies
Information about bylaws
