Ethics for Public Library Trustees

Videos

• Are you Trustee-Worth? Ethics for Trustees (video 1 hour)


• Listen to Everyday Ethics for Libraries (videos)
1. Overview (10:22 minutes)
2. Transparency (13:41 minutes)
3. Equal Treatment (14:09 minutes)
4. Privacy (9:47 minutes)
5. Information access (9:05 minutes)
6. Summary (10:38 minutes)

Ethics Statement for Public Library Trustees

“Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and trustees are created for the benefit of the people.” - Henry Clay, Kentucky speech (1879)

Trustees, in the capacity of trust upon them, shall observe ethical standards with absolute truth, integrity, and honor.

Trustees must promote a high level of library service while observing ethical standards.

Trustees must avoid situations in which personal interests might be served or financial benefits gained at the expense of library customers, colleagues, or the institution.

It is incumbent upon any trustee to disqualify one’s self immediately whenever the appearance of a conflict of interest exists.

Trustees must distinguish clearly in their actions and statements between their personal philosophies and attitudes and those of the institution, acknowledging the formal position of the board even if they personally disagree.

A trustee must respect the confidential nature of library business while being aware of and in compliance with applicable laws governing freedom of information.

A trustee must be prepared to support to the fullest the efforts of librarians in resisting censorship of library materials by groups or individuals.

Trustees who accept appointment to a library board are expected to perform all the functions of library trustees.

–Developed and adopted by
Board of Directors of the American Library Trustee Association, July 1985,

Adopted by the Board of the Directors of the Public Library Association, July 1985,
Amended by the Board of the Directors of the American Library Trustee Association, July 1988,

and Approval of amendment by the Public Library Association of the American Library Association, January,1989.

Patron Privacy

Privacy: an Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
<http://tinyurl.com/aahtmfo>

This document explains the value of protecting the confidentiality of patron records.

K.S.A. 45-221 (23)
<http://tinyurl.com/agffqcy>

Library records not required to be open to the public. K.S.A. 45-221 (23) says the Kansas Open Records Act does not apply to patron and circulation records which identify individuals.

Guidelines for Developing a Library Privacy Policy
<http://tinyurl.com/k9gblxl>

This document:

• Defines Personally Indentifiable Information


• How to draft a library privacy policy


• Special conditions such as public library services to minors.


• Checklist of basic questions to ask about collecting information, providing privacy and reviewing your policy

Examples of policies protecting patron records.

Kansas City Public Library
http://tinyurl.com/bc8xh8l

Topeka Shawnee County Public Library
http://tinyurl.com/am5o3rz

Overbrook Public Library
http://tinyurl.com/aqg45jt (Scroll down to confidentiality)

Newton Public Library
http://tinyurl.com/c5qbdjw (Scroll down to confidentiality)

Recommended Policies

The 2012 Kansas Public Library Standards recommends every library have policies on the following.

Additional policies your library's policies may need.

List of recommended policies from 2012 Kansas Public Library Standards	Examples
Appropriate Use of Online Services	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/o8hc29o Lincoln Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bjy8mc2 Kenton County Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a8bzou6 Pacific Grove Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bza5ztg Madison Public Library http://tinyurl.com/al6evfa
Budget and Finance Kansas laws about budgeting	Jefferson County Library http://tinyurl.com/by8gpc2 Ann Arbor District Library http://tinyurl.com/b6tm4md Westchester Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bcsj6wv Daniel Boone Library http://tinyurl.com/awmusd4
Building/ Meeting Room Use	Basehor Community Library http://tinyurl.com/b2gb4je Morrill Public Library http://tinyurl.com/dyj873q Derby Public Library http://bitly.com/ShVWFa Newton Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a7xww8k
Capital Improvements	Liberal Memorial Library http://tinyurl.com/aw757xe
Confidentiality of Library Records Patron Privacy	Kansas City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bc8xh8l Topeka Shawnee County Public Library http://tinyurl.com/am5o3rz Overbrook Public Library http://tinyurl.com/aqg45jt (Scroll down to confidentiality) Newton Public Library http://tinyurl.com/c5qbdjw (Scroll down to confidentiality)
Continuing Education	This is a personnel policy explaining how the library encourages and supports library staff attending continuing education events, e.g., library pays for travel, meals, registration, and staff to keep the library open while the library staff attends events.
Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Recovery	Disaster plans http://cklsdisasterrecovery.blogspot.com/
Equipment Use	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nk78vcr Spirit Lake Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ayyu94k Winneconne Public Library http://tinyurl.com/9wt7o5y Jervis Library http://tinyurl.com/b4x92wh
Gifts and donations	Keller Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b329yxh (Scroll down) Osage City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bjekn4z (Don’t put donated or memorial books in a stand alone collection. They are not likely to circulate well. Interfile donations and gifts on the shelf where they will be found and used.)
Intellectual Freedom Important statements about Intellectual Freedom	North Scituate Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a7qng8h St. Joseph Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bcjvvel
Patron Behavior	Small Public Library Policy http://tinyurl.com/on3wyrz Independence Public Library http://tinyurl.com/cwgtcfp Fowler Library http://tinyurl.com/bbe57q3 Park City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ayr2lb5
Personnel	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/q2dxsrx Iola Public Library http://tinyurl.com/clutlsx
Public Services	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nclcfgt Girard Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ba3jouc Beck Bookman (Holton) Library http://tinyurl.com/b6nhdu9 Liberal Memorial Library http://tinyurl.com/d4rxxq7 Fowler Public Library http://tinyurl.com/c4yn7l9
Selection/Collection Management	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/pogut9r Aurora Public Library http://tinyurl.com/arwo5ub Franklin Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b4fvzyr Somerville Public Library http://tinyurl.com/apxy5fj Hillsboro Public Library http://tinyurl.com/asuxkc7 Wichita Public Library http://tinyurl.com/aed5qrc
Surplus Property	Lincoln County Libraries http://tinyurl.com/ba37og4 Oak Park Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ac7we4s Lee Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b7psfot