Standards mentioning the library director

3. The library board employs a paid library director and delegates management of the library to the library director within the policies and budget approved by the library board.

4. The library board approves and implements a written personnel policy. Hiring rates or ranges and job descriptions are determined for all library staff. The library director implements and manages personnel policies and procedures.

17. The library director develops and presents a budget to the library board for discussion and approval. An adequately funded public library meets the following funding levels:

• Salaries and Benefits target — 65% of total operating expenditures from all income sources (excluding capital fund expenditures)


• Materials and Resources target — 12% of total operating expenditures from all income sources (excluding capital fund expenditures)


• Technology — Variable


• Library Operations — Variable

37. The library employs sufficient staff to meet service needs. That staff includes a paid library director. Appendix C provided the minimum hours of paid staffing by library service level. At least 2 hours per week is paid time for the library director for administrative duties.

40. The library director has completed a state and/or system approved program of library training after appointment.

46. The library director or appropriate administrative staff annually conducts a written evaluation of the performance of all other library employees. The library director annually recommends to the library board salary increases for other library employees.

2012 Kansas Public Library Standards

<http://systems.mykansaslibrary.org/about/2012-public-library-standards/>

In 2012, the seven regional library systems wrote new public library standards.

These 50 standards are practices recommended to all Kansas public library.

Many are required by Kansas laws about libraries.

Other standards are best practices.

The Standards are divided into the following sections.

1. Introduction


2. Structure and Governance (12 standards)


3. Planning, Marketing and Community Outreach (3 standards)


4. Funding and Budget (6 standards)


5. Services and Resources (7 standards)


6. Automation and technology (6 standards)


7. Library Personnel (9 standards)


8. Physical facilities (4 standards)


9. Appendix A: Base Library Director Salary Range


10. Appendix B: Recommended Internet Bandwidth


11. Appendix C: Chart of Library Standards by Service Level

PDF document with all standards

Below are groupings of standards.

• Standards about library boards


• Standards mentioning library directors


• Standards about budgeting

2012 Standards for Public Libraries about library boards

3. The library board employs a paid library director and delegates management of the library to the library director within the policies and budget approved by the library board.

4. The library board approves and implements a written personnel policy. Hiring rates or ranges and job descriptions are determined for all library staff. The library director implements and manages personnel policies and procedures.

5. Liability insurance for the library is maintained by the library board or the library’s parent government body (city, township or county), and a copy of the current insurance policy is on file at the library.

6. Library financial records are maintained on file at the library and are available in accord with Kansas Open Records Act requirements.

7. The library board has adopted and has available written bylaws and policies on all of the following. Check those for which the library board has approved policies:

• Selection / Collection Management
• Public Services
• Building / Meeting Room Use 
• Intellectual Freedom
• Personnel
• Budget and Finance
• Confidentiality of Library Records
• Equipment Use
• Gifts
• Patron Behavior
• Appropriate Use of Online Services
• Capital Improvements
• Continuing Education
• Surplus Property
• Emergency Preparedness / Disaster Recovery

8. Copies of bylaws and policies are provided to every member of the library board, the library director, and the library staff. All library board members annually read and review bylaws and policies.

9. The library board participates in at least one continuing education activity annually. This activity may be:

• Part of a regularly scheduled board meeting with materials and/or a presentation provided by the regional library system or other resource.


• Attendance at continuing education activities provided by the regional library system and/or other continuing education providers.


• Other continuing education activities including viewing and discussion of online or recorded presentations.

10. New library trustees participate in an orientation upon appointment to the library board.

11. A designated library representative or alternate attends the meetings of their regional library system board.

12. The library provides and pays for a current membership in the Kansas Library Association and Kansas Library Trustee Association for all members of the library board annually.

13. The library board has a current written plan, updated at least every three years and developed with input from members of the community in addition to the library staff and library board. The plan includes all of the following steps. (Check all that have been completed):

• Assessment of community demographics and needs 
• Vision and/or mission statements 
• Goals and objectives
• Action steps
• A process to monitor implementation of the plan 

Assistance with library planning is available from the Regional Library Systems of Kansas.

14. The library board annually reviews the library plan.

16. The library board annually reviews the types of funds used by the library before beginning budget preparation. These include the general tax fund, grants, donations, endowments, and various types of miscellaneous income. Libraries could also utilize a separate employee benefit tax fund, and may create and use a legally established capital improvement fund. Detailed information and sample resolution wording for creation of an Employee Benefit Fund can be found at http://is.gd/WIHU69 . Detailed information and a sample resolution for creation of a Capital Improvement Fund can be found at http://is.gd/yaEZAY.

18. The library board presents the approved budget to the local governing body. This budget should be reflected on the municipal budgets as separate special funds rather than as a line item in the municipal budget. Municipal governments are charged with funding operational budgets created and recommended by local library boards.

19. The library board and library director review all portions of the local official budget related to the library, and copies are retained on file at the library.

20. All checks issued by the library require two signatures – the President and the Secretary of the library board. Any additional signatures are optional. The statutory basis for this is K.S.A. 10-803. More detailed information on facsimile signatures can be found at http://is.gd/QT1AJI .

21. The library board treasurer and the library director develop a monthly financial statement for the library board. This monthly financial statement and all financial motions are included in the library board minutes. The monthly financial statement includes:

• a list of current monthly expenditures
• year-to-date expenditure-to-budget comparison
• a list of current monthly income
• year-to-date income-to-budget comparison

2012 Standards for Kansas Public Libraries related to budgeting

2. The library board operates under appropriate budget and financial procedures: The treasurer of the board is bonded as required by K.S.A. 12-1226.

• Financial reports are provided to the board at each board meeting.


• Statutory requirements for auditing of library accounts are followed.


• Appropriate procedures for internal financial controls are implemented. Such procedures require that at least two persons examine and approve payments from library funds.

6. Library financial records are maintained on file at the library and are available in accord with Kansas Open Records Act requirements.

16. The library board annually reviews the types of funds used by the library before beginning budget preparation. These include the general tax fund, grants, donations, endowments, and various types of miscellaneous income. Libraries could also utilize a separate employee benefit tax fund, and may create and use a legally established capital improvement fund. Detailed information and sample resolution wording for creation of an Employee Benefit Fund can be found at http://is.gd/WIHU69 . Detailed information and a sample resolution for creation of a Capital Improvement Fund can be found at http://is.gd/yaEZAY.

17. The library director develops and presents a budget to the library board for discussion and approval. An adequately funded public library meets the following funding levels:

• Salaries and Benefits -- minimum 65% of total operating expenditures from all income sources (excluding capital fund expenditures).


• Materials and Resources target -- 12% of total operating expenditures from all income sources (excluding capital fund expenditures).


• Technology -- Variable


• Library Operations -- Variable

18. The library board presents the approved budget to the local governing body. This budget should be reflected on the municipal budgets as separate special funds rather than as a line item in the municipal budget. Municipal governments are charged with funding operational budgets created and recommended by local library boards.

19. The library board and library director review all portions of the local official budget related to the library, and copies are retained on file at the library.

20. All checks issued by the library require two signatures – the President and the Secretary of the library board. Any additional signatures are optional. The statutory basis for this is K.S.A. 10-803. More detailed information on facsimile signatures can be found at http://is.gd/QT1AJI .

21. The library board treasurer and the library director develop a monthly financial statement for the library board. This monthly financial statement and all financial motions are included in the library board minutes. The monthly financial statement includes:

• a list of current monthly expenditures


• year-to-date expenditure-to-budget comparison


• a list of current monthly income


• year-to-date income-to-budget comparison

22. The library board and library director comply with the audit requirements for their size of library budget. K.S.A. 75-1122 requires a library to have an audit performed by a licensed municipal accountant or certified public accountant when library "aggregate gross receipts" are in excess of $275,000 or general obligation or revenue bonds are in excess of $275,000. This statute applies to public libraries in cities of the first and second class and some third class cities, townships and library districts.