Trustee and Board Development
First and foremost, check out the resources and link available on the ALTA website: https://www.librarytrustees.ab.ca.
The list below is by no means complete. If your library does not have copies of the resources listed, ask your library about borrowing the item via interlibrary loan.
The Libraries Act, L-11, RSA 2000
https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/L11.pdf
The Libraries Regulation
https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/1998_141.pdf
Public Library Service, Alberta Municipal Affairs https://www.alberta.ca/public-library-services.aspx
Board Development Program, Programs & Services, Community, Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women
https://www.alberta.ca/culture-multiculturalism-and- status-of-women.aspx
Information Bulletins, The Board Development Program publishes information bulletins on a variety of board- related issues relevant to nonprofit board members and senior staff looking for information about improving skills in governance; includes writing grant proposals, budgeting, financials etc. Take a look: https://www.alberta.ca/en-board-development-program- info-bulletins.aspx
Board Development Workbooks
Produced by the Board Development Program and the Muttart Foundation. Titles include:
- Developing Job Descriptions
- Drafting and Revising Bylaws
- Board Building: Recruiting and Developing Effective Board Members
- Hiring and Performance Appraisal of the Executive Director
- Financial Responsibilities https://www.alberta.ca/board-development-program.aspx
Advocacy: Talk About Libraries and Influence the Political Process
Produced by the Library Association of Alberta (LAA). Information to help your Board connect with political candidates. https://www.laa.ca/Advocacy%20Kit%202013%20update.pdf
ALTA Advocacy Presentation
Developed by Diane Osberg, 2013.
https://librarytrustees.ab.ca/advocacy-fundraising/
ALTA Trustee Workshops
Workshops are presented at the regional library conferences and at the Alberta Library Conference.
ALTA Trustee Toolkit
Links to online resources providing information on many aspects of library trusteeship.
https://librarytrustees.ab.ca/welcome-to-trustee-toolkit/
Trustee Orientation, video and workbook
By Iris English and Patricia McNamee, Alberta Library Trustees’ Association, 2000. ISBN: 0968733417. Every Alberta public library received a copy when these materials were published in 2000.
Marketing and Funds Development: A Kit for Alberta Public Libraries
By Darryl Goede, Alberta Public Libraries Marketing Implementation Team, 1993.
Giving voice to a ‘quiet’ majority: Final report to the Alberta Public Libraries Marketing Task Force
By Calder Bateman Communications, 1991.
The Effective Trustee Handbook
By Sue Dutton and the Canadian Library Association, 1987.
Free Management Library
A complete online library for non-profits and for-profits, to be freely printed and used.
https://managementhelp.org/
Recruiting Volunteers: The Grizzly Creek Solution: A How-to Workshop for Recruiters of Volunteers Video produced by the Boy Scouts of Canada, 1988.
Handbook for the Canadian Library Trustee: On Being a Library Trustee
By the Canadian Library Trustees Association, 1995.
Learning Resource Guides, Volunteer Alberta’s Resource Centre
In particular, see the “Board Membership and Roles” and “Program Evaluation” sections. https://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/?s=Learning+resource
Friends for Small Libraries
By Margaret Law, published by the Canadian Library Association, 1991. ISBN: 0888022646.
A Handbook for Cultural Trustees: A Guide to the Role, Responsibilities and Functions of Boards of Trustees of Cultural Organizations in Canada
By Marion Paquet with Rory Ralston and Donna Cardinal. University of Waterloo Press. 1991. ISBN: 0888980795.
Virginia Public Library Trustee Handbook, 2005 Edition
http://valibraries.lva.virginia.gov/Trustee%20Manual2005_ WithCover.pdf
Library Security and Safety Handbook: Prevention, Policies, and Procedures
By Bruce A. Shuman. American Library Association, 1999. ISBN: 0838907148. Full text available on Google Books: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Library_Security_and_ Safety_Handbook.html?id=1N0iXPx5uqQC
Dealing with Difficult People in the Library
By Mark R. Willis. American Library Association, 1999. ISBN: 0838907601. Full text available on Google Books: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Dealing_with_ Difficult_People_in_the_Lib.html?id=Z1X9xE6_kBwC
The Library Trustee: A Practical Guidebook. Fifth Edition Edited by Virginia Young. American Library Association, 1995. ISBN: 0838906591.
The Trustee of a Small Public Library. Second Edition Edited by Virginia Young. American Library Association, 1992. ISBN: 083895748X.
Funding Resources
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Under Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, lottery revenues are distributed to individual artists and arts organizations in the visual, performing, and literary arts, and cultural industries. Libraries fall under Community Support Organizations.
https://www.affta.ab.ca/
Canadian Fundraising Directory
Formerly the Canada Grants Service. This is a directory of Canadian Grants, subsidies, prizes, and awards, available from government & private sectors. The most recent edition may be available at your library, or you may be able to access an online subscription.
http://www.icecaps.ca/CanadaGrantsFoundations.aspx
Imagine CanadaFormerly the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. Contains articles and links of interest to fundraisers.
https://www.imaginecanada.ca/en
Community Initiative Grants
Provincial grant funding for operations, programs, and facilities.
https://www.alberta.ca/community-initiatives-program. aspx
Community Facility Enhancement Program under Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women. Provides lottery-based financial assistance for the expansion and upgrading of Alberta’s extensive network of community use facilities.
https://www.alberta.ca/community-facility-enhancement- program.aspx
Board Development Program provides guidelines on writing a grant proposal. https://librarytrustees.ab.ca/writing-a-grant-proposal-goa/
Canadian Heritage Funding and Assistance Programs https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding.html
Volunteer Alberta with The Muttart Fellowships put out a publication on “The Board and Executive Director: Developing and Nurturing an Effective Relationship”
https://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The-Board-and-Executive-Director-Kelly-Sloan-1996.pdf
Board Building: Recruiting and Developing Effective Board Members for Not-for-Profit Organizations
https://www.muttart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Recruiting-and-Development-2008.pdf
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada have a series of really helpful, short-ish documents on topics ranging from climate change to budgeting to board recruitment and assessment
http://communitysector.nl.ca/d/hbg/CPA%2020%20Questions%20Series-Winnie%20Handout%20Resources.pdf
Joan Garry Consulting – great set of resources and short blog posts with examples, on a variety of board-trustee-director topics. Keep in mind, US based so not all applicable.
https://blog.joangarry.com/
Questions to ask about your budget:
https://www.markspaneth.com/insights/industry/industry/ nonprofit-budgeting-key-board-roles-and-responsibilities- and-questions-to-a
How to write interview feedback:
https://medium.com/thumbtack-design/how-to-write- interview-feedback-28d49be8f975
Performance management process checklist
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/performance- management-process-checklist-1918852
Important Websites for Boards
Alberta Municipal Affairs
https://www.alberta.ca/municipal-affairs.aspx
Alberta Municipal Affairs: Public Library Services
https://www.alberta.ca/public-library-services.aspx
Alberta Employment Standards
https://www.alberta.ca/employment-standards.aspx
Alberta Labour Relations Board
http://www.alrb.gov.ab.ca/
The Alberta Library: Find a Library
http://www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/services/find-library
Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
https://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety.html
Canada Revenue Agency: Charities
https://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/menu-eng.html
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP)
http://servicealberta.ca/foip/
Government of Alberta
https://www.alberta.ca/index.aspx
Library and Archives Canada
https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/
Alberta’s Regional Library Systems (directory)
https://thealbertalibrary.ca/services/find-library
Volunteer Alberta
http://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/
The Alberta Library (TAL)
http://www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/
Workers’ Compensation Board
https://www.wcb.ab.ca/
Library Associations
Alberta Library Trustees’ Association (ALTA)
https://www.librarytrustees.ab.ca
Atlantic Provinces Library Association: Advocacy Interest Group
https://www.apla.ca/interest_groups
British Columbia Library Trustees Association (BCLTA)
https://www.bclta.ca/
Library Association of Alberta (LAA)
https://www.laa.ca/
Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia (LBANS)
http://www.standupforlibraries.ca/
Manitoba Library Trustees’ Association (MLTA)
http://www.mlta.ca/
Ontario Library Boards Association (OLBA)
http://www.accessola.com/olba/
Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA)
https://saskla.ca/
HR Performance Review
ALTA has a HR Performance Evaluation template available provided by the Yellowhead Regional System. Access it at https://librarytrustees.ab.ca/hr-performance-evaluation-template/.