CE Project Agreement for I-B-5-d (001)

Develop process for reviewing library policies

Word version of this agreement

Purpose: An annual policy review gives the board and the library director the opportunity to respond to:

• Loopholes in the current policy


• Imprecise wording of current policy


• Negative public response to current policy


• Problems with enforcing current policy


• Changes in representation on the board


• Changes in the law that affect libraries


• Changes in library programs or services


• Changes in technology used by the library

Name of library:
Today’s date:
Proposed completion date:

Core skill: I-B-5-d Assess and adopt policy

Eligible participants: Librarians and library trustees

Repeatable?: No. Once the process for reviewing the library's policy is in place the librarian and the board should repeat the process every year to qualify for the Incentive Grant for Policy Review.

Do you want help from a CKLS consultant?
___ No help needed.
___ Yes, modify project agreement
___ Yes, suggest other readings or learning
___ Yes, early preparation visit
___ Yes, one-on-one coaching through activity
___ Yes, other: _______________________________

Learning component:
Attend a CE event on reviewing library policy or read the following materials.

• Library Policy Review Manual by Jim Swan, 2004, Table of contents, Preface, pages 1-3 and skim through other portions to understand what this book offers.


• Trustees and Librarians Working Together by Jim Swan, 2004, pp. 53-56.


• Library policies


• Downs Carnegie Library

Library work component:

1. Librarian and board members read library's current policies, discuss, and identify which policies need revision.
2. For each policy to be revised, write answers on one sheet to the following questions. Not all questions below are relevant to all policies. For example, few policies have penalties for violating the policy.




• Name of the policy
• What is the problem with the current policy?
• Who implements or applies the policy?
• Does the policy involve penalties? What is the financial, personnel and public relations cost of implementing these penalties? What evidence is there that the penalties work? What evidence is there that the penalties do not work? Do the benefits of implementing these penalties exceed the financial, personnel, and public relations costs?
  


3. Revise the policies.
4. Librarian presents revised policies at a board meeting.
5. The board formally adopts the revised policies.
6. For CE Project credit, submit:




• The originals or copies of the sheets answering the above questions about the revised policies. (These can be handwritten.)
• A copy of the old policy.
• A copy of the new policy.
• Provide the following information.
• List the names of those who read the learning material.
• List the names of those who participated in selecting the policies to be revised.
• List the names of those who revised the policies.
• What policy issues will need to be resolved in the future?
  
• A filled out CE Project Agreement Evaluation form (Word document)