Welcome to the Rolfe Public Library!

Library Board

 

Members of the Rolfe Public Library Board are as follows:

  • John Nielsen - President
  • Marilee Kleespies - Vice President
  • Frankie Pollard-Barnett - Secretary
  • Sandy Behrendsen
  • <<vacant>>
Meeting Minutes
Library Policies
Iowa Library Trustee Handbook

 

Public library boards have five primary roles:

  1. Advocate for the library in the community and advocate for the community as a member of the library board.   To be a library advocate is to work for the betterment of library services for the community.   Advocacy includes working to obtain adequate funding for the library; pursuing opportunities to meet and speak with community groups; getting to know the mayor and city council; making sure the community’s needs and interests are paramount when making board decisions.
  2. Plan for the future of the library.  Planning is one of the most important trusts that the community gives to the library board.  Planning is deciding what is going to happen with library services over the next few years.  It is taking charge of the library’s future and creating it to be responsive to what the community needs.
  3. Monitor and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the library.  The community puts its trust in the library board to make sure the library is operating the way it should.  For example, the library board is familiar with the library’s budget - where the money is coming from and how it will be spent.  The board monitors monthly financial reports and approves the bills so that they can be paid.  The board also helps determine whether the community is satisfied with the service received from the library.
  4. Set library policies.  The library boards spends much of its time on policy issues - developing policies and monitoring the effectiveness of those policies.  (Policy is a carefully designed, broadly stated, written guideline for actions and decision of the library.)  Once adopted by the board, library staff carries out the policies on a day to day basis.
  5. Hire and evaluate the library director.  The board hires a qualified director to manage the day-to-day operations of the library and works with the director, carefully respecting each other’s roles.  The board also regularly evaluates the director to make sure the library operates well and in the best interest of those the library serves.

 

BYLAWS

I. NAME AND PURPOSES

A.    The Rolfe Public Library Board of Trustees, hereafter referred to as the Board.

B.    The Board will comply with the Iowa Code in all questions of library law and governance and will further comply with the regulations set forth in the city’s library ordinance. The Board’s specific powers and duties are set forth in the library ordinance.

 

II. BOARD MEETINGS

A.    The Board shall meet on the second Wednesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. at the library.

B.    A quorum shall consist of 3 members (from its total membership of 5 trustees).

C.    The Board shall comply with Iowa’s Open Meetings law by printing and publicly posting a copy of its agenda 24 hours prior to the meeting.

D.    The Board shall record its proceedings as minutes and shall keep copies of the minutes available for public inspection.

E.    The Director of the Rolfe Public Library shall be present and participate at each meeting of the Board.

F.    The Board will conduct its meetings according to parliamentary procedure as detailed in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

 

III. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

A.   Officers shall be the Board president, vice president, and secretary and shall be elected at the July meeting. 

B.   The president shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committees, and generally perform all duties associated with the office. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall assume the president’s duties. The secretary shall record all proceedings of the Board.

C.    The Board shall act as a Committee of the Whole in deciding matters of Personnel, Budget and Finance, Public Relations, and all other matters as needed.

 

IV. MAJOR FUNCTIONS

A.    Hire and evaluate the library director.

B.    Set salaries and benefits for the library’s personnel. 

C.    Participate in the budget process and secure adequate financial support for the library’s operations and services. 

D.    Set policies for the library’s operations and services.

E.    Engage in planning for the library’s future. 

F.    Ensure library director and staff participation in training and continuing education.

G.    Participate in Board training and educational opportunities.

H.    Ensure the library’s involvement in State Library and Regional System initiatives.

 

V. AMENDMENTS

A.   These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Board with a quorum present, by a unanimous vote of the members present.

 

Last Updated 2/16/2022