Reflective Essay 1: Who Runs the Public Library?

Like any public organization, the public library is operated by officials who are designated to conduct the business of the library on behalf of the citizens of a community. Though a public library is a shared resource, it requires the full-time engagement of professionals to carry out its daily operational activities. To understand the people who make public library systems possible, it is important to examine four key functions: 1) the director, 2) the library board, and 3) municipal governments. It can be argued that each entity has an essential responsibility to “run” the public library.

The first important agent in public library operations is the director. The director stands out as a visible leader who champions the role of the library in the community. The director has a strong executive role, providing the power to enact policies that impact the daily operations of the library. Responsibilities of a library director include overseeing the budget and preparing reports, managing library collections, hiring and supervising library staff, and engaging in public relations to promote the library (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2016). Of the functions of library governance, the director position features the most proactive set of responsibilities. The decisions made by the director will be immediately felt by library employees and all visitors who interact with library staff or utilize library resources.

The second important authority is the library board. The library board has significant powers of the purse with the ability to control library spending, authorize building construction, and acquire land and property for the use of the library (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2016). The library board is responsible for the physical maintenance and growth of the library through its encompassing financial responsibilities. Additionally, the library board has the power to impact policies affecting employees of the library. The board has the power to oversee the appointment of librarians, develop job descriptions for library staff, and set compensation for all employees (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2016). 

Finally, municipal governments hold a key role in funding and supporting public libraries. Municipal governments directly pay library expenses, yet they have less power in guiding the activities of the library board. While practice varies between states, library boards hold significant financial power in comparison to that held by municipal governments. For example, as common practice, library boards have the ability to autonomously approve spending and then require the municipal government to provide reimbursement (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2016). While libraries are accountable to the public, the structure of the library board and director provide mechanisms for public library systems to act autonomously. This arrangement ensures that professionals with an understanding of library operations and activities have the authority they need to manage and plan for the success of the library in fulfilling its mission to the public.

Though the director, department heads, and members of the library boards have different levels of authority, the inherent power in each position depends on the motivation and managerial skill of those holding each position. For example, if a director has a different vision than the library board, the leadership skills of the director will determine his or her ability to gain support from the board for a different vision. Similarly, department heads have the opportunity to use their personal leadership or political skills to gain support for programs or spending priorities. Thus, while administrators and executives jointly run the public library, no individual entity has complete power in determining the operational and budgetary actions of the organization. Rather, it requires collaboration, consensus, and negotiation between different actors to shape the policies that support the mission of a library system.

References

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (2016). Who runs the public library. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved from https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/TE02.pdf