This is a hybrid event. Participants can attend in person at the OLC office in Dublin (Northwest Columbus) or online with the same access to workshop content. Workshop will be recorded and available to registrants for 30 days.

Map to OLC office
NOTE: For those attending the workshop in person, please note that the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the same day. There will be open access to the OLC office from Metro Place South.

Registration Deadline: 3/2/24

NOTE: When registering for this workshop, please indicate whether you will be attending in person or online.

Registration Fees: Member $95 | Non-member $190
*Individual members or staff/trustees of OLC institutional member libraries. Fee includes access to in-person or virtual option. Select “in-person” or “virtual” when registering at my OLC.

Overview: This workshop will focus on what every library trustee needs to know, including boardmanship, legal issues, library funding, working with your director, and library finances. The program will also take a look at Intellectual Freedom issues as well as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in public libraries. You will also learn about services that the OLC offers to its member libraries and their trustees. This is important training for new library trustees as well as those with years of experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to be an effective Board member and how to work with your library’s director and staff.
• Make sense of your library’s finances and understand how libraries are funded in Ohio.
• Get updates on the latest legislative issues at the Statehouse including the Public Library Fund (PLF).
• Gain a better understanding of the legal questions library trustees often ask.
• Understand Intellectual Freedom as well as EDI in public libraries.
• Learn more about the services that OLC provides to trustees.

Intended Audience: Any member of a public library Board of Trustees. The OLC encourages new trustees as well as current trustees to attend this educational event.

What’s Included: Morning coffee, light refreshments and lunch will be provided for those who attend at the OLC office. All handouts, provided by presenters, will be available online through the OLC app. Print them prior to the workshop, view them from your personal device during the event or view/download them after the event. The handouts will be available on the OLC app for 30 days following the program. Attendees will also receive a free digital copy of the Ohio Public Library Trustees’ Handbook.

Agenda

8:45 a.m. | Join the Zoom Classroom/Onsite Registration & Refreshments

9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Ohio Library Council Overview

Presenter: Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council

9:30 a.m. | Boardmanship

Presenter: Chad Seeberg, Former Trustee, Marysville Public Library

10:30 a.m. | Break

10:45 a.m. | Demystifying Library Finances

Presenter: William Shkurti, Trustee, Upper Arlington Public Library

11:30 a.m. | State Funding and Other Legislative Issues for Ohio’s Public Libraries

Presenter: Jay Smith, Director of Government and Legal Services, Ohio Library Council

12:15 p.m. | Lunch Break

12:45 p.m. | Legal Issues – What Trustees Need to Know

Presenter: Jason Elvers, OLC Legal Counsel, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

2:00 p.m. | Break

2:15 p.m. | Intellectual Freedom & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Public Libraries

Presenters: Kacie Armstrong, Director, Euclid Public Library and Meredith Wickham, Director, Southwest Public Libraries

3:45 p.m. | The Importance of the Director/Board Relationship

Presenter: Tony Howard, Director, Pickerington Public Library

4:30 p.m. | Adjourn