Board Code of Ethics

As a member of the library board I will:

• listen carefully to other board members, respecting their opinions and supporting majority decisions of the board.
• recognize that all authority is vested in the board when it meets in legal session and not with individual board members.
• keep well-informed of developments relevant to issues that may come before the board and call to the board's attention any issues I believe will have an effect on the library.
• participate actively in all meetings of the board, committees and task forces on which I serve, having read the agenda and all background support material.
• attempt to interpret the needs of the whole community (not a particular area or group) to the library and interpret the library to the community in a positive and supportive manner at all times and in all places.
• refer complaints about the library to the proper level on the chain of command.
• recognize that the board member's job is to ensure that the library is well-managed, not to manage the library.  To this end I will vote to hire the best possible person to manage our library.
• do my best to ensure that the library is well maintained, financially secure, growing and always operating in the best interests of the community.
• work to learn more about the board member's job and how to do the job better.
• declare any conflict of interests between my personal life and my position on the library board and avoid voting on issues that appear to be a conflict of interests.
• be prepared to support to the fullest the efforts of the library in resisting censorship of library materials by groups or individuals.

As a member of the library board I will not:

• be critical, in or outside of the board meeting, of fellow board members or their opinions.
• use any part of the library for my personal advantage or the personal advantage of my friends or relatives.
• discuss the confidential proceedings of the board outside the board meeting.
• promise prior to a meeting how I will vote on any issue in the meeting.
• interfere with the duties of the director or undermine the director's authority.

Adopted 1/17/95; reviewed 3/12