Sunshine & Stories Asks “I’m on the Board, Now What!?”

What is Sunshine & Stories?

Sunshine & Stories is a Colorado State Library podcast dedicated to all things public and school libraries. Our podcast aims to offer fresh insights, as well as spark creative and practical ideas for diverse public & school library settings. Whether you’re a veteran in the library world, a newbie looking for a little professional support, or someone who’s considering shaking things up in your library (a little or a lot), we hope this podcast will be a valuable resource for you. 

Ep. 208 I’m on the Library’s Board, Now What!?

Episode Summary:

Polly Gallagher sits down with trustees Scarlett Ponton, President of Nederland Community Library Board & recipient of the 2025 CAL Outstanding Library Trustee Award, and Jennifer Tibbets, Grand County Library District Trustee, as they reflect on what the role of a library trustee is in a Colorado public library. They reflect on what that first board meeting is like, how to prepare, and what the role of a trustee is and projects to oversee. (Full transcript available here.) 

00:00 – Introduction
03:13 – Role of the board
03:58 – Key concerns of the board
07:39 – Board projects
09:22 – Everyone is not an expert
11:34 – Meeting preparation
13:09 – Preparing to be a trustee
15:43 – Asking questions
18:27 – Ongoing professional development
20:21 – Beyond the local
22:24 – Why volunteer for your library board
24:17 – Closing

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Resources:

Public Library Leadership  (CSL) resource page 

Colorado Public Library Board & Trustee Handbook 

Colorado Public Library Standards: 

          Administration & Governance 

          Budget & Finance 

         Community Engagement 

         Evaluation & Planning 

Is your library board of trustees seeking in-person trustee training on Governance & Administration, strategic planning support, or other support? The Colorado State Library Leadership Team provides these services and more at no cost to your library! Find out more today.  

Contact Polly at [email protected] or (720) 879-1549 

Colorado State Library projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government.