Recently Asked Questions

Can we use the email addresses of our patrons from our ILS patron database to send a donation request for our association library's annual fundraising drive? We would exclude requests to minor patrons.

Often times, our meeting agenda changes so we would like to add a disclosure at the bottom that reads “Agenda is subject to change.”

Is this something that is allowed, and would it need to be included in our bylaws?

I am of the understanding that NYS departments documentation falls under public domain. Can you provide any insight into this? Thank you!

A director of a library resources council asks…

I know we have policy and procedures in place for our staff travel, but what if we were to reimburse or give grants for personal auto travel to members.

Example: could we offer a monetary amount for our members to travel to Albany for NYLA Legislative Day? Would our [library]council be liable if the person gets in an accident?

We also offer Professional Development grants. If travel is included in the grant we award are we liable for supporting that trip if the person is in an accident or injured?

[My library's] community is calling for a member of the staff to have a seat on the board as a voting member. However, I am searching for something in the trustee handbook or DLD regulations that explicitly states this. I am not aware of any library that has ever had a staff member sit on the board as a voting trustee. I'm not inclined to agree because there are multiple knock-on effects they have not contemplated (e.g. changes to by-laws, number of seats on the board, not to mention the ethicality of a staff member sitting on a body that directs hiring/wages/appointments etc.). Of course, local by-laws are also in effect, but those do not state staff cannot be on the board, it's always just been common knowledge.

Any help/advice you could provide about the ethical question, as well as perhaps the legal one, would be very helpful.

Many thanks.