Library Trustees
Portal

You may be surprised by how much library trustees do—and how much they must learn—to help public libraries remain vital centers of their communities. Whether appointed or elected, trustees represent the residents of their library’s service area in a collective, nonpartisan capacity. As members of the library board, these government officials play a crucial role by working with the library director to oversee the budget, plan strategically, set policy, advocate for the library, follow the law, and ensure the library serves the entire community with fairness and inclusivity.

Trustees are essential to carrying out the library’s mission. They ensure that the needs of their communities are being met. To do this effectively, they must be equipped with the right tools and knowledge.

iLEAD—Leadership, Empowerment, Accessibility, and Development for Public Library Trustees is an online learning portal created specifically for Illinois Public Library Trustees. Funded by a grant from the Illinois State Library and developed by the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), iLEAD brings together the expertise of subject matter specialists from across the state. The portal provides trustees with essential knowledge, legal requirements, and practical resources to help them serve as effective, confident, and influential leaders of their libraries.