"Public Library Trustees: Characteristics and Educational Preferences: A Research Study

Abstract

This article reports on the methodology and findings of a 2005 survey of Indiana public library trustees. The study ascertained demographics of trustees and asked about their preferred educational content needs and the format in which they wanted it delivered. The trustees selected education about budgeting and strategic planning as their highest priorities. They selected law/liability, board-director relations and several other topics less often. Trustees expressed a strong preference for locally available programming, although many respondents were interested in online delivery options. Compared with earlier studies in other states, a larger percentage of trustees had participated in educational programs (39% in this survey vs. 29% and 20% previously). Finally, as in those earlier studies, trustees are unrepresentative of their populations, being more educated and more female than the citizens for which they govern their libraries.