Building Strong Trustee Relationships during Book Challenges

The support and backing of your board is crucial, particularly in the event of managing book challenges. This session provides tools a library administrator can use to strengthen relationships with trustees, help your board navigate challenges, and, ultimately, enhance their appreciation for your professional role and the library as an access point to intellectual freedom. Based on real-life experience with book challenges, the focus here will begin with building out relationships early and encouraging a trustee's willingness to learn about and engage with the library. From there, the emphasis will shift to advice on navigating trustee relationships during a challenge, including those arising from patrons as well as those arising from trustees. Throughout, the discussion will center on forming professional relationships centered on respect and how to encourage meaningful and dignified communication.