Policy 5.10

Code of Ethics

As a member of the Library Board, I will:

1. listen carefully to other Board trustees;
2. respect the opinion of other Board trustees;
3. respect the decisions of the Board;
4. recognize that all authority is vested in the Board when it meets in legal session and not with individual Board trustees;
5. be well-informed of developments that are relevant to issues that may come before the Board;
6. participate actively in Board meetings and actions;
7. call to the attention of the Board any issues that may have an effect on the Library;
8. attempt to interpret the needs of the community to the Library and interpret the action of the Library to the community;
9. represent the whole community to the Library and not a particular area or group;
10. refer complaints about the Library to the proper level in the chain of command;
11. recognize that the Board trustee’s job is to ensure that the Library is well-managed, not to manage the Library;
12. vote to hire the best possible person to manage the Library;
13. ensure that the Library is well maintained, financially secure, growing and always operating in the best interest of the community;
14. work to learn more about the Board trustee’s job and how to do the job better;
15. declare any personal conflicts of interest and avoid voting on issues that involve personal conflicts of interest.

As a member of the Library Board I will not:

1. be critical outside the Board meeting, of fellow Board trustees or staff;
2. use any part of the Library for my personal advantage or the personal advantage of my friends or relatives;
3. discuss confidential proceedings of the Board outside the Board meeting; except with other trustees
4. promise prior to the meeting how I will vote on any issue in the meeting;
5. interfere with the duties of the Chief Executive Officer or undermine the CEO’s authority.

    

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   Approved by the Greater Victoria Public Library Board:	October 28, 2003
   Reviewed by the Policy & Program Development Committee:
   Amended by the Greater Victoria Public Library Board: