Akron Public Library Board of Trustees

Current Board Members:

Ryan Schuknecht - Library Board President, City Representative

Kelli Pierce - Library Board Vice President, City Representative

Dwain Wilmot - City Representative

Julie Madden - County Representative

The Akron Public Library Board of Trustees is currently looking for a 5th Board Member. This member must be a resident of the City of Akron and therefore live within Akron's city limits. If you are interested in becoming an advocate for the library, please call the Library Director at 712-568-2601.
To learn more about what your role as a Library Board member entails, please see below.

Public Library Boards have five primary roles: 

1.  Advocate for the library in the community and advocate for the community as a member of the library board.  To be a library advocate is to work for the betterment of library services for the community.  Advocacy includes working to obtain adequate funding for the library; pursuing opportunities to meet and speak with community groups; getting to know the mayor and city council; making sure the community's needs and interests are paramount when making board decisions.

2.  Plan for the future of the library.  Planning is one of the most important trusts that the community gives to the library board.  Planning is deciding what is going to happen with library services over the next few years.  It is taking charge of the library's future and creating it to be responsive to what the community needs.

3.  Monitor and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the library.  The community puts its trust in the library board to make sure the library is operating the way it should.  For example, the library board is familiar with the library's budget - where the money is coming from and how it will be spent.  The board monitors monthly financial reports and approves the bills so they can be paid.  The board also helps determine whether the community is satisfied with the service received from the library.

4.  Set library policies.  The library board spends much of it's time on policy issues - developing policies and monitoring the effectiveness of those policies.  (Policy is a carefully designed, broadly stated, written guideline for actions and decision of the library.)  Once adopted by the board, library staff carries out the policies on a day to day basis.

5.  Hire and evaluate the library director.  The board hires a qualified director to manage the day-to-day operations of the library and works with the director, carefully respecting each other's roles.  The board also regularly evaluates the director to make sure the library operates well and in the best interest of those the library serves.