Trustees who violate the law, are negligent, fail to act when they should, or act in excess of their authority may be liable. For example, establishing dress codes for employees or censorship are acts in excess of board authority. Failure to act would include failure to meet contractual obligations, get copyright clearance, etc. Negligence may involve ignoring unsafe conditions in the building or failing to account appropriately for library funds. Acts in violation of the law include purchasing property without bidding, failing to follow rules established for hiring and firing, authorizing improper payments, and so on.
Trustees are also liable, of course, for intentional misconduct like libel, assault, and theft.
Trustees should be aware that legal developments that are not obviously or specifically related to libraries can also be relevant and important. The State Library Division tries to keep trustees aware and informed of legislation that affects libraries through its newsletter, Directions for Utah Libraries . Planning for Success Planning is central to improving library services and achieving success. It is also central to all trustee activities since the board's actions are taken to further the library's mission and goals. Planning encourages coordination and accountability.