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Why I Became a Library Board Trustee
By Don Roalkvam, Indian Trails Public Library District
August 1, 2007
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There are many reasons to become a library board trustee. Love of libraries, desire to give something back to the community, and bring new library services to the community are all good reasons. But none of them was the reason I became a trustee. My number one reason was that I was asked to be a trustee. I know, I could have run for the position in an election but it didn't occur to me that I wanted to be a trustee until the seed was planted in my head.

The library was always important to me.

It had to be that way! While growing up I lived less than a block from the library. My father served on my home town library board for years and years. Even after he retired from the board he remained active in library fundraising, children's literacy, and advocacy. I guess love of libraries was in my genes. Even so, there were never any conversations about how one day I too could be a trustee. No, even though it was important to me the library was something I pretty much took for granted.

As I grew older other interests and activities competed with library.

It was still important just not as much. I grew up, graduated from college, and got a job. My wife and I were transferred several times around the upper Midwest but never stepped foot in a library. I didn't even think about it. That changed when we had kids and moved to Wheeling and later Buffalo Grove. Then, it was back to the library for children's books and other materials. I knew one of the Indian Trails Public Library District trustees who after awhile told me that if I was interested there was an opening for a new trustee on the board. I became a board member in February of 1995. I am now serving my third term as president of the board.

Soon after becoming a trustee I was appointed the Indian Trails representative to the NSLS board meetings.

I learned about workings of NSLS and the NSLS board. One of the board members asked me to consider running for an NSLS board position. I agreed to run after much thought (plus saying “No” a few times) and was elected to the board. I participated in ALA Legislative Day in Washington and lobbied for library issues. I did the same with ILA Library Day in Springfield . I was hooked and enjoyed the interaction with legislators and other trustees. I was elected vice president and then president of the board.

At about the same time I became interested in the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA), a division of the American Library Association. I attended their programs at library conferences. Eventually it happened again; I was invited to be a member of the board of ALTA. I was elected to be ALTA's representative to the ALA governance body, Council. Last year I was elected president-elect of ALTA and am the 2007-2008 ALTA president.

I still enjoy the work and am thankful I was given the opportunity to be library trustee.

I don't know what will come next for me. I do know that if I had not been asked I would not have been a trustee then. How many other people are there like me who enjoyed using the library but would not consider being a trustee until someone asked them? The person who asked me to be a trustee over the years recruited several people to be trustees. The next time you think that someone you know would make a good trustee – ask them. Who knows, maybe they never thought about it before and just might take you up on it!

About the Author

Don Roalkvam is a board trustee at Indian Trails Public Library District

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