Source Document:
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Management Audit conducted by DMG-Maximus,
Inc. for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Final Report published October 1999.
[Executive Summary, page ii:]
Chapter II. Review of the Board of Trustees’ Role and Operation
Findings:
- The powers and authority of the Library Board are outlined in the enabling legislation.
- The appointment process for Library Board members is complex and has been a source
of conflict for a number of years. The legislation regarding Board appointments has been
modified ten times in the seventeen years since its enactment. The appointment process has also
led to a Board that is not geographically representative of the County.
- A review of Board meetings, materials, and actions indicates it is not efficient in its
operations and methods. During meetings in 1998, Board meetings were not conducted with
reference to Robert’s Rules of Order, no Parliamentarian provided advice to the Board Chair,
and there were several instances noted in which the Board had not acted in a timely fashion.
- The current committee structure is not effective. There are ten committees, and during
1998, fully 42% of all scheduled committee meetings had no quorum and could not conduct
business.
- The role of staff in supporting the Board is unclear. The lack of a standard format for all
staff reports to the Board makes it difficult to track staff response to Board questions.
- The Board has not upheld the Trustee attendance requirement.
Recommendations concerning the Library Board are:
- The Library Board membership should be reduced to match the number of County
Commission districts. The smaller Board will be more likely to be efficient in conducting its
business and will be geographically representative of the Library service area.
- There are opportunities to improve the organization of the Library Board of Trustees
meetings, the decision-making process, and parliamentary conduct for the benefit of the
Trustees and the public.
- The Executive Committee should be utilized as the primary administrative body, as
outlined in the Board Constitution. It would reduce reliance on the current committees.
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