administrative practice for Participation in state and national organizations

Adopted by Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees in May 2004; revised March 7, 2017.

The Spokane Public Library recognizes that professional organizations are unable to function without committed members who volunteer to serve on boards and committees. It is also recognized that individuals, and the Library as a whole, benefit from such participation in tangible and intangible ways. Participation can be a tremendous growth experience for the individual that will translate to enhanced work performance. Participation may give the Library a voice in shaping the future as issues are discussed and policy and direction are set on the state and national level. For these reasons, the Library wishes to support such involvement, as far as we are able. The following guidelines are set forth to that end:

Appointment to any board or committee that will require conference or meeting attendance during work time must be approved by library administration prior to its The petition must include all pertinent information, including but not limited to:

1. A brief statement of the nature of the appointment and an assessment of the benefits of such involvement to the employee and to the library
2. The term of the commitment
3. Conference attendance requirements attached to the appointment, and whether funding for related expenses is requested
4. Meeting attendance requirements, including an estimate of the time the employee will be away from work and whether reimbursement of travel expenses is requested
5. Whether substitutes will be required in the employee’s absence

Requests for organizational support for board or committee involvement will be separate from continuing education and conference attendance requests and will be funded from administrative travel rather than from the training budget. These requests should be submitted to the employee’s immediate supervisor by memorandum and, if approved by the immediate supervisor, forwarded to that person’s All requests for funding for this purpose will be approved by the Library Director.

An employee accepting an appointment without obtaining the appropriate approvals may be denied release time and/or funding for expenses. If vacation time is used, the normal vacation approval process will apply.