Library Council
Working Agreement

ATTENDANCE

• Members arrive on time.
• If unable to attend, members notify the Chair or the Recorder and send any input or documents. Members may ask to have agenda items tabled if they want to be present for discussion or decision. Agenda items added at the meeting may be tabled if input of absent members is needed.
• If members anticipate an absence, they may identify a substitute, as appropriate.
• Members assume responsibility for informing themselves of what occurred at missed meetings.

PREPARATION

• Members are prepared for every meeting.
• Members read all agenda-related materials sent ahead of time.
• Members bring necessary handouts.
• Members are ready to lead discussions of assigned agenda items.

PARTICIPATION

• LC provides and encourages equal opportunities for participation, and members assume individual responsibility to participate fully.
• Members act collegially.
• Members respect everyone’s right to speak and be listened to without interruption.
• Members are free to ask for clarification or restatement.
• Members welcome discussion of their ideas or proposals as part of the group process.
• Members are free to express their feelings and are sensitive to the feelings of other members.
• Members are free to suggest a break, as needed.

CONSENSUS

• Whenever possible, members make decisions by consensus. When not possible, the Director of Libraries will make the final decision.
• Definition: Consensus means that each member has an opportunity to participate in the development of the decision, and that all members are willing to "live with" the decision. It does not mean that the decision is necessarily everyone’s first choice, but that all members commit to working toward the implementation of the decision and not obstruct its implementation.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

• Members take a system-wide perspective when problem solving.
• Members are free to try new things that may deviate from current or past procedures.
• At the end of each meeting:
• Members set a tentative agenda for the next meeting. The Recorder emails the agenda to Libusers immediately following each meeting to allow library employees plenty of time to provide input to LC members or to determine whether they wish to attend a meeting.
• Members confirm decisions made and how best to communicate them to everyone.
• Members review and confirm assigned tasks.
• Members review the "Working Agreements for LC" each Fall.

GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING INTERNAL COMMUNICATION (approved 9/10/03)

• Use Libusers libusers@lists.wsu.edu for work-related information or events of interest to a broad spectrum of library employees. (All library employees are subscribed to Libusers)
• Use the Articles Digest Library_Articles@lists.wsu.edu to post library-related articles. (Library employees who wish to subscribe to the Articles Digest can do so by sending an email to the listserv. Leave the Subject line blank; in the body, type subscribe Library_Articles Your Name; be sure to delete your Signature.)
• Use Libfaculty libfaculty@lists.wsu.edu for faculty-specific emails. (All library faculty are subscribed to Libfaculty)
• LC will use Libusers as the default for sharing information with library employees.
• Be sure to have LC's endorsement before sending messages on behalf of LC.
• Unit heads are responsible for forwarding non-confidential material within the units.
• The "Subject" line is an important tool (don't leave it blank).
• Use a meaningful Subject heading
• Include the deadline date in the Subject heading, when applicable
• Use the term CONFIDENTIAL in the Subject heading, when applicable
• When requesting a response, be sure to specify the desired method of reply and deadline date. For LC, non-response indicates compliance.
• If you mark your email CONFIDENTIAL, be sure to specify your wishes regarding its distribution.
• If your email is important or time sensitive, use an "importance" indicator (on toolbar).
• Cool off before sending angry email.
• Use face-to-face discussions to debate controversial issues to encourage open communication, even if it means an extra meeting.
• Everyone is responsible for communicating his/her opinion.
• Brainstorming is a way to generate ideas, not the time to critique them.

 

Approved 2/4/98; Rev 3/4/98; Rev 9/6/00; Rev 5/23/01; Rev 12/18/02; Rev 8/27/03; Rev 9/10/03