{"id":605,"date":"2020-05-11T15:55:38","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T20:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/?page_id=605"},"modified":"2020-05-11T17:02:25","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T22:02:25","slug":"code-of-ethics-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/about\/code-of-ethics-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Code of Ethics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Arapahoe Public Library\nBoard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ethics Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Arapahoe Public Library is dependent on the trust of its\ncommunity to successfully achieve its mission. Therefore, it is crucial that\nall Board members conduct business on behalf of the Arapahoe Public Library\nwith the highest level of integrity avoiding any impropriety or the appearance\nof impropriety.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Guiding Principles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Board members should\n     uphold the integrity of the Arapahoe Public Library and should perform\n     their duties impartially and diligently.<\/li><li>Board members should not\n     engage in discrimination of any kind including that based on race, class,\n     ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or belief system.<\/li><li>Board members should\n     protect and uphold library patrons\u2019 right to privacy in their use of the\n     library\u2019s resources.<\/li><li>Board members should avoid\n     situations in which their personal interests, activities or financial\n     affairs are, or are likely to be perceived as being in conflict with the\n     best interests of the Arapahoe Public Library.<\/li><li><em>Board members should avoid having interests<\/em>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<em>may reasonably bring\n     into question their<\/em>&nbsp;ability to carry out the\n     obligations&nbsp;<em>of their position<\/em>&nbsp;in a&nbsp;<em>fair<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>impartial<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>objective manner<\/em>.<\/li><li>Board members should not\n     knowingly act in any way that would reasonably be expected to create an\n     impression among the public that they are engaged in conduct that violates\n     their trust as Board members or employees.<\/li><li>Board members should not\n     use or attempt to use their position with the Arapahoe Public Library to\n     obtain unwarranted privileges or advantages for themselves or others.<\/li><li>Board members should not\n     be swayed by partisan interests, public pressure, or fear of criticism.<\/li><li>Board members should not\n     denigrate the organization or fellow Board members in any public arena.<\/li><li>Board members will recognize\n     the need for trust as the basis for team building and shared leadership in\n     all interactions regarding the Arapahoe Public Library. It is each\n     member\u2019s responsibility to make decisions on issues before the Board and\n     reach conclusions only after deliberation and full public debate with\n     fellow board members. <\/li><li>Board members should\n     attend required regular and committee meetings, read distributed materials\n     and information, and participate in discussions\/votes. <\/li><li>Board members should\n     accept the responsibility to work with the Library Director and respect\n     the professional expertise of the Arapahoe Library staff and acknowledge\n     that the internal operation of the library system is the responsibility of\n     the Library Director, refer all questions and complaints about library\n     operations to the Library Director and act on such complaints in a public\n     forum only after the Library Director has reviewed them and only if a\n     policy revision is necessary or legal ramifications are involved. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Board members should\n     recognize the need to excuse oneself immediately whenever the appearance\n     of a conflict of interest exists or an actual conflict exists. <\/li><li>Board members will\n     participate in official board discussions and decisions, and recognize\n     that authority rests with the whole board assembled in public meetings and\n     make no personal promises nor take any private action, which may\n     compromise the board. Nor when representing the board, promote the special\n     interests of individuals, self, organizations, or political views which\n     may be in conflict with the role of the library to serve the entire\n     public. <\/li><li>Board members will uphold\n     all policies adopted by the board. Acknowledge that it is appropriate for\n     trustees to state their opposition during board discussion of an issue,\n     and register their dissent at any meeting. Acknowledge that a dissenting\n     board member may publicly state that he or she dissented on an issue and\n     why he or she voted against it but that he or she should not undermine or\n     interfere with implementation of the final decisions of the board. Agree\n     that if a board member is so strongly opposed to the actions of the Board\n     that he or she cannot support the decision, he or she should consider\n     resignation from the Board. <\/li><li>Board members will abide\n     by the Open Meetings Act and will not meet outside of designated board\n     meetings for discussion on topics related to the library, its staff and\/or\n     its projects. <\/li><li>Board members will support\n     the vision and mission of the Arapahoe Library and embrace the First\n     Amendment, relevant principles of the ALA, and the right of our patrons to\n     pursue knowledge for their enrichment and continued education.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Therefore:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To preserve and uphold the Arapahoe Public Library\u2019s\nreputation as an organization of unimpeachable integrity, each Board member and\nemployee will sign a \u201cConflict of Interest\u201d statement and an \u201cEthics Statement\u201d\nat the commencement of his\/her service. &nbsp;This\nwill be reviewed yearly during their tenure with the Arapahoe Public Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Compliance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If any Board member appears to be in conflict of the\n\u201cGuiding Principles\u201d above, he or she will be asked to meet with the Executive\nCommittee to discuss the issue.&nbsp; The Executive\nCommittee* will make a recommendation to the full board based on their\nfindings.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*The\nExecutive Committee will consist of the president&nbsp;of the library board and\nthe city council liaison. If the actions in question are those of the board\npresident, the Executive Committee will consist of the city council liaison and\nanother officer of the library board.&nbsp;The library director shall act as an\nadviser unless it is deemed a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Procedures for\nremoval of a board member. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opposing viewpoints are to be expected, but they should\nnever cross the line into becoming obstructive to the organization\u2019s mission.\nWhen board members breach into destructive or demoralizing behavior, the rest\nof the board needs to make a decision about removing one board member for the\ngood of the whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Board members may be asked to leave the board for many different reasons.\nBoard members are expected to have exemplary behavior, but that isn\u2019t to say\nthat they are expected to be perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Offenses for removal can include: A conflict of interest in reference to the\nGuiding Principles, unethical behavior, committing fraudulent activities, disclosing\nconfidential information to the public, harassing staff or board members, being\ndisruptive during meetings, being in violation of the Open Meetings Act,\ncausing sexual harassment, and making sexual advances to other board or staff\nmembers, are all situations that can result in the removal of a board member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Removal by Lack of Attendance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a board member misses three meetings in a row, they will be given written\nnotice that they are not meeting the standards and expectations of the library\nboard and are no longer a member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Leave of Absence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In doing due diligence as a listener, the Executive Committee* who has the\ndiscussion with the member might find that there is a valid reason for the\nchange in attitude or behavior. Perhaps there were some personal issues\nregarding the member\u2019s job, family, or health. In this situation, a temporary\nleave of absence may be a better solution for everyone. If both parties agree\nthat a leave of absence is in order due to a temporary change in a member\u2019s\njob, family or health situation, it should be temporary and for a fixed period\nof time. If the member requests a leave that lasts longer than two months, he\nor she should consider resignation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The board member who is allowed a leave of absence will not be able to vote\non matters during their absence. They will make every effort to stay up-to-date\nby reading board minutes, financial reports and library reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Removal by Resignation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If any board member appears to be in conflict of the \u201cGuiding Principles\u201d\nabove, he or she will be asked to meet with the executive committee to discuss\nthe issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the executive committee finds just cause for the removal of a board\nmember: The board president should schedule a time to talk about the member\u2019s\nconflicts with the board. Use the conversation to describe the board\u2019s\nobservations without assaulting the member\u2019s character. Ask for feedback about\nwhether those observations are accurate and complete and whether you\u2019ve\noverlooked anything. Listen to the member\u2019s point of view and offer to help. If\nan amicable resolution can\u2019t be found, the member will be asked to resign from\nthe board of their own accord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Removal by Impeachment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering impeachment should be reserved for the\nmost serious offenses and situations, or when after following the guidelines\nfrom the Executive Committee*, the board member refuses to resign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the approach of last resort. Impeachment\noccurs when the board votes to dismiss the member from the board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to the vote, a member of the Executive Committee*\nshould clearly state the reasons that constitute removal by impeachment. Incidents\nthat happened and the steps that were taken to address the situations should be\ndocumented, recorded, and stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the Executive Committee* finds just cause for\nthe removal of a board member: The board president should schedule a time to\ntalk about the member\u2019s conflicts with the board. Use the conversation to\ndescribe the board\u2019s observations without assaulting the member\u2019s character.\nAsk for feedback about whether those observations are accurate and complete and\nwhether you\u2019ve overlooked anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A two-thirds majority is needed to dismiss a board\nmember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*<strong>The\nExecutive Committee will consist of the president&nbsp;of the library board and\nthe city council liaison. If the actions in question are those of the board\npresident, the Executive Committee will consist of the city council liaison and\nanother officer of the library board.&nbsp;The library director shall act as an\nadviser unless it is deemed a conflict of interest.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By my signature, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to\nthe policies and procedures laid forth in the Arapahoe Public Library Board\nCode of Ethics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date\n___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:_________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>______________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date\n___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:_________________________________ <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date\n___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:__________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date\n___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:____________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date\n___________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:____________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date ___________\u00ad\u00ad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Library Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:____________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Date ___________\u00ad\u00ad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>City Council Liaison<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Printed name:____________________________________<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arapahoe Public Library Board Ethics Policy The Arapahoe Public Library is dependent on the trust of its community to successfully achieve its mission. Therefore, it is crucial that all Board members conduct business on behalf of the Arapahoe Public Library with the highest level of integrity avoiding any impropriety or&#8230;<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/about\/code-of-ethics-2\/\"><span>Continue reading<\/span><i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":0,"parent":2,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-605","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4W7Ki-9L","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=605"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":620,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/605\/revisions\/620"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}