The public library board of trustees is an example of the great democratic tradition of giving authority for the operation of public agencies to members of the general public. The public library board is legally responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective operation of the public library. The board hires the library's administrator, plans the library's services, approves the library's policies, decides how much the library will request for its budget, and in Idaho, has exclusive control of the expenditure of library funds. This manual gives public library trustees a basic understanding of their duties and powers. Each section contains a brief self-assessment exercise useful for board members to assess themselves and their board. The manual is divided into 10 sections: (1) Introduction; (2) The Trustee and the Law; (3) The Board Meeting; (4) Budgeting and Financial Management; (5) The Trustee and Policy Making; (6) The Trustee and Library Planning; (7) The Trustee, Director and Staff; (8) Trustees and Automation; (9) Trustees and Community Relations; and (10) Appendices. Twenty-one appendices include a list of resources to obtain assistance, the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom To Read (a statement by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association of American Publishers), and ALA interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights. (Author/SWC)