Libraries Connected members approve revised Articles of Association
At last week’s AGM, Libraries Connected members approved changes to our Articles of Association.
The changes, which were informed by an independent governance review, are designed to ensure Trustees have the breadth of expertise and experience to govern a national charity responsibly, while maintaining direct membership representation on the Board. The updates will:
- Clarify leadership roles - separating the President and Chair positions
- Streamline Board structure - removing the President Elect and Past President roles
- Enhance Board expertise - increasing the number of Board places for skills-based Trustees
The new Articles will take effect from June 2026.
President Ed Jewell said:
“Libraries Connected members have taken an important step to strengthen our governance and future-proof the organisation. I want to thank every member who voted and contributed to this important discussion. I look forward to working with all members and the Advisory Committee as we implement these changes together."
The changes
Splitting the roles of President and Chair of the Board
Previously, the positions of President and Chair of the Board were a combined single role. The role will now be split, with separate President and Chair roles.
The President will:
- Continue to be elected by and from the membership and sit on the Board of Trustees
- Serve for a period of two years
- Continue to chair the Advisory Committee
The Chair will:
- Be elected from the Board of Trustees, or externally recruited if required, based on skill sets and knowledge
- Serve for a period of three years
Why?
The combined President/Chair role created a demanding workload for one individual and didn't necessarily reflect the different skillsets each role requires.
Splitting the roles allows the President to focus on external advocacy and act as a figurehead while the Chair focuses on the work of the Board of Trustees, governance and support of the CEO.
Extending the Chair’s term to three years allows for continuity on the Board and work with the CEO.
Removing the roles of President Elect and Past President
Previously, the President Elect served one year in office shadowing the President prior to taking up the position of President for two years, then stepping into the Past President position for one year.
The roles of President Elect and Past President will now be removed.
Why?
The previous structure was unusual in the charity sector and unnecessarily extended the time commitment for Presidents.
Increasing the number of skills-based Trustees
Previously, nine places on the Board (out of a maximum 13) were reserved for members with up to four external Trustees recruited for their experience and expertise.
In the new structure, four places on the Board are reserved for members. The remaining Trustees will be recruited for their experience and expertise in priority areas. They can be either external or member Trustees.
Why?
The governance review highlighted the significant value brought to the Board by external Trustees. It also identified certain areas where the Board could benefit from broader expertise, including audit, communications and charity law. By allowing the co-option of more external Trustees, it can proactively address these skills gaps while increasing diversity on the Board. Retaining four places for member trustees maintains the crucial link with the membership while providing the flexibility to bring in other Trustees from outside the sector.