In Texas, public library advisory boards are a recent innovation that have developed as a result of the Council-Manager form of government. This handbook is a response to that development as a compilation of information on the most efficient roles and functions of advisory boards. An advisory board is appointed by the governing body of which the library is a unit. It fulfills an important role by allowing for public participation in planning library policies and services. The composition and duties of the library board are discussed, along with information about finances, policies, and sources of support, such as Friends of the Library and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Chapter 11 of this paper contains five position papers on the following library issues: (1) Library Bill of Rights; (2) Freedom To Read; (3) Freedom To View; (4) Texas State Library Association Intellectual Freedom Statement; and (5) Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records. Summaries of opinions of the Texas Attorney General on library matters and a glossary are included. Appendixes contain sample board by-laws and a list of Texas Regional Library Systems. (SLD)