Since the Office of Library and Information Services published the first Rhode Island trustees manual in 1980, Rhode Island public libraries have continued to respond to an ever increasing demand for service. In so doing, they consistently have taken advantage of new opportunities to provide this service more efficiently and effectively via technology, cooperative networks, and the efforts of trained, dedicated staff. And trustees, new and experienced, have continued to contribute their expertise and judgment to the decision-making processes necessary for sound governance of their institutions amid this climate of change and possibility. To aid in this ongoing endeavor, this revised and updated handbook has been published as a source of current information, guidance, and, hopefully, inspiration. The following are appended: (1) The Board Evaluates Itself; (2) Sample Bylaws; (3) Library Bill of Rights; (4) The Freedom to Read Statement; (5) The Freedom to View Statement; (6) Ethics Statement for Public Library Trustees; (7) Glossary of Terms and Acronyms; (8) A Trustee's Reading List; (9) Index to RI Library & Library-Related Laws; and (10) Legal Opinion: "Control of Personnel Policies." [This report was published by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services.]