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This document presents standards for Utah public libraries. The benefits of standards for public libraries and for the state library are listed, and responsibilities, benefits, and characteristics of three types of public libraries (i.e., volunteer, transitional, and certified public libraries) are summarized. Specific standards in the following areas are provided: (1) Governance; (2) Funding; (3) Housing and Access; (4) Personnel; (5) Materials; (6) Services; (7) Technology; (8) Planning and Evaluation; (9) Policies; and (10) Reporting. Procedures for certifying new library jurisdictions are outlined, and other issues are addressed, including consolidated library jurisdictions, combined school/public libraries, library branches, and revoked certification. Appendices include a history of Utah public library standards and three planning methodologies. (Contains 13 references.) (MES)

Chapter 1 of this handbook of Montana library laws, rules, and public library standards contains excerpts from the Constitution of Montana, including articles on property tax exemptions, educational goals and duties, and code of ethics. Montana library laws covering the following areas are presented in Chapter 2: publication and updating of the code; code of ethics; open meetings; adoption and publication of rules; public records; government structure and administration; education; communication systems; form and reporting of Supreme Court decisions; dissemination of laws and proceedings; legislative council and publication of laws; local government; municipal commission government; municipal commission-manager government; county budget law; municipal budget law; municipal taxation; interlocal agreements; consolidation and transfer of services; multijurisdictional service districts; tax-exempt property; coal severance taxes; board of public education; superintendent of public instruction; district superintendent and principal; accreditation and curriculum; school instruction and special programs libraries; university units; Montana educational telecommunications network; State Library Commission; State Library; free public libraries; library systems; law library; Interstate Library Compact; Library Records Confidentiality Act; cultural and aesthetic projects; historical society; price discrimination; offensive, indecent, and inhumane conduct; Montana Clean Indoor Air Act; smoking in public places, government offices, and work areas; fire safety in public buildings; universal access and service; natural resource information systems; advisory committee; and information system. Chapter 3 provides organizational, procedural, and substantive administrative rules of Montana. Chapter 4 contains the Montana Public Library Standards, including sections on governance and finance, human resources, access, materials and collection, and facilities and public relations. Includes an index of Montana library laws. (MES)

This document serves as a "talking paper" for the Consultation Task Force for Library Space Standards. The current required formulae for planning library and learning resource facilities for community colleges in California are found in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 5, Section 57030, "Library Space." This section has been in place since before 1974. This report, which raises issues that are not adequately addressed by the current formulae, contains the following sections: (1) Background; (2) Summary of Issues with Current Standards; (3) Goals for Community College Library/Learning Resource Center Projects; (4) Converting Day Graded Enrollment (DGE) to Full Time Equivalent Enrollment Student (FTES): Demographics of California Community College Students; (5) Stack Space; (6) Staff Space; (7) Reader Station Space; (8) Total Space; (9) Audio-Visual and Programmed Instruction Activities; and (10) Proposed Revision of CCR, Title 5, Section 57030. Library Space. The proposed revisions do not address all of the deficiencies in the current guidelines. In some areas, the final allocations have moved further away from the minimum standards, but in general, the task force chose improvement in quality, flexibility at the local level, and accessibility over quantitative guidelines. (VWC)

This publication replaces "Media Standards for School Learning Resources Centers" (1980) with revised standards that were based on prevailing guidelines promoted in the literature, characteristics of educational and library media center environments prevalent in the state as reported by officials in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and, to a limited extent, analysis of data collected in a statewide survey of school library media centers. This set of standards identifies selected characteristics of collections of minimal sizes that will become part of the requirements of the Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP) assessment. The document is also a vehicle to help school library media specialists and district and building level administrators plan for the improvement of access to information to enhance and enrich the learning environment; create an awareness and support the use of technology in school library media programs as an integrated part of the resources; make judgments about the effectiveness of media center collections; develop budgets; and communicate student and teacher information needs to board members, parents, and the community. This standards document addresses the quantity and quality of collections at the building level, includes a definition of terms, and discusses the quantitative and qualitative resources standards. Standards are specified for reference collections, nonfiction collections, fiction collections, periodical collections, visual and tactile resources, electronic resources, professional collections, school library media specialist, facilities, and financial planning and budget maintenance. Appendices include: evaluation guidelines and worksheets for library media specialists; core data worksheets and definitions, and sample core data report; and enrollment tables to determine the specific quantity of items needed for the student population served in each building. (Author/SWC)

In accordance with a long range plan for libraries in Colorado, a committee was appointed to develop the first standards for basic library service in Colorado public libraries. Libraries and their boards may use this document as a workbook for assessing their library and its services, as well as a document to assist in planning for the library's future growth and services. Each standard is followed by a box to be checked if the library is planning for achieving the standard, in progress toward achieving the standard, or has achieved this standard. By marking the appropriate box, libraries can determine areas of greatest achievement as well as areas that need addressing. Standards and guidelines are grouped by legal population service size. The report includes a definition of public library standards, a list of regional library service system contacts, and has standards and guidelines covering the following topics: administration--governance, management, planning, and finance; services and programming; collection; technical; cooperation/resource sharing; personnel; public relations; and facilities. (SWC)

This annual report of public library services is part of "The Upgrade Process," a tool for Utah's public librarians and library trustees to use as they work to improve the quality and effectiveness of public library service. The process has three major components: public library service standards; a flexible planning process for public library trustees and staff; and an evaluation component that includes the use of performance measures. The "Upgrade Process" is based on two premises: that formal planning for improved library services is the responsibility of local librarians, board members, and elected officials; and that local planning can be more effective when it is supported by an appropriate statewide context. This annual report contributes to creating that statewide context by reporting data useful for local library planning. The information is presented in two sections, core performance measures and general tables. Core performance measures consist of data on the following: visits per capita; circulation per capita; turnover rate; holdings per capita; expenditures per capita; and index of local financial effort. The general tables report data on a library by library basis through charts and graphs, and include information on basic library information; library resources; library services; library finances (income and expenditure); comparison of operating expenditures; and jurisdictional maintenance of effort comparison. (SWC)

This collection development plan of the Minnesota State Law Library includes detailed information on policies and annotations. After an overview of the Library's collection, general policy guidelines on the following are discussed: material selection; principles of selection; exclusions; gifts; interlibrary loan; cooperation; replacements; duplication; electronic resources; preservation; weeding and storage; and standards. Policies on special collection areas are also identified. Annotations provide examinations and assessments of the Library's collection. In outline form, the following major areas are evaluated for what the Library should have and does have, as well as for other considerations: administrative decisions and regulations; attorney general opinions; citators; constitutions; court reports and rules; dictionaries and encyclopedias; digests of case law; directories; form books; government documents; judicial administrative reports; legislative journals and studies; looseleaf services; newspapers; periodicals; practice manuals and procedural forms; session laws and statutes; standards; treaties; treatises and subject materials; and uniform laws and model acts. Appendices include the Minnesota State Law Library mission statement, retention of titles in retired collections and storage, the American Association of Law Libraries Appellate Court Library Standards, and the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights. (AEF)

The Learning Resource Services (LRS) department at Austin Community College, in Texas, has developed a procedure for dealing with situations when a library user objects to items in a collection or display or protests that an item is not in the collection. First, three resources have been created to handle challenges. The LRS Materials Selection Policy outlines criteria for collection development; a Challenge Procedures manual provides a step-by-step guide to handling challenges; and a Materials Challenge Packet provides checklists and further resources, including the Library Bill of Rights (LBR). Specific guidelines and recommendations for responding to challenges include the following: (1) during initial contact, the LRS staff should refer the library user to the appropriate supervisor; (2) a materials review committee will be formed upon request to reconsider the LRS materials; (3) if the library user is not satisfied with the decision of the committee, he or she may appeal to the associate vice president of the LRS for a review; and (4) the LRS will not review the same title or work more than once every 5 years, unless it has been substantially altered. The Materials Challenge Packet is appended, including a summary of the LRS Materials Selection Policy, the LBR, a Materials Challenge Checklist, and forms for requesting reconsideration of LRS materials and appealing. (TGI)

This document presents a curriculum framework for Elmira City School District library media programs. Its intent is that library media specialists and teachers in all areas of instruction (Pre-K to 12) work collaboratively under the supervision of the principal to design and implement their own site-based version of this curriculum plan. This guide includes the Elmira City School District Mission and goals for 1997; seven district standards for learner outcomes; a description of how the library media program can enable students to achieve each of the district standards; and an overview of the development of library services to include information technology, facility requirements, and the role of the library media program as an integral part of teaching/learning in the school. Following the library media program philosophy statement and five program standards, objectives of the library media curriculum and program assessments are charted for each of the standards. Descriptive statements and action steps for enabling quality programs are provided for each of the curriculum standards; the program assessments identify learning objectives according to educational level. Finally, assessment criteria to help create the building-based component of the district's media center program are noted. A glossary of terms is also included. (AEF)

The need for new standards has arisen in Florida public libraries as a result of the library profession's shift from quantitative, input-based standards to qualitative, output-based standards to measure library performance and excellence. The standards in this document were developed after over 100 participants identified subjects to be addressed and developed recommendations and submitted them to the Standards Working Committee. The final standards are organized in the following broad categories: (1) governance, leadership and funding; (2) personnel; (3) access; (4) materials and collections; (5) services; (6) facilities; (7) cooperation and resource sharing; and (8) community relations. In each section there is an objective defined, addressing the purpose of the standards for the topic area. The standard appears in bold type, followed by a checklist that contains a number of indicators a library can use for self-assessment. Each section includes a list of critical resources. Four appendixes provide supplemental information about the working committee, recommended salaries, a glossary, and an annotated bibliography of 65 sources. (SLD)

This publication provides standards and guidelines addressing a variety of issues in the area of library automation in Texas. In addition to the core elements of a library automated system (public access catalog, cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, and serials), remote access, imaging, and full-text document management are included. This document provides guidance for librarians in Texas in evaluating library technology. The standards address only a limited number of topics, and are not sufficient by themselves for developing a comprehensive set of specifications. The standards and guidelines are divided into six categories: (1) Applicability; (2) Planning; (3) Bibliographic Record Creation; (4) Machine-Readable Records; (5) The Bibliographic Database; and (6) The System. (Author/SWC)

This policy manual of Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole Library serves as a statement of the library's mission, goals, and objectives; an interpretive guide for library faculty, staff, and students; and informational document for library patrons concerning the library's programs and policies. The contents include the following: "Library Mission Statement"; "Library Bill of Rights"; "Code of Ethics"; "Guiding Principles"; "Library Goals and Objectives"; "Circulation Policy"; "Reserve Policy"; "Interlibrary Loan Policy"; "Online Database Searching Policy"; "Acquisitions Policy"; "Serials Policy"; "Conference Center Policy"; "Government Documents Policy"; "Library Display and Exhibit Policy"; "Security Policy"; "Library Student Assistant Policy"; "Alabama Gallery Policy";"Reference Policy"; "Cataloging Policy"; "Preservation Policy"; "Audio-Visual Policy"; "Handicapped Policy"; "Music Listening Room Policy"; and "Library Orientation and Bibliographic Instruction Policy." Appendices include copyright restrictions for libraries and archives (with sample forms); a discussion on Government Depository Libraries; closing procedures; instructions on issuing borrower's cards and making patron records; sample forms for online database searching; sample cataloging forms; library hours/directory; audio-visual office hours/directory; library handicapped compliance; security procedures; student assistants; library card holders; and Interlibrary Loan. (AEF)

The data in this report is drawn from the 1994 public library annual report and represents a snapshot of certain conditions that existed in Wisconsin public libraries at the end of 1993. Trustees and staff can use this data to identify an appropriate peer group and select a service target based on activities reported by that group. This companion to the standards summarizes the source of the data analyzed, provides methods for estimating a library's service population, instructs readers on applying appropriate measures, and provides the data itself, in table form. Service data is tabulated according to 8 input measures: full time equivalent staff per 1,000 population; volumes held per capita; periodical titles, audio recordings, and video recordings held per 1,000 population; print acquisitions as a percentage of holdings; total materials expenditures per capita (print and non-print); and hours open per week (winter). The libraries are grouped into eight population ranges. Within each range, the data was analyzed to define three recommended service targets, representing three levels of effort--basic, moderate, and advanced. Instructions on estimating service population and per capita measures, and the application of the per capita standards are also provided. (Contains 16 tables.) (BEW)

This guide is a general introduction to school libraries with specific information for libraries in Alaska. More than 60% of the nearly 500 public schools in Alaska have fewer than 200 students, and it is not unusual to find school libraries staffed by people with little or no preparation. This guide answers many frequently asked questions. The overview provides an introduction to school librarianship, in general, and Alaska, in particular. The "Nitty Gritty" section, the real body of the work, takes specific topics and provides a brief explanation of the subject with practical how-to suggestions for implementing ideas or following up with further study. The Nitty Gritty contains 73 topics, designed so that they can be copied for the library. Topics range from accreditation standards for Alaska libraries, through bibliographies for age groups and special interests, to discussions of technology, vendors, and special resources such as story tellers. The 73 topics are arranged alphabetically. (SLD)

Quantitative output measures for municipal and county public library services in Wisconsin provide points of reference for libraries to analyze their needs and establish primary service goals based on unique community-targeted services. Traditional input measures are also furnished, which produce various recommended targets, based on the size of the population the library serves. The data offered here represents a snapshot of certain conditions that existed at the end of 1993. Specific service data is analyzed, estimation methods for service population and per capita measurements are provided, and readers are instructed on applying appropriate measures. Service data analysis includes the following input measures: full time equivalent staff per 1,000 population; volumes held per capita; periodicals and audio and video recordings held per 1,000 population; acquisitions as a percentage of holdings (print); materials expenditures per capita (print and nonprint); and hours open. The libraries are divided into service level categories (basic, moderate, and advanced). The data is presented in 3 figures. (MAS)

A locally developed long-range plan is the key to effective library service, and can account for circumstances unique to the service area that could not be anticipated from a statewide or national perspective. These standards are meant to guide Wisconsin libraries in structuring their own locally-focused planning efforts. Standards in the following areas are suggested: governance and administration, including planning, funding, and public relations; staffing; collections; services; and access and facilities, including both physical access and access to information. Quantitative output measures like reference completion rate and document delivery are recommended, and are combined with traditional input-oriented measures such as volumes held per capita and hours open. Each section contains a checklist of service minimums (which depend on local conditions and the role of the library within the community) for evaluation. Libraries may use these lists to assure minimum recommendations are met in all areas; to apply the standards in the context of their community role and mission, thereby identifying special roles that require additional effort in some areas; or to apply the standards in a broader, locally-based planning process. Appendices include eight sample public library role descriptions. Contains 150 references. (MAS)

This manual was produced during the 1992-93 Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario school year to be used as a reference guide and a training tool for library support staff assigned to work at the library's information desks. Its purpose is to help ensure a uniform standard of service and to provide practical procedures for information and basic reference service. It was compiled using ideas from published reference manuals and staff training materials and from direct observation of the support staff at the information desk. The topics covered in this manual include (1) areas of responsibility; (2) policies of job performance including basic principles, ethical issues, desk duties, the reference interview, answering questions, follow-ups, phone calls, and referrals; and (3) reference tools found in the library, including the online catalog, CD-ROMs, and quick reference tools. An index to the reference tools is included. The reference situations and training questions in the appendices were used in training the support staff but were not included in the actual manual. (Contains 11 references.) (JLB)

The mission of today's school library media center is to help prepare students to enter the information age of the 21st century. To carry out this mission, library media specialists, administrators, and teachers must ensure that students can effectively locate, access, interpret, evaluate, and communicate information. The school library media center can offer assistance if it is adequately staffed and funded to develop a program that reaches all students in meaningful ways. This publication is intended to help districts develop library media programs that meet the needs of students and teachers. The following areas are addressed: (1) the library media center program; (2) library media center staff; (3) resources; (4) facilities; (5) financial support; (6) the library media center and the curriculum; and (7) the library media center and technology. Included in the appendices are state requirements for school library media centers; automation standards for school library media centers; position statements of the American Association of School Librarians; documents relating to material selection, censorship, and copyright issues; a planning guide; and a library media center appraisal checklist. (Contains 61 references.) (JLB)

This document serves as a goals statement, a planning document, and statement of responsibility for Michigan federal documents depository libraries. The topics include goals, organization, resources, collections, services, standards, and the amendment process. Appendix A contains a directory of Michigan federal documents depository libraries, each entry including key staff, addresses, phone and fax numbers, legislative districts, and, in some cases, electronic mail addresses. Appendices B through E contain a map of Michigan federal documents depository libraries by Congressional districts of the 103rd Congress; a membership list of the Michigan Council of Federal Depository Libraries; a compilation of standards for Michigan federal documents depository libraries; guidelines for proper disposal of U.S. government depository publications with a sample discard list; and a sample memorandum of agreement for the transfer of materials from printing source to depository. (BEW)

This outline of standards is designed for administrators and committees concerned with libraries for religious congregations. The standards were developed based on the understanding that the church or synagogue library is a special library that serves the institution in which it is housed and which is supplemental to other libraries in the area, providing materials related to the teachings and programs of its faith. Standards are presented as goals to work toward in organizing and developing congregational libraries. The standards begin by establishing the need for a policy statement and providing a sample statement. Other areas discussed include: (1) physical requirements; (2) administration and operation; (3) personnel qualifications and responsibilities; (4) finances; (5) selection of materials; (6) cataloging and classification; (7) public relations; and (8) a check list for long-range planning. An appendix contains sample policy statements, a sample materials selection policy, and sample by-laws for a library committee. (SLD)