A RATIONALE
The following standards outline elements essential to the
provision of community-oriented public library service in Vermont. Librarians,
trustees, government officials and the public may use these standards as aids
in evaluating and improving library service.
Vermont and its libraries and library system are unique, and
its residents deserve responsive library service that is tailored to their
needs. In many Vermont public libraries of all sizes, careful, continuous
planning and self-evaluation have combined with the creativity, concern and
commitment of librarians, trustees and citizens to provide excellent
service.
Vermont's standards in their present form were developed in
1971. Subsequent visions have continued to emphasize four essentials: public
service, public access, interlibrary cooperation, and community involvement. In
order to be flexible and useful to the diverse libraries in the state, the
standards have stressed philosophical approaches to service.
Minimum standards offer criteria and direction for assessing
and upgrading local library service. The standards provide a base from which
libraries in even the smallest Vermont communities can proceed to improve
service. Over the years, many Vermont libraries of varied sizes have developed
innovative methods of meeting standards.
Meeting standards does not in itself guarantee adequacy of
service. Some Vermont libraries, regardless of size or location, will
consistently meet standards, yet will find that they need to do much more
self-assessment and planning to remain responsive to their communities.
Meeting standards is purely voluntary. The Department of
Libraries provides services to all public libraries, whether they meet
standards or not. It may, however, offer additional services to those public
libraries which meet standards. The Department is eager to assist libraries in
meeting standards and, once they are met, in continuing self-evaluation.
This document was developed by a committee of state library
board members, Department of Libraries staff, and representatives of the
Vermont Library Association and the Vermont Library Trustees Association. The
committee considered written recommendation from the Vermont library community
and held public hearings during its year-long revision process. State and
federal regulations were included where applicable.
The public should have access to library services.
The library:
1. is
open for service to all ages throughout the year at least 14 hours a week,
including at least 4 hours after 5 pm or on weekends.
2. has a sign with the library's name clearly
visible from the street and has hours of service posted in a location
accessible to the public at all times.
3. has a telephone listed under the library's
name.
4. is willing to serve all
Vermonters. Basic library services are provided free of charge to all residents
of the town or designated service area. Nonresident support not to exceed local
per capita tax support may be charged. (Fines or deposits may levied.
Privileges may be denied irresponsible borrowers.)
5. serves the handicapped.
6. has cataloged its collection to allow
public access.
A public library draws support from its community and should
spend its money responsibly.
The library:
7. receives and expends total local support
of at least $3.00 per capita, of which at least some is local tax support.
Documented in-kind contributions may be included.
8. has separately designated budget items for
adult and children's library materials (books, periodicals, tapes, sound
recordings, films, etc., not including supplies).
9. expends for library materials either (a)
at least 15% of the total library operating expenditures or (b) at least $1.00
per capita.
10. budgets funds to
reimburse staff for attendance at workshops or professional meetings, as well
as travel to the regional library to select supplementary collections.
Public libraries should cooperate with other libraries to
broaden their services.
The library:
11. contributes catalog cards at least
annually to the Vermont Union Catalog.
12. supplies all statistical data required by
the Department of Libraries.
13.
communicates and cooperates with its local school library and other area
libraries.
14. communicates and
cooperates with its regional library, including sending a representative to the
regional library, as needed, to select supplementary collections of
books.
15. is willing to loan and
borrow materials through the statewide interlibrary loan network according to
the Vermont Interlibrary Loan Code.
A public library mst have a librarian responsible for its
overall operation.
The librarian:
16. is responsible for carrying out the
policies of the board of trustees and takes an active role in policy
development, planning and budgeting.
17. is not a trustee of the library, but
attends board meetings.
18. and
staff (except volunteers) receive at least the federal or state minimum hourly
wage (whichever is higher) and are covered by Social Security, according to
federal law. The library may be staffed entirely by volunteers.
19. possesses either a library science degree
or a Vermont certificate of library training; or has actively worked toward one
of these in the past twelve months.
20. is responsible for collection
development, including materials selection and weeding.
The board of trustees represents the community and is
responsible for policymaking.
The board:
21. is responsible for assessing community
needs, developing responsive plans of service, and evaluating library
performance.
22. has adopted and
annually reviews a written policy including:
a. a statement of purpose,
b. affirmation of principles of intellectual
freedom,
c. confidentiality of
library records,
d. collection
development guidelines.
A copy of the current policy must be filed with the
Department of Libraries.
23. has a written job description for the
librarian and evaluates the librarian's performance at least
annually.
24. includes the
librarian in all meetings with the exception of executive sessions.
25. meets at least every three months in
meetings warned and open to the public, according to the Vermont Open Meeting
Law ( 1 V.S.A. 312-317).
26. makes
an annual financial and statistical report to municipal authorities and the
public, which is included in the town, city or village report.
27. has at least one member appointed by
municipal authorities or one member publicly elected at a duly warned town,
city, or village election.
A "community" library (a combined school-public library) or a
public library located in a school or other multi-purpose building (town
clerk's office, senior center, etc.) must make special effort to meet the needs
of the general public.
Such a library:
28. provides ready public access by being in
a location convenient to all users, by having an entrance directly accessible
by the public, and by having its own telephone listed under the library's
name.
29. provides materials and
reading space for all ages.
30.
conducts public relations and/or sponsors programs specifically aimed at those
who might not readily come to the facility (In a school setting, this would
include preschoolers and adults; in a senior center, this would include
children; etc.)
31. is administered
year-round by a librarian who is responsible for serving the total
community.
32. has a board which
represents the community served (In a school setting, no more than half of the
board members may come from the school sector) and addresses the unique
division of responsibility resulting from the shared situation.
