A revision of the Standards for the Services of Illinois Multitype Library Systems is underway and input from the library community is an important part of the process. The administrative rules for the library systems will also be revised. The Library System Standards committee requests your comments and discussion on the documents they have posted on WJIL.
You can join the discussion in two ways:
- Click on the Discussion tab on the WJIL Library Systems page and post your comments and/or discussion. NOTE: You must be signed into WJIL to post in this way. Your user name will appear with your post.
- You may also Comment anonymously if you choose. NOTE: You may fill in “Anonymous” in the required name field. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as they are approved.
Comments about the professional development and consulting standard –
I am concerned that Continuing Education and Consulting are being covered in this section as if they were the same issue. They both fall under the definition of service, ‘delivering expertise,’ but are two very different issues. They should be defined in this section. I see CE is training and improvement by individuals to assist them in their specific job and/or professional growth, while consulting entails seeking professional assistance on specific topics. Standards for CE may not apply to consulting, and vice versa. This standard should be reviewed with this in mind.
Should the state library, and its responsibilities with CE and consulting to the systems and libraries, included somewhere in this section?
Expectation B:
Should the range of consulting be defined? Should it be restricted to basic/core programs? ‘Basic/core programs and consulting needs’ should be defined or listed somewhere in the standards.
Expectation D:
Should systems be required, by the state, to provide consulting and CE at no cost, since systems are not entirely funded by the state? Should ‘no cost’ CE be restricted to services provided by the systems that are state funded?
System responsibilities:
Is the written plan for CE and consulting any different that the current annual plan that systems develop and file with the state? Don’t give the systems more paperwork.
Developing the plan with the member libraries is essential, as stated in this section. Can more emphasis be placed on a statewide CE plan?
Member responsibilities:
The responsibility of libraries to attend CE that is provided should be made stronger. Can CE hours be included in the annual report as a way of assessing the effectiveness of the services by the systems?
Assessment:
The assessment section of this standard is too much work for systems and libraries. Can the assessment be built into the annual reports and planning documents to the state libraries for both systems and libraries?
Under Expectations: a. Resource sharing is a statewide necessity and, as such, library Systems and their member libraries shall view it in the broadest possible context.
The entire focus of the document seems to be on on materials and collections and yet, the term ‘resource sharing’ in the “broadest possible sense” could include cooperative reference arrangements because staff and subject expertise is also a resource to share.