The Guidelines For Public Library Accreditation by the Nebraska Library Commission, 2013 acknowledge that library services and programs are community-based and unique to each library. This means that knowing what a library plans is crucial to knowing if it has fulfilled its mission, and applications for accreditation under these new Guidelines will require a copy of the library’s strategic plan. Denise Harders and Sarah Warneke, Nebraska Regional Library System directors, and Richard Miller and Laura Johnson from the Nebraska Library Commission will discuss the importance of planning and introduce a new program they will be offering to libraries to make the vital activity of planning simpler and more immediate. http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/ NCompass Live - May 22, 2013.

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The Nebraska
Guidelines for Public
Library Accreditation

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http://nlc.nebraska.gov/
LibAccred/Guidelines.pdf

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• Developed by a committee of
Nebraska librarians
• More flexible
• Community-based
Accreditation Guidelines

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• Joan Birnie (Broken Bow PL)
• Francine Canfield (Baright PL – Ralston; SACL
member)
• Kendra Caskey (Goodall City Library – Ogallala)
• Robin Clark (Sump Memorial Library – Papillion;
NLA PLTS Chair)
• Brenda Ealey (Southeast Library System)
• Amy Greenland (Hastings PL)
• Pat Leach (Lincoln City Libraries; SACL Vice-Chair;
metropolitan public library)
• Stan Schulz (Kilgore Memorial Library – York)
The Committee

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More Flexible
• Meet every guideline
• Static size categories
• 3 “Es”
• Total points
• Peer categories
• Gold, Silver, Bronze
Former guidelines New guidelines

7. Schedule
• July 1, 2013 – Notice of accreditation process
sent to libraries up for reaccreditation in 2013
(and to unaccredited libraries)
• October 1, 2013 – Libraries that applied for
reaccreditation/accreditation notified of
status
PlanningforNebraskaPublicLibraries

8. Accreditation Point System
• 275 total points possible
• Points required for 3 levels of accreditation:
– Bronze level – 175 points
– Silver level – 200 points
– Gold level – 250 points
PlanningforNebraskaPublicLibraries

9. Peer Comparison Guidelines
• 2.01 Local income
• 2.02.01 Open hours
• 2.03.01 Staff expenditures
• 2.03.04 Staff FTE
• 2.05.04 Materials expenditure
• 2.05.05 Circulation
• 2.05.06 Collection turnover
• 2.05.07 Collection size
• 3.05 Attendance per capita
PlanningforNebraskaPublicLibraries

10. PlanningforNebraskaPublicLibraries
More Flexible
• Meet every guideline
• Static size categories
• 3 “Es”
• Total points
• Peer categories
• Gold, Silver, Bronze
Former guidelines New guidelines

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https://harvester.census.gov/imls/compare/

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Community Based
Asks if the library is fulfilling your
community’s needs and wants

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And that’s why the
guidelines require a
plan

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Strategic Plan

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Worksheets
or
Templates

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6 STEPS
1. Plan to plan
2. Community Profile
3. Community Needs
4. Take Stock
5. Goals
6. Evaluate

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If you already have a strategic plan:
5 elements:
1.Community Profile
2.Community Needs Assessment
3.Library Profile/Assessment
4.Goals & Objectives
5.Evaluation Plan

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Video

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For help, contact your Regional System Office
ELS: 402.330.7884
MLS: 308.234.2087
NELS: 402.564.1586
PLS: 308.632.1350
RVLS: 402.462.1975
SELS: 402.467.6188

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OR
Contact
Richard Miller
402.471.3175
OR
Laura Johnson
402.471.2694