Library working to meet new state standards

New state mandated library accreditation will amp up community involvement.

"We have to have a strategic plan for our new accreditation," said library director Doris Jensen. "They went in and wrote some new rules and regulations for the accreditation program because it had not been updated for a number of years."

The library will be working to meet the new standards set by the state before mid-October. These regulations include forming a community planning committee. Only two current library board members will be allowed to take part in the committee. Other members of this group will include library staff members and community stakeholders.

"A community stakeholder would be anyone that would be interested in the library and the community," Jensen said. "The big push is how can the library help the community?"

The library already lists quite a few programs to help out the citizens of Sidney.

"I'm sure there's other things that we could be doing," Jensen acknowledged.

She speculated that people will say they need a new library building, but questioned the plausibility of getting funding. Their goal will be to set achievements that they can accomplish in one or two years.

"The planning committee will help us know where the library is headed," Jensen said. "It helps us know what the community wants."

Library board members will do a surveys of community members, to determine what the public wants and needs from its library. The group will hopefully consist of 10 to 15 members.

The accreditation will be valid for three years and will make the library available for state benchmarks. The levels for accreditation are bronze silver and gold and different levels get different amounts of aid.

"Each library determines its own priorities based on community needs," Jensen said.

Jensen suggested the board come up with a list of people from different arenas of the community such as economic development, the chamber of commerce, the visitor's center to possibly join the committee.

"We have to develop a strategic plan that meets the unique needs of our community," Jensen said.

The children's summer reading program is one thing that the library already does to aid the community. The programs will wrap up July 23.

"The reading programs are going well," said children's librarian, Eileen Nightingale. "The programs are well attended."

This service provides fun through learning for area kids.

"It's providing some help especially for children who may have some difficulty struggling with reading," Nightingale said.

A new drinking fountain was installed at the library Monday, the cost was estimated around $1000.