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meeting the challenge: Illinois state library's long-range
program for library development in Illinois 1984-88

Population Characteristics

Five hundred and ninety-five public libraries, 198 academic libraries, approximately 750 special libraries, and approximately 2,300 school libraries provide library service for the 11,418,461 people living in the 102 counties contained in 56,400 square miles that comprise the state of Illinois.

The population of the state is urban, suburban, and rural. The urban areas of the state, Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, the Quad Cities of Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, and Davenport (Iowa), Urbana-Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, and East St. Louis are surrounded by suburban communities of varying size. Large rural areas are found in northwestern, western, central, and southern Illinois.

Although 9.3 million people in the state who are five-years-old or older speak English at home, other languages are also spoken at home by a number of people in this age group. Of the 500,611 persons who speak Spanish at home, 143,475 are not fluent in English and of the 625,236 who speak a language other than Spanish or English at home, 94,574 are not fluent in English.

The largest number (474,000) of the people who speak Spanish at home live in Cook County with 331,917 living in the city of Chicago. Chicago has been the site of major programs for library service to the Spanish-speaking in the last decade. The Chicago Public Library has kept abreast of the residential shifts in this population throughout the city in order to provide service to these users. Libraries in the northwest suburbs of Chicago have also developed programs for the Spanish-speaking, since there is an influx of migrant workers in the area.

Similarly, the majority (527,626) of the population who speak a language other than English or Spanish at home, live in Cook County with 306,014 of them in Chicago. The Chicago Public Library has a long history of providing library service to users who are other than English-speaking. In addition to extensive collections at the main library, the branches hold collections in Arabic, Greek, Asian languages, Lithuanian, Polish, German, Italian, and Chinese among other languages. Regional libraries as well as many branch libraries have extensive Spanish language collections.

The chief concentration of American Indians is in Chicago' where a large collection of materials developed for this segment of the population, as well as information and referral service, is provided by the Chicago Public Library. New residents of the state from southeast Asia have settled in a number of communities statewide. Local libraries in cooperation with other community groups provide service to these people.

The economically disadvantaged have remained almost static for specific geographic areas of the state designated in the Directory of EDA Qualified Areas (see Basic State Plan). Minor adjustments show the inclusion of a few more such designations for rural counties in the central part of the state, isolated areas in Cook County, and in the heavy industrial areas. However, most of these areas are in southern Illinois.

Library Support

Tax support through property assessment is provided to libraries in cities, villages, towns, townships, districts, and counties in the state. In all except the county libraries (two) libraries may tax at the rate of $.15 per $100 assessed, equalized valuation of the property within the area served and, with the passage of referendum may levy up to $.40. The levy for county libraries is a lower rate — $.04 or up to $.08 at the discretion of the library board.

Public libraries in the state which qualify for equalization and per capita grants receive additional funding from state sources. In FY 1983, 78 libraries qualified for equalization grants and 413 libraries received per capita grants. The total expenditure of the amount of these grants was $4,875,722.

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State-supported universities, community colleges, and elementary and secondary schools also receive tax support in the form of a portion of the appropriations of general revenue funds by the General Assembly. Private educational institutions and special libraries are dependent on their own sources for support.

I. LIBRARY NEEDS

   A. Needs of specific populations.

Needs of disadvantaged persons residing in urban or rural areas with high concentration of low-income families. In many cases disadvantaged persons in urban and rural areas require vocational training, opportunities to upgrade job skills, opportunities to complete formal education such as attainment of the GED, and library materials to assist in these efforts. Many people categorized as disadvantaged are in need of employment. While this condition exists, the opportunities for self-improvement described above offer an opportunity for libraries to contribute to the needs of this group. Hand-in-hand with materials for study and education goes the opportunity to provide recreational reading and programs for the disadvantaged.

Needs of persons residing in areas of the state which are without public library services or in which such services are inadequate. Tax-supported libraries do not exist in all areas of the state. In some cases, sparse populations make the organization of such libraries difficult; in other cases, low assessed valuation make support of a library inadequate. Library service should be provided to these residents. Such library service would encompass the requirements of regular adequacy as set forth in the Basic State Plan. Certain libraries in the state do not meet these requirements. Of the 308 libraries serving populations of fewer than 5,000, 36.4 percent do not provide support at the rate of $5.00 per capita. In the 5,000 to 10,000 population range 27.2 percent fail to meet the measurement for per capita expenditure support while 12.5 percent of the libraries in the 10,000 to 25,000 population range provide support at less than $5.00 per capita, 5.8 percent of the libraries serving populations of 25,000 to 50,000 people, and 7.1 percent of the libraries serving 50,000 to 75,000 people do not provide support at the rate of $5.00 per capita. All of the libraries serving populations of more than 75,000 provide support at more than $5.00 per capita. Corresponding failures to meet the measurements for adequacy in hours of opening, number of items added to the collection annually, and provision of staff are functions of low assessed valuation on which the income is based. There is a need to increase the tax base on which libraries are able to levy for support.

Needs of physically handicapped persons (including the blind and other visually handicapped). Since only a little more than 10 percent of the potential users of this service are currently active, there is a need to identify the users and make the services available to more people. Although the number of users is growing rapidly, librarians concerned with this service may be reluctant to advertise these services since there is a shortage of recorders and other equipment necessary for the use of the materials in specialized formats. There is a need for materials not recorded by any of the usual providers of materials in specialized formats. The automated system for the circulation of the materials for the blind and physically handicapped needs to have more storage space and processing ability. While most of the state is covered by the broadcast of materials for the blind by the Radio Information Service, at least one other station needs to be added to this service. Large print books are in such heavy demand that not all requests can be immediately filled.

Needs of inmates, patients or residents of penal institutions, reformatories, residential training schools, orphanages, residential schools for handicapped persons, and other general or special institutions or hospitals operated or substantially supported by the state. The needs of the correctional institutions are dictated by the program carried on in each individual institution. For example, the correctional institutions make up one of the school districts of the state, thus, support for the educational programs can be from elementary through high school. In addition, residents with high school degrees may be enrolled in courses presented by local community colleges. Materials at all levels for recreational reading are also important. Legal materials in compliance with the Younger v. Gilmore decision must be provided. With the demands for additional funds for library services to institutions and the state of Illinois' plan for construction of three new facilities, the ISL and ILA are studying long-range solutions.

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The Illinois Department of Mental Health currently operates the libraries for residents in mental health institutions. However, there is a move to have these institutions served by the library systems. There are a few models in existence and a general agreement between the Illinois State Library and Department of Mental Health needs to be reached. When this is accomplished collections and programs to serve the individual institutions can be developed.

The two state-supported schools for the handicapped are members of the library system in which they are located. Therefore, they receive system services and have the ability to use the state network for supplementary materials. The library systems need to be aware of materials in specialized format developed for handicapped users and provide access to them.

The one state-supported Veteran's Home needs an updated collection and adult programming for the residents of that home.

Needs of persons of limited English-speaking ability. Most of the population with limited English-speaking ability live in Chicago or the Chicago metropolitan area. There is a need not only to provide more foreign language materials to people with limited English-speaking ability but also to facilitate means for them to improve their English-speaking ability. Librarians with the ability to communicate with the library users in their own language would help in the development of services to these groups. A new library in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago is needed for the large number of residents in that area who are of Spanish origin.

Needs of the elderly. According to the 1980 census there are 1,261,885 people in the state over 65. They reside throughout the state and are served by their local public library. Although many of their library needs do not differ significantly from their younger neighbors, their informational needs regarding rights and benefits require a specific orientation. Many of the elderly are also users of the services for the blind and physically handicapped and add to these already overloaded resources. Debate continues as to whether or not these services should be mainstreamed as an integral part of library service or treated as specialized services.

B.    Needs of library users.

A user's survey was conducted by the Library Research Center, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, summer 1983, as a guide for future planning. It indicated the need for greater access to materials, improved services, and more programming. There was also an expression of the need to publicize what was available through the public library.

C.   Needs expressed by the public library leadership in Illinois.

On Friday, May 13, 1983, 132 public librarians, nonpublic librarians, and trustees met for a three day conference to begin planning for the future of public libraries in Illinois.

The objectives of the conference were to:

1.  identify and study economic, social, technological, and political forces influencing life in Illinois;
2.  evaluate the current status and direction of public libraries in Illinois;
3.  identify future directions (priority roles) for public libraries in light of objectives 1 and 2;
4.  determine common goals for public libraries in Illinois; and
5.  establish ways and means to accomplish common goals.

Goals developed for public library services in Illinois were to:

1.  provide information formats and service patterns appropriate to individual users;
2.  provide individual guidance on the selection and utilization of print and non-print materials to meet the users' educational, recreational, intellectual, and cultural needs;
3.  initiate statewide planning to insure the compatibility of computer and telecommunications systems in public libraries throughout the state;

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4.  identify populations with special needs and provide services to meet these needs;
5.  identify and maintain information on groups and agencies that assist people in meeting their essential needs;
6.  coordinate collection development among all libraries to insure that users' needs are met;
7.  coordinate with allied groups the provisions of resources and support for adult continuing education;
8.  provide direct off-site access (using appropriate technology) to the information resources of the public library;
9.  serve as a community clearinghouse and "linkage agent" for resources, services, and programs enhancing education at all levels;
10. provide service to the changing business community in Illinois.

There was also a resolution by the participants to continue the planning by: developing an organized continuing responsibility for identifying problems, procuring data, undertaking planning, developing relevant plans of action, developing goals and objectives, facilitating communication, and stimulating/understanding coordinating actions directed at solutions to the problem.

II. PLAN FOR MEETING THOSE NEEDS

Total library service can be provided to all people in Illinois only through a network of libraries. One of the strongest components of the network is the tax-supported public library, but local libraries cannot perform their tasks alone. Reinforcing them are Illinois library systems with which each library has a dual relationship using the system to supplement or complement its own services, and assisting the system by sharing its resources with other libraries in the system.1 All of the systems and their member libraries comprise ILLINET which allows the local library access to all of Illinois and national resources. Therefore, the needs of library users can meet on three levels — local, system, and network.

Meeting needs of specific problems.

Meeting needs of disadvantaged persons residing in urban or rural areas with high concentration of low-income families.

Local: use planning process to target this population. Develop information to meet life needs, upgrade job skills, and attain formal education. Work with social agencies in the community to help alleviate problems in the area.

System: provide programs for librarians to increase their skills and knowledge of problems for working with disadvantaged. Provide systemwide information on social agencies and their capabilities.

ILLINET: provide support materials to upgrade job skills, improve education opportunities, provide vocational training, and offer information of statewide programs available to disadvantaged.

1984-85- plan and conduct workshops on use of ALA's A Planning Process for Public Libraries.
-   send request for proposals (RFP) to local libraries and systems where there are a large number of disadvantaged. (Design of these programs should concentrate on: cooperative collections for upgrading employment/job skills, working with local agencies to develop community support network, providing educational opportunities with community schools and colleges.)
- implement quality programs and share the results with the library community.

1986-87- continue developing models, local and systemwide.
-   assess results of models and encourage other communities to adapt programs similar to successful models.
-   develop continuing education programs for working with the disadvantaged.
-   assure bibliographic access to materials for upgrading skills.

1. "Avenues to Excellence for Public Library Service in Illinois," ILA, 1983, pg. 101.

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1988 - evaluate progress in meeting the needs of the handicapped. - assess areas where improvement is necessary.
-   begin developing new models for meeting continuing needs.

Meeting needs of persons residing in areas of the state who are without public library services or in areas where such services are inadequate.

Local: encourage communities with fewer than 5,000 people that cannot raise sufficient funds to support public libraries to find alternative methods of providing library service.

Establish libraries in areas where tax base will support them using Project PLUS (Promoting Larger Units of Service).

System: assist the local library in funding alternative methods of providing service by encouraging combination of small localities into large library units of service or by contracting for local service with existing, strong library units.

ILLINET: continue to provide coordination of services to every library in the state.

1984-85- appoint task force to study the problem of service in rural areas and joint school/public library organization.
-   encourage Project PLUS for establishing libraries in areas with adequate tax base.
-   develop system workshops on conducting referendum for libraries where levy does not provide for adequate service.
-   assist with professional staff (shared staffing).
-   adapt Project PLUS formula to rural areas.
-   assess the impact of providing Scientific and Technical Information Project targeted to the small businessman and farmer.

1986 - assess recommendations of Task Force on Rural Library Service.
-   publicize recommendations of task force.
-   develop strategies for implementing recommendations.
-   continue Project PLUS.
-   encourage referenda where needed.
-   provide staff where necessary at the local and system levels.

1987-88- implement recommendations of Task Force on Rural Service.
-   reassess status of unserved/ inadequately served.
-   continue Project Plus where feasible.
-   provide referendum workshops.

-   encourage sharing of professional librarians.

Meeting needs of physically handicapped persons (including blind and visually handicapped).

Local: use the planning process for targeting populations in this category and develop contacts with community social agencies serving the handicapped. Encourage local service agencies to help with provision of equipment, transportation, etc. Publicize local service to handicapped.

System: provide materials to public through use of the Illinois Regional Library for Blind and Physically Handicapped located in Chicago. Develop systemwide publicity that can be used by local libraries. Design workshops for librarians working with handicapped.

ILLINET: provide bibliographic access to resources and information for and about the handicapped.

1984-85- provide workshops on use of Planning Process.
-   publicize service through the regional Radio Information Service.
-   upgrade computerized circulation system for the blind and physically handicapped.
-   design workshops for librarians to raise their consciousness and help them serve handicapped populations.
-   develop and distribute a statewide bibliography of large print books.
-   establish a center on library services for the hearing impaired in conjunction with one of the regional library systems.

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1986-87- request RFP's to develop new service models for handicapped populations.
-   outline publicity program.
-   increase Radio Information Service to more users.
-   assure continuous update of large print books bibliography.
-   assess shared-staffing possibilities for handicapped.

1988 - continue developing models, local and systemwide.
-   assess results of models and encourage communities to develop program similar to successful models.
-   implement large-scale publicity program.
-   support shared-staffing for services to these groups where feasible.

Meeting needs of inmates, patients or residents of penal institutions, reformatories, residential training schools, orphanages, residential schools for handicapped persons, and other general or special institutions or hospitals operated or substantially supported by the state.

Local: provide materials through the systems when needed and develop contacts with librarians working in institutions in local communities.

System: provide materials and services for institutions in system. Staff institutional libraries in system. Study recommendations of study completed in 1983 on library services in state correctional institutions.

ILLINET: provide additional resources/coordinate acquisitions.

1984 - work with the Illinois Department of Corrections to revise the current operating agreement.

-   appoint task force of institutional librarians, system directors, and correctional institution administrators to plan service based on recommendations in the report "An Evaluation of System-Provided Library Service to State Correctional Centers in Illinois."
-   publicize results of the report.
-   meet with Illinois Department of Mental Health and develop library plan of service.
-   request cooperative proposal from state-supported schools for handicapped and library system in which they are located to improve service in their libraries
-   cooperate with the Illinois Library Association's task force of library service in state institions.
-   develop a long-range program for library services to institutions based on projections by the Departments of Corrections and Mental Health.

1985-86- request RFP's to implement recommendations of correctional report.
-   plan workshops to raise the state consciousness of librarians in the state regarding correctional library programs.
-   implement plan of service developed by Illinois State Library and Illinois Department of Mental Health.
-   design program to update collection and improve services to the state-supported Veteran's Home.
-   refine responsibilities at the local, regional, and state levels.

1987-88- continue improving service to correctional institutions.
-   develop programs to meet needs in mental health facilities.
-   assure bibliographic access to special resource needs for correctional institutions.

Meeting needs of persons with limited English-speaking ability.

Local: use Planning Process to target this specific population. Develop language collections for identified population. Design services for identified population. Publicize materials and programs available.

System: develop bibliographic access to foreign language materials throughout the system. Provide resources to educational institutions in systems who conduct classes for English as a second language. Develop workshops to assist librarians in serving users with limited English-speaking ability. Publicize available system services.

ILLINET: provide support resources throughout the state for users with limited English-speaking ability. Coordinate collection development through the network for improved access to these collections.

1984-85- continue workshops on the use of the ALA Planning Process.
-   request RFP's to develop model programs for persons with limited English-speaking ability.
-   request RFP's from library systems and community colleges to develop classes for English improvement.
-   provide workshops for librarians working with users whose English-speaking ability is limited.
-   survey what needs for library materials are not being met in the network.

1986-87- assess model programs.
-   encourage other libraries to adopt successful programs for use in their communities.
-   assess foreign-language materials statewide.
-  study possible coordinated efforts with other agencies and groups serving this clientele.

1988 - assure bibliographic access to all foreign-language materials in the state.
-   develop projects for foreign-language programming involving all types of media.

Meeting the needs of the elderly.

Local: use Planning Process to target this population. Develop resources e.g., rights, benefits, information, large print collections. Develop contacts with social agencies serving elderly. Provide materials to community institutions where elderly live. Develop programs both in the library and elsewhere for elderly and publicize the services.

System: coordinate informational resources for elderly throughout the system. Work with agencies serving the elderly throughout the system. Develop educational/recreational forums for elderly with local educational institutions. Maintain file of successful programs for elderly used by libraries throughout the system.

ILLINET: support resources for providing information to meet the special needs of the elderly.

1984-85- prepare workshops on use of Planning Process.
-   develop and distribute bibliography of large print books.
-   reconvene task force on service to elderly to assess what recommendations of the report "Services for the Elderly in Illinois Public Library," January 1981, have been implemented.
-   conduct needs assessment (task force).

1986-87- receive recommendations of task force on elderly.
-   send RFP's for model programs for service to the elderly.
-   assure continuous update of large print book bibliography.
-   devote issue of Illinois Libraries to service for the elderly.

1988 - assess model programs and encourage adaptation of successful ones in other communities.
-   continue sharing ideas of service to elderly through workshops/publications.

B. Meeting the needs of library user.

Local: use "Avenues to Excellence" to assess library's status. Use output measures to assess services and materials. Conduct planning process to assess community. Publicize library service.

System: provide forum for discussion of "Avenues to Excellence." Assist libraries with upgrading where they are weak. Help in reorganization of library entities where service will never be adequate (see needs of unserved). Assist libraries with the utilization of the output measures and the ALA Planning Process. Assist in coordinated cooperative collection development. Publicize library services.

ILLINET: provide the mechanism whereby all types of libraries join together for the purpose of sharing resources throughout the state.

1984-85- develop workshops on output measures.
-   develop workshops on Planning Process.

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-   develop workshops on coordinated cooperative collection development.
-   update bibliographic data base (continual).
-   improve access to bibliographic data base.
-   design a users study to pinpoint specific needs.
-   survey how libraries have actually used the output measures and the planning process.
-   initiate statewide publicity program on ILLINET.

1986-88- develop proposals for targeting populations based on Planning Process results.

-   continue updating bibliographic data base.

-   continue improving access to bibliographic data base.

-   evaluate statewide public information program.

C. Meeting the needs expressed by public library leadership in Illinois.

Provide information formats and service patterns appropriate to individual users. Provide individual guidance on the collection and utilization of print and non-print materials to meet the users' educational, recreational, intellectual, and cultural needs. (Goals 1 and 2.)

Local: use Planning Process to assess users needs. Develop output measures to see if needs are being met. Provide materials and services that the community needs. Publicize new format and services.

System: design workshops to help librarians apply Planning Process and output measures. Develop workshops to acquaint librarians with new technical formats. Provide support materials to local library. Develop system publicity.

ILLINET: support system and local library in meeting user needs.

1984 - develop Planning Process workshops.
-   develop output measures workshops.
-   provide faster delivery of resources to user.
-   continue building access to resources.

1985-86- develop cooperative collections to increase accessibility of resources.
-   develop workshops on new information formats.
-   provide for faster delivery or resources to user.
-   design users study to pinpoint specific needs.
-   launch a statewide public relations campaign stressing resources available to user (to be used by systems and local library).

1987-88- continue building access to resources.
-   request RFP's meeting specific identified users needs.

Initiate statewide planning to insure the compatibility of computer and telecommunications systems in public libraries throughout the state. Provide direct off-site access (using appropriate technology) to information resources of the public library. (Goals 3 and 8.)

Local: keep informed of technological possibilities and their potential for improving library service. Develop plan for appropriate linkages to system and network.

System: prepare statewide automation plan. Develop automation/telecommunications workshops which plan for appropriate linkages to system and network.

ILLINET: provide bibliographic access to the resources of the network using appropriate electronic linkages.

1984 - review study/recommendations of the Illinois State Library's Automation Committee.
-   publicize recommendations to library community.
-   hire a telecommunications expert to design a telecommunications network for ILLINET.
-   continue increasing statewide data base (244 libraries including 78 branches of Chicago Public are inputting into this data base) by 10 percent (268 libraries).

1985-86- request proposals for developing new or improving statewide linkages.
-   address and implement other recommendations of the ISL Automation Committee.

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-   develop workshops on automation/telecommunications.
-   design workshops on provision of off-site access to information.
-   expand usage of the statewide data base by 15 percent.

1987-88- request proposal for provision of off-site access to information.
-   continue expansion of statewide data base by 20 percent.

Identify populations with special needs and provide services to meet those needs. Identify and maintain information on groups and agencies that assist people in meeting their essential needs. (These are both discussed thoroughly under Section A meeting needs of special groups.) Coordinate collection development between all libraries to insure that users needs are met. Provide service to the changing business community in Illinois. (Goals 4, 5, 6, and 10.)

Local: assess collection strength. Develop collections with regard to resources in other libraries in community and system. Publicize local and system resources.

System: encourage system coordinated cooperative collection development of resources. Assess system collections. Coordinate collection development throughout the system. Act as intermediary to other collections developed cooperatively in Illinois. Develop workshops to use Coordinated Cooperative Collection Development (CCCD) manual developed by the Illinois Valley Library System.

ILLINET: provide access to the bibliographic data bases for all cooperative collections in Illinois.

1984-85- assess collections in the systems.
-   disseminate CCCD manual.
-   develop workshops based on manual.
-   send RFP's to encourage cooperative development of collections.
-   reassess the feasibility of the recommendations in the 1978 paper, "Toward Cooperative Collection Development in the Illinois Library and Information Network."

1986-87- develop model cooperative resources development projects.
-   prepare a statewide public relations campaign stressing resources available and pin-pointing collections and their locations.
-   assure access to all cooperatively developed collections through the network.
1988 - develop statewide data bases and comprehensive lists of large cooperative collections.
-   launch public relations campaign.
-   assess success of coordinated cooperative collection development projects.
-   encourage other libraries to develop coordinated cooperative collections adapting successful models to their communities.

Coordinate with allied groups the provisions of resources and support for adult continuing education. Serve as a community clearinghouse and "linkage agent" for resources, services, and programs enhancing education at all levels. (Goals 7 and 9.)

Local: use Planning Process to assess level of education and educational interest in the community. Develop files on educational resources and programs in the area. Develop cooperative programs with local educational institutions. Publicize local educational programs.

System: develop statewide files of educational resources and programs. Design programs with educational institutions in the system for development in local libraries. Publicize all educational resources and programs in system.

ILLINET: provide access to support resources for educational programs.

1984-85- provide Planning Process workshops.
-   assess cooperative library/education programs in state.
-   request proposals to develop models for provision of resources or programs to support educational opportunities either local or systemwide. Applied technology is just one area where cooperative development is necessary. 1986-87- implement model programs for developing educational resources.

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-   implement model programs for developing cooperative programs with educational institutions.
-   assess programs.

1988 - encourage other libraries or systems to adapt successful models for developing programs providing educational resources/programs.
-   publicize cooperative educational institutions/library programs.

III. MAJOR URBAN RESOURCE LIBRARIES

Previously three cities in the state qualified as Major Urban Resource Libraries (MURL). They were Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria. In 1983 the population of Springfield exceeded 100,000 making it eligible for MURL funds.

Each of these has special responsibilities under library system organization for sharing resources and services in designated areas. In the case of Rockford and Peoria, the libraries in those cities are headquarter libraries for their systems, the Northern Illinois Library System and the Illinois Valley Library System, respectively. In the case of Chicago, a very large metropolitan library system and a Research and Reference Library under the Illinois Library System Act, the service area for a MURL library is the Chicago metropolitan area, which consists of Cook County and all or parts of the surrounding counties of Lake, McHenry, DuPage, and Will counties. This involves sharing with five library systems beside the Chicago Library System. They include: Bur Oak Library System; DuPage Library System; North Suburban Library System; Northern Illinois Library System; and Suburban Library System. In the case of Springfield under the MURL program, they will share resources with people living in Rolling Prairie Library System.

A. Needs and demands of users and libraries in MURL areas.

Chicago
-  demands for information and reference resources.
-  access to audiovisual materials.
-  demand for materials in social sciences, literature, art, music, and audiovisual.
-  development of staff skills in responding to requests.
-  improve delivery service to branches and systems.

Peoria
-  demand for foreign language resources for influx of foreign population (especially Southeast Asian families).
-  access to census materials.

Rockford
-  demand for general library materials.
-  improved access to reference resources.

Establishing the need:
-  survey users.
-  determine number and kind of request for resources and information coming directly to MURL libraries from users.
- determine number and kind of request for resources and information coming directly to MURL libraries from interlibrary loan requests.
- delineate rate of satisfaction in above categories.

Plan for meeting needs:
- acquire resources to meet identified demands.
-  develop staff skills in special areas to meet MURL needs (e.g., working with census data).
-  provide materials and services to enrich resources of MURL libraries in order to serve an area larger than the MURL community.
-  publicize resources purchased under this program to area libraries.

(Note: this program is in effect only when appropriation for Library Services and Construction Act exceed $60,000,000).

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IV. POLICIES, CRITERIA, PRIORITIES, AND PROCEDURES FOR MEETING THE STATE LIBRARY NEEDS

Although many detailed responsibilities fall within the purview of the Illinois State Library in the State Library Act, Chapter 128, Illinois Revised Statutes, the chief service responsibilities are the provision of library service — in its broadest sense — to state government, and the coordination, development, and improvement of library services through Illinois. Inherent in these responsibilities are: the collection and organization of library materials, the provision of these materials and reference service for the use of employees of the state; provision of support service as a Research and Reference Center; the publication of information concerning libraries, both annual reports and statistical information; the collection and analysis of public library annual reports; the administration of the Library Systems Act and the federal library programs; the provision of continuing education opportunities; and the publication of other materials of interest to the library community. The review of rules for all state agencies under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act has also been assigned to the State Library as well as statutory responsibility for the State Government Report Distribution Center.

The State Library is organized into three divisions. Administrative Services consisting of administration, publications, accounting, purchasing and shipping; the Library Development Group concerned with the improvement and extension of library services statewide; and the Library Operations Group, concerned with the library as a service agency.

The Illinois State Library occupies approximately 50,000 square feet in the Centennial Building; has a staff of 106 persons, 46 of whom are professional librarians; and has a collection of 3,500,000 items. The Illinois State Library is a regional Federal Documents Depository Library and is the agency responsible for the collection and distribution of Illinois documents.

More than 200,000 items are added to the collection each year. The library has used OCLC services since 1974, and has access to two automated circulation systems. The library answers information and reference requests and loans items in its capacity as a Research and Reference Center. On-line reference data base service is offered to the library users.

A. Policies and procedures for periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of programs and projects.

Program: Provision of library service by the Illinois State Library to state employees and provision of support services as a Research and Reference Center. Acquire materials in accordance with the Collection Development Policy.

Means to accomplish tasks:
-  assess needs of selected government employees and selected users every year.
-  select, order, and purchase materials to satisfy the professional needs of Illinois state government, its elected officials, boards, commissions, and employees.
-  select, order, and purchase materials in support of the Research and Reference Center function of the library for ILLINET.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-   acquire materials to satisfy 95 percent of the requests from state government.
-  acquire materials to satisfy 95 percent of the interlibrary loan or information requests from ILLINET.
-  add approximately 250,000 items (including monographs, serials, federal documents, Illinois documents, microfilm, films, and art prints) every year.

Task: organize the holdings and acquisitions of the library for ease of use.

Means to accomplish tasks:
-  maintain bibliographic control over the collection.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  prepare materials for use within six weeks of acquisition (more quickly if there is an immediate need).
-  addition of current and retrospective records entered into OCLC data base for archival tapes for future on-line catalog.

Task: maintain control of the collection of library materials.

Means to accomplish task:
-   arrange materials to provide easy access for library staff and users of the library.
-  maintain a system to enable easy location of materials on loan.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  rapid retrieval of materials requested by users. (This implies rapid and accurate placement of materials on shelves and in storage.)
-  access to materials on loan.
-  upgrade the computerized circulation system.
-  provide on-line catalog by end of FY 84.

Task: provide materials required by library users not available in the collection by interlibrary loan and provide materials requested for interlibrary loan by ILLINET and other libraries.

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Means to accomplish task:

-  identify the location and request materials for State Library users.

-  locate and arrange interlibrary loan materials requested from the State Library.
-  increase use of the interconnect program, the Library Computer System services, the OCLC Interlibrary Loan System, and other on-line systems.
-  work with ILLINET interlibrary loan staff to facilitate improved interlibrary loan procedures.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  locate and request interlibrary loans within three days after receipt of request from user.
-  locate and send materials requested from the State Library within two days after receipt of request.
-  increase in interlibrary loan requests by Illinois State Library users by 10 percent in FY84 and increase by 5 percent thereafter.
-  decrease in turnaround time for interlibrary loan requests from lending library to one day by the middle of FY84.

Task: provision of timely responses to requests for information from state government and its employees and from ILLINET.

Means to accomplish task:
-  staff properly trained to identify and satisfy reference requests.
-  materials to provide resources necessary for the satisfaction of requests.
-  use of automated reference data bases.
-  maintenance of current awareness program.
-  work with other state agency library users to identify needs of state government for reference.
-  work with ILLINET reference libraries to facilitate satisfying requests.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  satisfaction of information requests with as great immediacy as possible, not more than two days given the difficulty of the request, for both state employees and ILLINET.
-  increase direct user information requests by 10 percent each year.

Task: provision of services incumbent upon a Federal Regional Documents Deposit Library.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  provide bibliographic control of documents within a two month period after acquisition.
-  cooperate with inspectors from the Office of the Superintendent of Documents by visiting federal depository libraries in the state on a three year schedule.
-  adopt state plan for federal depository libraries during FY84.
-assure compliance of all federal depository libraries with state plan by end of FY87.

Task: provision of a collection for documents from the state of Illinois and the distribution of those documents to lllinois Documents Depository Libraries.

Means to accomplish task:
-  collect all publications of the agencies of the state of Illinois (this includes all state agencies, the publications of the elected officials, boards and commissions, and other state-supported institutions such as universities).
-  add three copies of each publication to the Illinois State Library collection except as provided by law.
- distribute one copy of each publication to the depository libraries for lllinois documents.
-  publish a listing of state documents from the OCLC archival tapes.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  prompt receipt of publications from agencies.
-  number of items acquired by follow-up.
-  follow-up publications not immediately received.
-  compilation of the shipping list on a semimonthly basis.
-  distribution of the documents to the State Library and the Illinois depository libraries.
-  issuance of the Publications of the State of Illinois on archival tape after FY84.

Task: provision of information regarding services of the Illinois State Library.

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Means to accomplish task:
-  development of brochures on services provided by the State Library.
- continuation of PICC (Periodicals Index-Contents Copying).
-  personal presentations regarding library services.
-  oral and written communication with ILLINET libraries.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  number of brochures produced.
-  number of informational pieces distributed.
-   number of library users availing themselves of the PICC service.
-  number of personal appearances to discuss the services of the library.

Task: provision of a new State Library building in the Capitol complex.

Means to accomplish task:
- continue to work with the Capital Development Board on the preliminary planning for the building.
- develop preliminary architectural plans.
- under the direction of the Capital Development Board, complete the building.
-  prepare the Illinois State Library for move to the new building, e.g., planning move, acquisition of equipment, etc.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-complete preliminary architectural drawing by end of FY84.
- complete building end of FY88.
- complete move to building in FY88.

Program: coordinate development and improvement of libraries throughout Illinois.

Task: consultant service on program development.

Means to accomplish task:
-  provision of advice on matters of program development for library systems and libraries including, but not limited to the following: continuing education; institutional services; planning; interlibrary cooperation; automation; statistics and research; personnel; public information; reference; construction; conservation of library materials.
- monitoring of LSCA projects.
- development of new areas for extension of library service including: school/public library joint operations, service to rural areas or untaxed areas, use of cable T.V.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  accurate and timely reports on LSCA projects.
-development and publications of guidelines for new programs.
-  estimated four consultant visits a year plus quarterly reports.
-  appointment of task forces to study the opportunities for improvement in rural library service, and services to the untaxed in FY84; develop guidelines for FY85, implementation of programs in following years.

Task: coordinate the planning of the library systems and the Illinois State Library.

Means to accomplish task:
-   provide planning advice to Illinois library systems.
-  review library system plans and make recommendations to the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.
-  annual submission of acceptable long-range plans from library systems.

Task: research and statistics related to Illinois libraries.

Means to accomplish task:
-  analysis of data collected on public library annual reports.
-  develop research in appropriate areas.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  annual publication of public library statistics.
-   publication of special annual reports.
-  publication of special reports and surveys done each year.
-  publication of research studies on an as needed basis.

Task: provide assistance for continuing education activities in the state.

Means to accomplish task:
-   meet with the Advisory Committee on Education and Training on a regular basis.
-  assist library systems in the provision of continuing education events in library systems, coordinating joint system activities as needed.
-  assist in the presentation of statewide continuing education activities such as the Public Library Planning Process.
-  plan, coordinate, and present a staff development program for library system staff.

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-  compile and publish information on-line describing continuing education activities in the state ten times a year.
-  work with ILA on the publication of news of continuing education activities in the ILA Reporter.
-  develop in-service training and continuing education events for ISL staff.
-  revise "Position Paper on Continuing Education."

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  measure progress of State Library's role as delineated in the "Position Paper on Continuing Education."
-  measure progress of other institutional roles as delineated in the "Position Paper on Continuing Education."
-  continuous planning of the activities in accordance with the "Position Paper on Continuing Education."
-  annual review of "Position Paper on Continuing Education."

Task: provide publications and public relations materials to the public and the libraries of the state.

Means to accomplish task:
-  publish Illinois Libraries ten times a year.
-  publish Illinois Nodes monthly.
-  publish continuing education activities ten times a year.
-  publish special reports such as statistical analysis of public library annual reports or reports of projects as produced.
-  publish State Library related brochures.
-  provide public relations materials related to LSCA projects.
-  provide appropriate exhibits and other public relations materials.
-  act as a clearinghouse for publications.
-  act as liaison with Graphic Arts and Quick Copy service.
-  maintain mailing lists.

Evaluation of effectiveness:
-  timely publications.
-  survey systems libraries to determine quality of publications.
-  quantity of materials used by libraries and library systems.
-  survey systems libraries to determine quality of public relations materials.
-  coordinate ISL publications and public relations activities.

Task: coordination of research and reference services.

Means to accomplish task:
-  provide funds for service reimbursemet to the following: Research and Reference Centers; Special Research Centers; Greater Midwest Region Medical Health Science Library Network.
-  compile statistical information of use of centers at local, system, and research and reference level.
-  monitor established protocols for use of service.
-  monitor use of Library Computer System libraries.

Effectiveness of evaluation:
-  increase number of requests satisfied at present level.
- develop agreements to provide for equal use of the resource of major libraries.
-  provide annual reports on activities.

Task: facilitate the sharing of resources.

Means to accomplish task:

-  provide delivery by van of library materials between major materials access points in the state.

Effectiveness of evaluation:
- execution of a five day a week schedule of delivery.
-  determine number of items transported.
-  determine number of hours required for transport.

Task: support for local library operations.

Means to accomplish task:
-  provide equalization grants to qualifying local public libraries.
-  provide per capita grants to qualifying local public libraries.
-  provide construction grants for qualifying public libraries.
-  implement new guidelines for equalization grants.
-  maintain deadline of December 1, for equalization grants.
-  provide local level small grants to improve public library and promote community interlibrary cooperation.

B. Policies and procedures for dissemination of information regarding projects and evaluation.

Results
Information for Project Development.

In June 1983 the Arthur Young Company was employed by the Illinois State Library to develop an LSCA Grants Management System Operating Manual. Training sessions on the use of the manual were held for libraries in the fall of 1983 and the transition from previous procedures will be completed by August 1984. Chapter two in the manual "Overview of the Grant Process and Management System," describes types of grants, who may apply for them, and how to proceed.

This manual will be distributed to the systems and the systems will loan them to libraries. They will also be available from the Illinois State Library and depository libraries on interlibrary loan.

Three components necessary for developing a proposal include:
-"The LSCA Management System Operating Manual."
- "The Basic State Plan," published in Illinois Libraries.
- "The Long-Range Program," published in Illinois Libraries.

Policies and procedures for evaluation of programs and projects supported by Library Services and Construction Act funds (required by 34 CFR 770.19(b) (4) (i) ).

-  Each project or program will have an evaluation design based on the objectives of the project or program as part of the project proposal.
- The objectives of each project or program will be evaluated by the contribution the project or proposal will make to the achievement of the Illinois State Long-Range Program.
-  Each project or program will be evaluated on the goals of the subgrantee as they relate the Illinois State Library Long-Range Program, and to its contribution to the improvement of library service for the users of the state.

In the case of Title III projects or programs, the above policies will prevail and in addition:

-  Each project or program will be evaluated in terms of the number of types of libraries impacted by the project or program, the contribution made to resource sharing in the state, and the improvement in service to the library users of the state.

Dissemination of results of evaluation:
-  Distribution of evaluation to Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.
-  Publication of significant evaluation in Illinois State Library Report Series (available to libraries in state as well as to others by request).
-  Publication of list of project evaluations available in Illinois Libraries.
-  Distribution to other agencies upon request.

C.   Policies and procedures for coordination of programs and projects of the Library Services and Construction Act with library programs operated by the institutions of higher education and local elementary and secondary schools (as required by 34 CFR 770.19 (b) (4) (iii)).

-  representative of the Illinois Board of Higher Education is an ex officio member of the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.
-  A representative of the Illinois State Board of Education (elementary and secondary) is an ex officio member of the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.
- The director of the Illinois State Library is on the Library Advisory Committee for the Illinois Board of Higher Education, as well as on the Library Media Advisory Committee of the Illinois State Board of Education.
-  Projects and programs relating to other agencies carrying on library services programs, such as programs for the blind and physically handicapped, aging, and community services for continuing education are coordinated with the appropriate agency by the development group staff.

D.   Needs and demands for library services of individual users and other libraries in the regional areas served by major urban resource libraries (required by 34 CFR 770.19 (b) (3) (i)).

Each MURL in Illinois serves as the headquarter library for its library system area. As such, it is a major source of interlibrary loan requests from member libraries in the system. Reciprocal borrowing within each system and with systems statewide enable library users from libraries other than the MURL to use the resources of the MURL library.

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In establishing the need for and demands on the library each MURL assesses:
-  Number and kinds of requests for materials and information coming to the library in accordance with reciprocal borrowing.
-  Number and kinds of requests for materials and information coming to the library in the form of interlibrary loan requests.
-  Rate of satisfaction of requests in both of the above categories.

Plan for these libraries (MURL) to provide services at a level sufficient to meet these needs (identified in "Needs and demands for library services of individual users and other libraries in the regional areas served by major urban resource libraries" above) required by 34 CFR 770.19 (b) (3) (ii)).

-  Based on the collection held by each MURL and the requests for materials and information each MURL prepares a proposal identifying the needs, proposing methods to meet those needs, and a means to evaluate the satisfaction of needs.

E. Criteria used in allocating Title I funds (required by 34 CFR 770.19 (b) (4) (iv)).

- Allocations are in accordance with the recommendations for priorities established by the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.
-  Priorities are congruent within the Illinois State Library Long-Range Program, and the provision of improved library service to the user of the state.
-  Criteria are congruent with Basic State Plan.

The funds allocated will assure that the expenditure for service to the institutionalized, the blind and physically handicapped, and the major urban resource libraries are not less than the amount expended in the second preceding fiscal year.

Chapter three in the LSCA Grants Management System Operating Manual contains directions and application forms for Title I grants.

F. Criteria, policies, and procedures for the approval of applications for the construction of public library facilities under Title II of the Library Services and Construction Act, including provision for a hearing if construction funds are denied (required by 34 CFR 770.19 (b) (4) (v)).

Proposals for library construction shall be considered in conjunction with the goals and objectives of the Illinois State Library Long-Range Program. Interim Standards fo Small Public Libraries and Illinois Public Library Standards are to be used for space requirements. The library must have plans to meet the per capita expenditure and library resources collection recommended for its size.

-  Library construction proposals will be considered in the following priorities:
-  system headquarters (separate building);
-  system headquarters (public library serving as a system headquarters);
-  library to serve the disadvantaged (member of a library system);
-  library serving a population of more than 25,000 (member of a library system);
-  library serving a population of less than 25,000 (member of a library system);
-  library serving a population of more than 25,000 (not a member of a library system);
-  library serving a population of less than 25,000 (not a member of a library system);
-  More than one construction grant will be made to a library for the same building only if no other applications for the funds have been received.
-  A twenty-year population projection is to be used to determine the size of the area served.
-  No grant will be given for more than 20 percent of the total project cost, not to exceed $250,000.
-  A building consultant must be employed by the applicant and must work with the construction project until its completion.
- An application form for construction funds is available from the Illinois State Library.
-  Every public library or library system whose application for funds for library construction is denied will be given an op opportunity for a hearing before the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.

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G. Criteria, policies, and procedures for the approval of applications for interlibrary cooperation under Title III of the Library Services and Construction Act (required by CFR 34 770.19 (b) (4) (vi)).

Criterion for identifying programs to encourage interlibrary cooperation are:

The contribution to the goals of the Illinois State Library, specifically the development of networks to provide effective coordination of library resources for public, academic, school, and special libraries.

To achieve this goal projects stressing the following will be given consideration:
-  contribution to networking include:
-  number of people affected;
-  number of agencies affected;
- effect of existing network;
-  anticipated accessibility to library users resources in terms of:
-  number of materials;
-  special collections.

Chapter three in the LSCA Grants Management System Operating Manual contains directions and application forms for Title III grants.

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