Library System Plans of Service 2006-2011

Introduction | Sections and Elements of Five-Year Library System Plan of Service
Due Dates and Effective Dates | Links to Current, Approved Plans of Service
Information on Direct Access

Frequently Asked Questions, Public Library Systems Plan of Service 2007-2011

Frequently Asked Questions, School Library Systems Plan of Service 2006-2011

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Introduction

The System Plan of Service should be regarded as a planning document, which identifies, organizes, and provides an overview of the library system's service program including intended changes in services or priorities. It should show how the system anticipates it will fulfill the major roles expected of library systems. The major recommended roles for systems are:

Support and strengthen member libraries
Facilitate equitable access to library services and resources directly to patrons/customers
Facilitate resource sharing among libraries
Provide leadership for improving library services for all

A library system's role considers the major functions and services of a library system. It emphasizes what the system is trying to do, whom the system is trying to serve, and what resources the system needs to achieve these ends. Roles help the system define its priorities and focus its purpose.

Purpose

The purpose of the Plan of Service for all types of systems is to:

Articulate the basic agreement between the State and the governing board of the system, which makes possible the payment of state aid to the system
Enumerate the mutual commitments, responsibilities and obligations of the system and its members
Share the system's mission, goals, intended results and evaluation methods with its members
Determine how the system meets the service needs of its community, region, and the State

Assumptions

The System Plan of Service integrates current ongoing services and plans for the next five years. It should provide a picture of the intended results of its services for both member libraries and individual users. The Plan of Service includes:

System Mission (purpose of the organization)
Goals
Intended Results
Evaluation Methods

Mission

The mission statement broadly describes the purpose of the library system. Mission statements traditionally answer the following questions:

We do what?
For whom?
For what benefit?

Goals

Goals are broad statements that describe a desired condition toward which a library system will work.

Intended results

Intended results are the expected user benefits of the goals.

Evaluation methods

Evaluation methods are the tools that indicate if intended results were achieved. Examples include surveys, numerical statistics, anecdotal reports, focus groups, questionnaires, observations, pre- or post-test scores, etc.

Sections and Elements

The Library System Plan of Service consists of the following five sections:

Section 1 - General Information
Section 2 - System Governance
Section 3 - Member Services
Section 4 - Description of the Planning, Approval, Evaluation and Revision Process for all Sections of the Plan of Service
Section 5. Mission Statement, Goal Statements, Intended Results and Evaluation Methods (Section 5 for each of the three types of library systems differs slightly based on legal and regulatory requirements). Certain elements in Section 5 have specific requirements that must be addressed (bulleted items in element boxes).

Plan of Service due dates and effective dates:

System	Due Date	Effective Date
Reference and Research Library Resources System	April 3, 2006	July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2011
School Library System	April 3, 2006	July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2011
Public Library System	October 2, 2006	January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2011

Plan of Service revision due dates:

System	Revision Due Date
Reference and Research Library Resources System	On or before April 30 for implementation July 1st of the same year
School Library System	On or before April 30 for implementation July 1st of the same year
Public Library System	On or before October 31 for implementation the following January 1st

Deletions to the existing Plan of Service - All Systems

Section 1 - Minimum Staffing Requirements
Section 2 - Organizational Chart
Sections 3 and 4 - Revised and combined to form a new Section 4
Section 5 - Deleted Activities column
Deleted Official Signature Requirement

Revisions/additions to the existing Plan of Service

All systems

All systems will use the same format for the 2006-2011 Plan of Service
Section 2 - Added URL for bylaws
Section 3 - Added URL for list of members
Section 5:
- Added "Evaluation Methods"
- Added "Consulting and Technical Assistance Services" element
- Added "Coordinated Services" element
Added Assurance Statement and Approval Statement

Public library systems

Section 5 --
- Added URL for Central Library Plan
- Added URL for Direct Access Plan
- Incorporated other plans required in law and regulations, for example: Coordinated Outreach, Corrections (State and local), Construction, Adult Literacy

Reference and research library resources systems

Section 5 - Incorporated plans required in law and regulations, for example: Coordinated Collection Development, Hospital Library Services, Medical Information Services Program, Regional Bibliographic Data Bases and Interlibrary Resource Sharing

School library systems

Section 5 --
- Added URL for Member Plan
Incorporated plan required in law and regulations for Cooperative Collection Development

Section 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 SYSTEM NAME - The legal name of the library system

1.2 - 1.5 ADDRESS - The complete street address of the system. Do not report a post office box. Include 4-digit postal zip code extension (if unknown, enter N/A).

1.6 TELEPHONE NUMBER - The phone number of the system, including area code. Enter 10 digits only.

1.7 FAX NUMBER - The phone number for sending fax messages to the system, including area code. Enter 10 digits only.

1.8 E-MAIL ADDRESS OF THE SYSTEM DIRECTOR - The e-mail address for sending electronic mail messages to the system's director.

1.9 SYSTEM HOME PAGE URL - The Internet's World Wide Web address of the system's home page. A link to the system's approved five-year Plan of Service must be provided on the system's home page.

1.10 DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT - The date the library system was first established.

1.11 DATE OF ABSOLUTE CHARTER (Public and Reference and Research Library Resources Systems only) - The date the library system was granted its absolute charter.

1.12 NAME(S) OF CENTRAL LIBRARY/CO-CENTRAL LIBRARIES - Enter the name of the system's central library. Systems with co-central libraries should enter the names of both libraries.

1.13 SQUARE MILEAGE OF THE SYSTEM SERVICE AREA - Final Square Mile Count issued March 2001 by U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

1.14 POPULATION OF THE SYSTEM SERVICE AREA - The official population counts given in the Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Populations and Housing Characteristics, New York issued March 2001, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census/

Section 2 - SYSTEM GOVERNANCE

2.1 URL OF CURRENT GOVERNING BYLAWS - The URL of the current governing bylaws on the system's website.

2.2 - 2.3 APPOINTMENT/ELECTION OF BOARD/COUNCIL - Indicate whether the Board/Council Members are appointed or elected and by whom.

2.4 ADVISORY GROUPS - Indicate the groups that advise the Board/Council. Check all that apply. If "other", specify using the State note.

Section 3 - MEMBER SERVICES

3.1 URL OF CURRENT LIST OF MEMBERS - Provide the URL of the current list of members on the system's website.

Public Library Systems include only chartered and registered public and association libraries. Consolidated systems include branch libraries.

Reference and Research Library Resources Systems include member libraries and member library systems.

School Library Systems include member public school districts with participant public school buildings and member non-public schools.

3.2 LEVELS OF SERVICE (Public Library Systems only) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.

3.3 LEVELS OF SERVICE (Reference and Research Library Resources Systems only) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries and library systems. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.

3.4 LEVELS OF SERVICE (School Library Systems only) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. BOCES-based school library systems should include administered cooperative services plans (Co-sers). If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.

Section 4 --DESCRIPTION OF PLANNING, APPROVAL, EVALUATION AND REVISION PROCESS FOR ALL SECTIONS OF THE PLAN OF SERVICE

4.1 SUMMARY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT - Describe the process used to assess member needs in the development of the system's Plan of Service.

4.2 GROUP INVOLVEMENT AND ROLES - Indicate the groups involved, and their roles, in the development of the system's Plan of Service. Include member libraries, advisory groups, special purpose groups or meetings (such as those for developing federal and state grant proposals), director's advisory groups, and/or other types of advisory groups required in Education Law or Regulations of the Commissioner.

Public Library Systems: Examples include director's advisory council, central library advisory committee, outreach advisory committee, etc.

Reference and Research Library Resources Systems: Examples include information technology advisory committees, hospital libraries and others serving hospitals, etc.

School Library Systems: Examples include council and liaison groups and committees, etc.

4.3 - 4.5 CENTRAL LIBRARY PLAN - Indicate the groups involved, and their roles, in the development of the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan (Note: This is not the Central Library's Long-Range Plan). Describe how the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan will be integrated with the system's Plan of Service.

4.6 URL OF THE SYSTEM'S MEMBER PLAN - Provide the URL of the 2006-2011 (July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2011) Member Plan on the system's website. Do not include the data or narrative results.

At least once during the five-year period of each Plan of Service, each school district and nonpublic school member, and in New York City each Community School District and High School District, shall file with the system a plan which shows how district and building resources and programs meet the needs of students and teachers, and describes the ways in which it proposes to make effective use of the system.

Such plan shall include: a description of existing library resources and services in a format established by the school library system; procedures for prompt and efficient communication among school library media specialists and reporting to other members of the school community regarding system policies, procedures and services; provisions for periodic reporting, at least annually, to the governing body of the school district or nonpublic school and to the administration, regarding participation to the member in system services; and assurance by the member and its participants that adequate qualified staff is available to organize and administer the library media program and fulfill system responsibilities.

4.7 APPROVAL OF THE PLAN - Provide a brief description of the approval process for the system's Plan of Service. School Library Systems must include the Council's role in the approval process.

4.8 EVALUATION INFORMATION - Provide a brief description of the information that will be collected to evaluate whether or not the system has achieved the intended results of the Plan of Service.

4.9 EVALUATION METHODS - Provide a brief description of the methods that will be used to determine whether the system's customers were satisfied with the system's services.

4.10 EVALUATION - PLANNING - Provide a brief description of how the information on customer satisfaction will be used to shape the system's Plan of Service in the next year or in the following cycle.

4.11 REVISION PROCESS - Provide a brief description of the process for revising the system's Plan of Service for submission to the New York State Library.

Section 5 - MISSION STATEMENT, GOAL STATEMENTS, INTENDED RESULTS AND EVALUATION METHODS

PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS

5.1 MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.

5.2 - 5.23 ELEMENTS

5.2 - 5.20
and 5.23 Elements 1-10 and 13 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods.

5.6 Element 2 - An Integrated Library System (ILS) is defined as a suite of software programs that support all standard library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, inventory and serials control, circulation, the on-line public catalog and may include media booking and community information. Library systems may not implement all of these functions, but cataloging, circulation, and public catalog are considered minimal components of the ILS.

5.9 - 5.13 Element 3 - Outreach groups include blind, physically disabled, aged, developmentally or learning disabled, institutionalized, members of ethnic/minority groups in need of special services, educationally disadvantaged, unemployed/underemployed or geographically isolated. Identify targeted groups that will be served in the appropriate years.

5.15 Element 5 --Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries and branch libraries in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.

5.16 Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries and branch libraries. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, cataloging services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.

5.21 Element 11 - Provide the URL of the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.4 (b)]. This is the Plan approved by the system board and the central library board.

5.22 Element 12 - Provide the URL of the most recent Direct Access Plan. [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.3 | Outline | Guidelines]

5.24 ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.

5.25 APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.

REFERENCE AND RESEARCH LIBRARY RESOURCES SYSTEMS

5.1 MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.

5.2 - 5.19 ELEMENTS

5.2 - 5.19 Elements 1-10 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods.

5.6 Element 2 - A Virtual Catalog is a list, stored on multiple computer hosts, of the holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of all or a portion of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item. Searches made against these multiple hosts are collated into a single user interface.

5.7 Element 2 - A Union Catalog is an accessible list of the combined cataloged holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.

5.8 Element 2 - A Union List of Serials is an accessible list of the combined serial holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.

5.14 Element 5 - Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries and library systems in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.

5.15 Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries and library systems. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, cataloging services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.

5.20 ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.

5.21 APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.

SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS

5.1 MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.

5.2 - 5.18 ELEMENTS

5.2 - 5.14
and 5.18 Elements 1-7 and 10 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods

5.6 Element 2 - A Union Catalog is an accessible list of the combined cataloged holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.

5.7 Element 2 - A Union List of Serials is an accessible list of the combined serial holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.

5.8 Element 2 - An Integrated Library System (ILS) is defined as a suite of software programs that support all standard library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, inventory and serials control, circulation, the on-line public catalog and may include media booking and community information. Library systems may not implement all of these functions, but cataloging, circulation, and public catalog are considered minimal components of the ILS.

5.12 Element 5 - Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.

5.13 Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, catalog services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.

5.15 Element 8 - Describe communications among members (school districts and non-public schools) and participants (buildings), and the role of liaisons/communication coordinators.

5.16 Element 8 - Provide the URL for the Member Plan. [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.18 (f) (4)]

5.19 ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.

5.20 APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.

[Back to top of page] | Sections and Elements of Five-Year Library System Plan of Service
Due Dates and Effective Dates | Links to Current, Approved Plans of Service

Frequently Asked Questions, School Library Systems Plan of Service 2006-2011

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1.1	SYSTEM NAME - The legal name of the library system
1.2 - 1.5	ADDRESS - The complete street address of the system. Do not report a post office box. Include 4-digit postal zip code extension (if unknown, enter N/A).
1.6	TELEPHONE NUMBER - The phone number of the system, including area code. Enter 10 digits only.
1.7	FAX NUMBER - The phone number for sending fax messages to the system, including area code. Enter 10 digits only.
1.8	E-MAIL ADDRESS OF THE SYSTEM DIRECTOR - The e-mail address for sending electronic mail messages to the system's director.
1.9	SYSTEM HOME PAGE URL - The Internet's World Wide Web address of the system's home page. A link to the system's approved five-year Plan of Service must be provided on the system's home page.
1.10	DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT - The date the library system was first established.
1.11	DATE OF ABSOLUTE CHARTER (*Public and Reference and Research Library Resources Systems only*) - The date the library system was granted its absolute charter.
1.12	NAME(S) OF CENTRAL LIBRARY/CO-CENTRAL LIBRARIES - Enter the name of the system's central library. Systems with co-central libraries should enter the names of both libraries.
1.13	SQUARE MILEAGE OF THE SYSTEM SERVICE AREA - Final Square Mile Count issued March 2001 by U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
1.14	POPULATION OF THE SYSTEM SERVICE AREA - The official population counts given in the Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Populations and Housing Characteristics, New York issued March 2001, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census/

2.1	URL OF CURRENT GOVERNING BYLAWS - The URL of the current governing bylaws on the system's website.
2.2 - 2.3	APPOINTMENT/ELECTION OF BOARD/COUNCIL - Indicate whether the Board/Council Members are appointed or elected and by whom.
2.4	ADVISORY GROUPS - Indicate the groups that advise the Board/Council. Check all that apply. If "other", specify using the State note.

3.1	URL OF CURRENT LIST OF MEMBERS - Provide the URL of the current list of members on the system's website.
	Public Library Systems include only chartered and registered public and association libraries. Consolidated systems include branch libraries.
	Reference and Research Library Resources Systems include member libraries and member library systems.
	School Library Systems include member public school districts with participant public school buildings and member non-public schools.
3.2	LEVELS OF SERVICE (*Public Library Systems only*) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.
3.3	LEVELS OF SERVICE (*Reference and Research Library Resources Systems only*) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries and library systems. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.
3.4	LEVELS OF SERVICE (School Library Systems only) - Indicate whether the system provides different levels of service to its member libraries. Enter "Y" for Yes; "N" for No. If yes, describe the levels and the services provided for each level. Complete one repeating group for each level of service. BOCES-based school library systems should include administered cooperative services plans (Co-sers). If no, enter N/A in one repeating group.

4.1	SUMMARY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT - Describe the process used to assess member needs in the development of the system's Plan of Service.
4.2	GROUP INVOLVEMENT AND ROLES - Indicate the groups involved, and their roles, in the development of the system's Plan of Service. Include member libraries, advisory groups, special purpose groups or meetings (such as those for developing federal and state grant proposals), director's advisory groups, and/or other types of advisory groups required in Education Law or Regulations of the Commissioner.
	Public Library Systems: Examples include director's advisory council, central library advisory committee, outreach advisory committee, etc.
	Reference and Research Library Resources Systems: Examples include information technology advisory committees, hospital libraries and others serving hospitals, etc.
	School Library Systems: Examples include council and liaison groups and committees, etc.
4.3 - 4.5	CENTRAL LIBRARY PLAN - Indicate the groups involved, and their roles, in the development of the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan (Note: This is not the Central Library's Long-Range Plan). Describe how the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan will be integrated with the system's Plan of Service.
4.6	URL OF THE SYSTEM'S MEMBER PLAN - Provide the URL of the 2006-2011 (July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2011) Member Plan on the system's website. Do not include the data or narrative results.
	At least once during the five-year period of each Plan of Service, each school district and nonpublic school member, and in New York City each Community School District and High School District, shall file with the system a plan which shows how district and building resources and programs meet the needs of students and teachers, and describes the ways in which it proposes to make effective use of the system.
	Such plan shall include: a description of existing library resources and services in a format established by the school library system; procedures for prompt and efficient communication among school library media specialists and reporting to other members of the school community regarding system policies, procedures and services; provisions for periodic reporting, at least annually, to the governing body of the school district or nonpublic school and to the administration, regarding participation to the member in system services; and assurance by the member and its participants that adequate qualified staff is available to organize and administer the library media program and fulfill system responsibilities.
4.7	APPROVAL OF THE PLAN - Provide a brief description of the approval process for the system's Plan of Service. School Library Systems must include the Council's role in the approval process.
4.8	EVALUATION INFORMATION - Provide a brief description of the information that will be collected to evaluate whether or not the system has achieved the intended results of the Plan of Service.
4.9	EVALUATION METHODS - Provide a brief description of the methods that will be used to determine whether the system's customers were satisfied with the system's services.
4.10	EVALUATION - PLANNING - Provide a brief description of how the information on customer satisfaction will be used to shape the system's Plan of Service in the next year or in the following cycle.
4.11	REVISION PROCESS - Provide a brief description of the process for revising the system's Plan of Service for submission to the New York State Library.

5.1	MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.
5.2 - 5.23	ELEMENTS
5.2 - 5.20 and 5.23	Elements 1-10 and 13 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods.
5.6	Element 2 - An Integrated Library System (ILS) is defined as a suite of software programs that support all standard library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, inventory and serials control, circulation, the on-line public catalog and may include media booking and community information. Library systems may not implement all of these functions, but cataloging, circulation, and public catalog are considered minimal components of the ILS.
5.9 - 5.13	Element 3 - Outreach groups include blind, physically disabled, aged, developmentally or learning disabled, institutionalized, members of ethnic/minority groups in need of special services, educationally disadvantaged, unemployed/underemployed or geographically isolated. Identify targeted groups that will be served in the appropriate years.
5.15	Element 5 --Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries and branch libraries in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.
5.16	Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries and branch libraries. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, cataloging services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.
5.21	Element 11 - Provide the URL of the 2007-2011 Central Library Plan [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.4 (b)]. This is the Plan approved by the system board and the central library board.
5.22	Element 12 - Provide the URL of the most recent Direct Access Plan. [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.3 \| Outline \| Guidelines]
5.24	ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.
5.25	APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.

5.1	MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.
5.2 - 5.19	ELEMENTS
5.2 - 5.19	Elements 1-10 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods.
5.6	Element 2 - A Virtual Catalog is a list, stored on multiple computer hosts, of the holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of all or a portion of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item. Searches made against these multiple hosts are collated into a single user interface.
5.7	Element 2 - A Union Catalog is an accessible list of the combined cataloged holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.
5.8	Element 2 - A Union List of Serials is an accessible list of the combined serial holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.
5.14	Element 5 - Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries and library systems in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.
5.15	Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries and library systems. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, cataloging services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.
5.20	ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.
5.21	APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.

5.1	MISSION STATEMENT - Provide the mission statement for the system. Refer to the Introductory section for the definition of the mission statement.
5.2 - 5.18	ELEMENTS
5.2 - 5.14 and 5.18	Elements 1-7 and 10 - Provide a description of the goal statements, indicate the year(s) in which the system intends to achieve the goal, and describe the intended results and evaluation methods. Refer to the introductory section for information about goal statements, intended results and evaluation methods
5.6	Element 2 - A Union Catalog is an accessible list of the combined cataloged holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.
5.7	Element 2 - A Union List of Serials is an accessible list of the combined serial holdings of all the libraries in a library system or of the collections of a group of independent libraries. This list indicates by name and/or location symbol which libraries own at least one copy of each item.
5.8	Element 2 - An Integrated Library System (ILS) is defined as a suite of software programs that support all standard library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, inventory and serials control, circulation, the on-line public catalog and may include media booking and community information. Library systems may not implement all of these functions, but cataloging, circulation, and public catalog are considered minimal components of the ILS.
5.12	Element 5 - Consulting and technical assistance services are services that provide expertise to member libraries in areas such as program content, grant writing, budget, grants administration, legal, building and technology.
5.13	Element 6 - Coordinated services are services that are originated and coordinated through the system for member libraries. Examples include coordinated print purchases, non-print purchases, negotiation of pricing for licensed electronic collection purchases, catalog services, materials processing services, office supplies, computer services/purchases, etc.
5.15	Element 8 - Describe communications among members (school districts and non-public schools) and participants (buildings), and the role of liaisons/communication coordinators.
5.16	Element 8 - Provide the URL for the Member Plan. [Commissioner's Regulations (CR) § 90.18 (f) (4)]
5.19	ASSURANCE - Enter the date the Library's Plan of Service was reviewed and accepted by the System Board/Council.
5.20	APPROVAL - The date that the Library System's Plan of Service was reviewed and approved by the New York State Library.