Guidelines for Developing a Five -Year Library System Plan of Service

(February 2000; revised November 2004)

The System Plan of Service should be regarded as a planning document which identifies, organizes, and provides an overview of the 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 on a statewide basis. The major roles for Systems as recommended by a statewide Plan of Service team are:

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

Purpose

The purpose of the System 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, activities and intended results 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 libraries and individual users. The Plan of Service should include:

  • System mission (purpose of the organization)
  • Goals
  • Activities
  • Intended Results

Definitions

Roles -- 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.

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

  • Who are we?
  • What do we do?
  • Why do we do what we do?

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

Activities -- Activities are the means by which goals and roles of the library system can be reached. While the mission, goals, and roles are written in terms of what the system is or will be doing, activities indicate specifically how the system will do it.

Intended Results -- Intended results are the expected outcomes of the activities.

Elements

Plan elements are outlined in Five-Year Library System Plan of Service, Sections 1-4 and Section 5. Plan elements include information that is required in Education Law and/or Regulations of the Commissioner and information recommended by a statewide Plan of Service team.

  1. For each required element in Section 5, provide a goal(s) statement(s) for each year of the five year plan
  2. For each goal statement, list the projected activities for each year on the five year plan.
  3. For each activity, state the intended result or outcome expected each year.

Suggested Timetable for Submission

December 31, 2000 Reference and Research Library Resources Systems
June 30, 2001 Public Library Systems
April 30, 2001 School Library Systems

Amendments

Amendments to a System Plan of Service may be submitted annually to the Division of Library Development on or before April 30 for approval and implementation on July 1.

Last Updated: August 11, 2009