[Publib] Re: Best Small Library in America

Wed Aug 29 10:16:00 EDT 2007

Greetings,

There seems to be something ironic about using the criteria below to judge

what is the 'best' small library in America.  Each is generally a direct
result

of funding.  In the HALPR <http://www.haplr-index.com/>  index, the
wealthier communities with higher

per capita incomes consistently score  higher.  It does not necessarily

correlate with 'Best'.

Rewarding wealthy libraries for doing more with more in competition with

other libraries seems contrary to the collaborative effort

required to make all libraries viable.  I am aware of wealthy libraries that

are able to demonstrate, measure and market of all of the 

services below. And, I am sure that they have the resources and time

to apply for Best status.  Yet I know of many more who do so much with so
little

in the areas where they can - with any of one of the services that they

do provide outshining the aggregate services afforded by wealth.

Perhaps the winner should be allowed to redistribute their winnings to 

libraries in communities who have less as an option.

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-441-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Satia Orange
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 12:06 PM
To: olosadv at ala.org; oloschrs at ala.org
Cc: Judith Krug; Mary Ellen Davis; RSTAPL-L at LISTSERV.CLARION.EDU; Julie
Walker; Diane Foote; Kerry Ward; ARSL-L at LISTSERV.CLARION.EDU;
RURALIB at ala.org; Greta Southard; Mary Ghikas; Deidre Ross; ABOS-l; Lorraine
Olley; Jenifer Grady; caupres at ala.org; Cathleen Bourdon; Sherri Vanyek;
Lorelle Swader; Aimee Strittmatter; Satia Orange; publib at webjunction.org;
Mary Taylor; Danielle Alderson; Charles Wilt; Beth Yoke; Karen O'Brien; Barb
Macikas
Subject: [Publib] Re: Best Small Library in America

Below are the guidelines for Library Journal's Best Small Library in
America. Please share with your lists, and a large percentage of us come
from small libraries. Feel free to nominate your libraries, too ..... Satia
Orange, ALA-OLOS.

The guidelines are below but can also be found at: 

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html

Best Small Library in America Award Nomination Guidelines

Postmark deadline: November 5, 2007

Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America,
cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage
and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its fourth year,
the award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates
outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less (see below for
eligibility). The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a
feature story in the February 1, 2008, Library Journal, membership and
conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public
Library Association Biannual Conference in 2008, and a gala reception at the
conference. 

Members of the editorial board of Library Journal, librarians from around
the country, and a representative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
will judge nominations based on key factors, including: 

*	Creativity in developing services and programs that can be
replicated by other libraries 
*	Innovation in introducing and supporting public access computing,
educating patrons in its use, and measuring the impact of this technology
usage 
*	Use of technology to expand the reach of library services 
*	Demonstrated community support 
*	Success in developing cooperation with other libraries 
*	Partnerships with other agencies and businesses 
*	Increase in library use, particularly by new users 
*	Evidence of library's role as community center 

Keeping the factors above in mind, please tell us how, in the last two
years, you have raised the profile of the library in your community, reached
out to new users and remote users, and used technology to support and grow
patron access to materials and information. Please also describe the use of
public access computers (PACs) in your library and how you anticipate
sustaining PACs and adapting to the next generation of users. In your
description of your collaborations with others, please give examples of how
the library has become a model for the partnering organization and how the
organization has become a model for the library.

Submission Requirements:

Anyone can nominate a library-the library administration itself, patrons,
members of the community, library peers, etc.

There is no entry fee, but each entry must include the following
information: 

1) Name, address, phone number, and email of nominee and the name of the
contact person, as well as contact information for the submitter if
different from the nominee. 

2) A written explanation of up to two pages (or a list of bulleted narrative
points) that clearly enumerates how the library's accomplishments fit the
criteria for the award listed above. (Note: Entries that describe programs
and their effects on the community will be especially helpful to the judges
in rendering a decision. Supporting materials, such as brochures,
testimonials, press clippings, etc., may be included and are helpful, but
they are less important than the written narrative.) 

3) Photo(s) of library, staff, and patrons, if possible.

4) Letters of reference from two library peers. (A library peer is someone
who is knowledgeable about libraries in general and knows the nominated
library well, but who is not employed by the library in any capacity.
Examples include librarians at neighboring libraries or colleagues at the
state association or the state library.)

5) Statistical data:

*	Population served 
*	Total annual budget (if you are part of another body of government,
note if you pay utility bills, IT, etc.) 
*	Per capita budget 
*	Circulation 
*	Materials budget (including electronic databases) 
*	Physical visits (door count) 
*	Virtual visits (e-use, if collecting this data) 
*	Number of staff 
*	Percentage of staff who are professional librarians. 

Most libraries collect such data, but if you do not have all of these
statistics, then submit those the library does have. Also, please detail
whether the nominated library is a member of a consortium/county-wide
service district-what services are provided by it (technology support,
training, databases, etc.), what role does the library play in it? The
judges do not make selections based on numbers, though they are helpful in
giving context to the written submission. 

Eligibility Requirements:

1) A single library serving a community with a population of 25,000 or less
is eligible (latest Census).

2) Area library districts or systems may serve an aggregate population of
greater than 25,000, as long as the service area of the library includes an
area or a community with a population of 25,000 or less. The prize money
must be used to benefit that population. 

3) A single county or town with a population over 25,000 that is served by
two or more library districts or systems operating entirely within the
bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a
given library includes a rural area or a rural community or the population
of the library's jurisdiction is 25,000 or less. The prize money must be
used for that area. 

4) A single community with a population greater than 25,000 and having a
library with one or more branches may qualify. The library must have a
service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed a
population of 25,000. The prize monies must be used only for the benefit of
the rural or community population under 25,000. Similarly a single community
with a population greater than 25,000, which also provide library service to
an adjoining community of 25,000 or less population by contract, may also be
eligible, provided the prize is used entirely to support the smaller
community. 

5) A single community library serving a population greater than 25,000 and
not providing service to a rural area or to a rural community is not
eligible for the award. 

Send the nomination, postmarked deadline November 5, 2007, to:

Library Journal's Award for the
Best Small Library in America 
c/o Library Journal 
360 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010

If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact
Rebecca Miller at
<mailto:miller at reedbusiness.com?subject=Small_Library_Award>
miller at reedbusiness.com or by phone at 646-746-6725.

Rebecca T. Miller

Executive Editor

Library Journal

360 Park Avenue South

New York, New York 10010

646-746-6725

miller at reedbusiness.com

www.libraryjournal.com <http://www.libraryjournal.com/> 

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