ABOUT US: Publications - Reports: 1998
More and More Changing Changes
South Dakota State Library
Annual Report FY98
October 1, 1998
The State Library is the state's information center facilitating the cost effective collection and efficient delivery of needed information (in usable format) to state government, the state's citizens directly or through local public libraries, schools or other educational institutions. (Mission Statement)In pursuit of this mission, the State Library:
- Responded to nearly 100,000 information requests. There are additional requests for assistance from school and public librarians and their trustees andcity/county/school administrators, special education teachers, parents, SDLN questions and meeting room scheduling.
- Circulated 93,000 books and copied 6,376 articles for interlibrary loan in FY98. This is slightly more than half the number copied in FY97. Full-text databases are delivering journal articles to the users directly.
- Provided training:
- To public and school librarians and their trustees and administrators in groups or individually.
- Library Training Institute #13 was completed successfully. There were 23 participants including two from North Dakota libraries. This project is unique in that it provides librarians from small public libraries the opportunity to earn college credit (4 sem. hrs. per year) while learning basic library skills during two-week intensive institutes. Each student attends four consecutive years and earns a certificate of public library management. While other states offer variations of the skills training classes, no other offers college credit. This institute was first held in 1985.
- For the first time, former graduates (alumni) of the Library Training Institute were offered an opportunity to return and update their skills. This year nine alumni returned for a 2 ½ day intensive course on computers and Windows 95. Those completing the course earned one semester hour of credit.
- Circulated 97,860 braille and talking books to the 4230 South Dakotans who are visually impaired or who for other reasons cannot use a standard printed book or magazine.
- In addition to the circulation of materials, the Braille and Talking Book Library continues to provide key leadership to South Dakota's Braillists. Nemeth Code training was offered April 27th & 28th, 1998, in Sioux Falls. Instructors for the workshop are Janice Sowokinos and Mary Denault from North Dakota. Sowokinos has been a teacher at the ND School for the Blind for over 20 years. Denault is a transcriber for Grand Forks Public Schools. She also works at the University of North Dakota, preparing tactiles for mathematics courses. South Dakota only has one certified Nemeth Code (mathematics) braille translator, an inmate at the South Dakota State Penitentiary.
- Booked 3,864 film/videos for circulation from the state's film/video library. This is about 11% less than FY97. In case of confusion about this collection, it is at the State Library in Pierre. Inmates are still active in this program, shipping, shelving and maintaining the collection. A few new items are added regularly - see SDLN catalog.
- Established new Rules for the distribution of grants in the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). A copy is attached.
- Assisted the Hanson-McCook Library when it was destroyed by the Spencer tornado. Many South Dakotans helped the citizens and designated gifts to help replace the materials in the library. Thanks to many wonderful gifts and an enormous local effort, the bookmobile will be active in October.
- Helped South Dakota librarians fill out the forms required to apply for Universal Service. An E-Rate conference was co-sponsored January 6th. Another was held in Chamberlain on February 23rd. The average discount available to SD schools and libraries is 60%.
- The Schools and Libraries Corporation authorized the State Library as the state agency, which shall approve the library technology plans. Three-five year technology plans are required in order to qualify for discounts on telecommunications services.
- Developed activities in partnership or cooperation with other agencies and organizations:
- The State Library continues its contract with MINITEX for the following library services:
Resource sharing. In FY98 South Dakota libraries borrowed 20,300 items through MINITEX and loaned 5,340 items to MINITEX libraries.
MINITEX continues to be the agent for South Dakota libraries for access to OCLC.
MULS Union List of Serials. There are 144,500 titles in MULS identifying holdings in more than 200 libraries.
Cooperative Purchasing. MINITEX makes available access to selected library products for which group discounts have been negotiated. Examples vary from barcode labels to IAC full-text document delivery contracts. - State Arts Council
State Library and State Arts Council continued a long-standing program to promote the use of artists in local library programming - Solo Artist in Libraries (SAIL).
The State Librarian and Director of the Arts Council reviewed the 20 Solo Artists in Libraries grant applications. Grants were awarded to nine projects: White Lake/Kimball (a joint project), Whitewood, Bristol, Burke, Deadwood, Parker, Eagle Butte, Lennox, and Sinte Gleska. These grants made it possible for the communities to hire an artist to conduct art activities at the local public library 1/2 day each day for one week during the summer.
The State Library, the South Dakota Humanities Council and the South Dakota Arts Council have collaborated on a very special literature project, Dakota Visions-Reflections on the Land. Three South Dakota authors are featured: Linda Hasselstrom, Dan O'Brien and Arthur Amiotte, each National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship recipients and participants in the Arts Council's Artists-In-Schools program over the years. Each writer has achieved national and international recognition for published work and have brought unique visions of South Dakota to the world.
Dakota Visions brings these authors to four sites throughout the state during the 1998-99 season. Hasselstrom, O'Brien and Amiotte will tour to Aberdeen, Brookings, Rapid City and Yankton, sharing the writings which reflect their commitment to South Dakota and their visions in responding to the landscape of Dakota. Public libraries and arts councils in each of the four sites will sponsor public readings and the authors will be available to interact with young readers on-line at a scheduled time following each residency. - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The Missouri River Project, a cooperative project with DENR designed to collect and organize information about the Missouri River is ongoing. Another project, relative to Boyd County, NE, is also ongoing. - South Dakota Library Network
State Library provided group training in the remote use of SDLN and its interlibrary loan module at several statewide conferences, did training in regional groups and individually.
State Library issued a RFI on behalf of the South Dakota Library Network. Responses were received from ten vendors:Ameritech - Horizon
CARL - CARL
CGI - Amicus
Data Research Associates - Taos
Endeavor - Voyager
Gaylord - Polaris
Geac - ADVANCE
Innovative Interfaces - Innopac
Keystone - KLAS
VTLS - Virtua - South Dakota Literacy Council
The Rural Literacy Resource Center was one of the partners in the successful Family Literacy grant of $195,000. This grant provided computers and Internet access to 24 local literacy councils.
The Literacy Resource Center Mid-West Hub was successful in receiving continued funding for its technology project. This project provides funds for technology training. This training has focused on homepage development, Internet searching and specifically searching LINCS, the Literacy Information and Communication System. - Department of Education and Cultural Affairs
The DECA curriculum Library has been moved to the State Library and is being merged with the existing collections of the State Library. - South Dakota Library Association
State Library and SDLA co-hosted an informational booth and storytelling event at the South Dakota State Fair.
State Library along with other libraries in Pierre hosted the 1998 Annual SDLA Conference.
- The State Library continues its contract with MINITEX for the following library services:
ARSD Chapter 24:30:04 Funding of Public Libraries