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SOUTH DAKOTA'S LIBRARIES--
BUILDING TOWARD 2002

A Statewide Plan for the Development of Library and Information Services
1998-2002

Adopted in fulfillment of the requirements of the
LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY ACT
by the South Dakota State Library Board
July 24, 1997

State Library Board Members
Darleen Gage, Chair
Joe Van De Rostyne
Richard Van Beek
Kay Riter
Warren Wilson

TECHNOLOGY RETROSPECTIVE -- BUILDING ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
South Dakota has a long history of multitype library cooperation and use of technology to deliver library services. Since the establishment of the State Library in 1913, the State Library has encouraged libraries of all types to cooperate together. The result is a strong network of public libraries, academic libraries (private and public), special libraries, school libraries and the state library working together to provide interlibrary loan and other direct services throughout the state to smaller libraries and citizens without library service at no charge to the end user. Many communities across the state have overnight delivery of interlibrary loan requests by courier and same day delivery by fax. Library patrons seldom wait more than three (3) days for delivery of an interlibrary loan book if the book is available in state.

The State Library has a long history of encouraging the use of telecommunications equipment to enhance and speed up delivery. As early as the 1960s, the State Library was participating as a member of the Bibliographical Center for Research (BCR) which gave South Dakota's libraries access to the collections of libraries in 11 states and the State Library had a facsimile machine. The facsimile machine wasn't a success because there were too few other libraries to communicate with. South Dakota was 20 years ahead of nationwide use of fax transfer.

By the mid-1970s a TWX system linked the major public libraries and the academic libraries throughout the state. During that same period, the State Library used federal funds to encourage academic and larger public libraries to begin the process of converting their library holdings into machine readable (MARC) catalog records using OCLC. For many years the State Library funded the basic fees for OCLC membership for South Dakota libraries who were willing to participate in building a database of MARC (machine readable) records. During the same time period, South Dakota began contracting with MINITEX, a regional consortium, for interlibrary loan access to the University of Minnesota collections.

During the 1980s the State Library utilized federal funds to support planning meetings for statewide automation and for the hiring of automation consultants to assist in that planning. In 1988, a combination of state and federal funding launched the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN) -- the nation's first statewide multitype automated library network. Today this network has grown from 10 members to 45 full-time and 162 remote dial-access members.

During the 1990's, the South Dakota Library Network has been expanded to include Internet access, full-text magazine databases, databases related to health and business, an on-line index to the state's largest daily newspaper, Books In Print online, and more. Multilevel membership was created in 1997 to allow medium sized libraries an option to join as an associate member.

The 1990's also saw a stronger emphasis being placed on multi-type libraries (combined school and public or school and Native American college) as a library and information service delivery option for communities serving populations of 5,000 or less. During this same time frame, strong emphasis was placed on the value of computer access to the South Dakota Library Network in every community. All LSCA Title II projects included a requirement for either dial access or full time membership.

South Dakota's participation in the Microsoft/PLA project -- Libraries Online! -- moved South Dakota's libraries ahead another technological step and brought Internet access to rural South Dakota. South Dakota was the only state to include multitype Native American college/public libraries and school libraries that functioned as the unofficial local public library.

Looking toward 2000, the basis of a new telecommunications infrastructure for the State of South Dakota was outlined by Governor William J. Janklow and approved by the 1997 State Legislature. As passed, HB1227 states, " It is the intent of the Legislature that South Dakota have a telecommunications infrastructure that meets the advanced communication needs of the state's individual citizens and its communities of interest including our schools, medical facilities, businesses, and all levels of government. To achieve this intent, three networks, accessible by all South Dakotans, will be established: a narrowband network, a wideband network, and a broadband network. Together, these three networks will form South Dakota's Public Communications Network Infrastructure..."

This network plus the South Dakota Library Network will serve as the platform for BUILDING TOWARD STRONGER LIBRARIES IN 2002.

BUILDING TOWARD STRONGER LIBRARIES IN 2002
To determine the future direction for South Dakota's library policy, a series of five (5) focus group discussions were held across the state June 2-6, 1997. The discussion at these meetings was both lively and insightful.

Major themes emerging from the focus discussions include:
  1. Encourage technology in all libraries across the state. By 2002, every library should have internet access and every library should have access to the South Dakota Library Network.
  2. Continue the strong emphasis on interlibrary cooperation and encourage additional cooperation. This cooperation could take the form of multitype local projects and/or a statewide library card.
  3. Develop better library services for children.
  4. Encourage the improvement of information skills at the local level through the provision of more training -- both the intensive two week long Library Training Institute and shorter 4-8 hour courses. Additional training methodologies mentioned involved self-study courses via the Internet, satellite downlink programs, and RDTN two-way interactive programming.
  5. Improved funding support for libraries statewide.
  6. Encourage the continued growth and development of the South Dakota Library Network.
  7. Encourage reading among all age groups.
Statewide there was a concern expressed that the small libraries should have priority because the need was greatest in those communities. Many focus group participants expressed the philosophy that there should be a level information playing field for South Dakota's citizens.

A complete summary of the focus group discussion results are attached in Attachment A.

THE FOUNDATION -- THE BASE ON WHICH WE BUILD
Demographics
South Dakota (the 16th largest state) is a sparsely populated, predominately rural state with a total estimated population of 732,405 (7/1/96 est. Bureau of Census). Across the state the average population density is 9.5 persons per square mile. Almost one-half of the population of the state resides in the eastern tier of counties. Approximately 20 % of the state's population resides in Minnehaha County which is part of the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Area.

South Dakota ranks disproportionately high in the number of aged. Recent census data ranks South Dakota as the state with the 5th highest percent of aged per capita. Several counties have a majority of population aged 55 or older. Many of the aged are also distance disadvantaged and are not located near any established transportation system.

South Dakota has nine (9) recognized tribes -- six of which have formally organized reservations. The first (Shannon), fourth (Todd) and fifth (Buffalo) poorest counties in the nation are found here. Shannon County (Pine Ridge Reservation) has a per capita income of $8,006 ($21,397 less than the per capita income in the most wealthy county in the state). Library resources are as scarce as personal resources. The only public libraries that exist on the reservations are the Dewey County Library (Cheyenne River Reservation), McLaughlin Public Library (Standing Rock Reservation), and the Cozard Memorial Library in Chamberlain which serves the Crow Creek Reservation. Three tribal colleges have been declared public libraries by the tribal councils: Oglala Lakota College (Pine Ridge Reservation), Sinte Gleska College (Rosebud Reservation), and Sisseton Whapeton College (Sisseton Whapeton Tribe). Resource allocation for public library service varies from zero to minimal. Most people living on the reservations have no access to public library service except by mail.

Libraries and Networks in South Dakota
The South Dakota State Library and libraries across the state are committed to providing library and information services that are accessible, economical, and timely. They are committed to providing a full range of informational resources and services at no additional cost to the patron. These services are available to all citizens of the state, including those who are disadvantaged by economics or distance.

The South Dakota State Library is the state's information center facilitating the cost effective collection and efficient delivery of needed information (in usable format), especially focusing on electronic information, to state government, the state's citizens directly or through local public libraries, schools or other educational institutions. (Mission statement)

Serving the people of South Dakota are the following libraries:
  • Public Libraries. 135 public libraries and 22 branch libraries are serving the needs of the citizens of South Dakota. These libraries directly serve approximately 70% of the population of the state. Of these libraries 45% are open less than 20 hours per week and 77.6 % serve populations of less than 5,000 (representing 21.1% of the population served). At the other end of the spectrum, 3% of the libraries serve a total of 33.4% of the population. Fourteen of the public libraries and two tribal college/community libraries are full members of the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN) and 53 are dial access members. Funding for public libraries is either city or county based. The exceptions are: one library that is primarily funded by an endowment plus city funding, one library that is run by a community association (volunteers) and several libraries that the funded by General Federated Women's Clubs.
  • School Libraries. South Dakota has 422 school libraries serving 151,418 students. These schools are administered by 177 public school boards, 19 Bureau of Indian Affairs school boards, and 42 non-public school boards. One public school district is a full member of the South Dakota Library Network and 109 are dial access members.
  • College and University Libraries. The post-secondary libraries have historically been a very important part of meeting the overall library needs for South Dakota's citizens. They have been (and remain) net lenders in the interlibrary loan system, lending books to libraries of all sizes across the state. There are 29 post-secondary libraries in the state: eight are state supported four-year institutions, four are state supported technical institutes, six are Native American colleges, and the remainder are private or church supported. Seventeen are full members of the South Dakota Library Network.>
  • Special Libraries. Special libraries also play an important role in the delivery of library services in South Dakota. Special libraries that participate in the delivery of materials include: EROS Space Data Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base Library, SD State Archives, several hospital libraries, and others. Four (4) are full time members of the South Dakota Library Network.
  • South Dakota Library Network (SDLN). SDLN is a consortium of all types of libraries statewide. It provides library automation services to its member libraries. Through those libraries, SDLN provides easy access for all residents of South Dakota to the information, materials and services. SDLN is committed to encouraging and facilitating resource sharing and cooperative collection development. Currently, SDLN offers the following computer services: online public access catalog, reference databases including periodical indexes and other databases, periodical full text, cataloging, circulation, inter-library loan, serials control, acquisitions, and inventory control. In addition, the SDLN provides electronic links to library systems in Minnesota and North Dakota.On July 22, 1997, the SDLN bibliographic database (on-line catalog) included 3,088,978 records. One of the long range goals of SDLN is to reach into every school, public, academic, and special library and into every state and local government office in South Dakota by the year 2000.
  • Government Documents Depository System. South Dakota has ten (10) selective depository libraries that cooperatively collect the majority of the federal documents that are pertinent to South Dakota. In addition, South Dakota State Library contracts with the University of Minnesota to serve as the regional depository for the entire state of South Dakota.
  • The South Dakota State Library serves as the hub for the state document depository system (SDCL 14-1A). The State Library collects, catalogs, and distributes state publications to eight (8) libraries statewide and to the Library of Congress. These libraries are geographically distributed across the state and have agreed to maintain these documents and to make them available to the public. As a result, any citizen of South Dakota can consult state government documents without traveling great distances.
  • MINITEX. The MINITEX Library Information Network is a program of the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office with the mission of facilitating resource sharing among libraries and reducing the cost of providing access to inforamtion for residents throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. MINITEX has provided services to the libraries of South Dakota through a contractual agreement for nearly 20 years. They provide access to the collections of the Minnesota higher education system for interlibrary loan and, in addition, provide access to database services, OCLC, serials union list maintenance, reference referral, document delivery, training, and an overnight courier service. All of the above, greatly enhance the ability of South Dakota's libraries to meet their patron's information needs.
STATEWIDE SERVICES
The South Dakota State Library has traditionally provided a variety of statewide library and information services. These services have included: library development, interlibrary loan, state documents depository system, and reference. All of these services will continue to be supported under LSTA.
  • Library Development. The Library Development service has included the State Librarian and a variety of library technical experts. Their function has been to provide leadership and guidance for the planning and development of library services on a statewide basis. The State Library was a leader in the development of the statewide interlibrary loan system, the South Dakota Library Network, statewide electronic access to databases, and in statewide continuing education programs. The library technical experts have provided assistance to local libraries in governance, collection development, personnel issues, automation, children's services, etc. as requested. The State Library has adopted as a responsibility assistance to local libraries that want to improve electronic access to information. The Library Development staff also administer grants, collect and disseminate statistical data, and provide advisory services.
  • Interlibrary Loan. The State Library serves as the hub of the statewide interlibrary loan system for all libraries that do not have a professional librarian on staff. They also coordinate all services provided through the MINITEX contract including OCLC access and training, courier service, and interlibrary loan services. This service uses a combination of state and federal funds.
  • State Documents Depository System. This service is funded wholly by state dollars and provides statewide access to state published documents (print, nonprint, and electronic formats). Through the distribution system developed by this service, most South Dakotans are within 100 miles or less of a documents depository library where they can go and use the documents at no charge. This service also provides access to census data through a partnership with the State Data Center.
  • State Reference Service. The South Dakota State Library has provided reference back-up service to all libraries in South Dakota since it was founded in 1913. This service is used by South Dakota's libraries from the largest to the smallest. Staff rely on a combination of in-house collections and electronic resources to answer questions. This staff is also responsible for maintenance of the State Library Home Page and does extensive training on the use of electronic sources including Internet and SDLN.


BUILDING INFORMATION EQUITY
THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARY ON THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
In a document recently adopted by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) Nancy Bolt, State Librarian of Colorado described the library of the near future thus:
"Picture this library. People who come to the library have their questions answered immediately by skilled reference librarians who find a wealth of resources available electronically. Those who want to be taught how to use the information highway are taught these skills in classes at the library. People sit at library computers and browse the WEB (or whatever comes next), searching for their own resources. If they so choose, they can buy an e-mail account at a discount rate from the library."
While this might seem the library of the future, it is in reality the library of today in a few of South Dakota's libraries. This concept of an electronically-connected library is currently beyond what many of South Dakota's school and public libraries can provide, but the technology is all available and in use in some communities. Even the smallest community can provide access to full-text magazine articles, the Internet, and the statewide data bases found on SDLN for a relatively small annual fee.

What will the librarian of the library in 2002 be doing? What will be their major roles? The focus discussion groups that were held across the state identified the same six roles adopted by the Chief Officers (COSLA). Those roles were: Some of these roles will feel comfortable to staff in even the smallest of local libraries, but most of these roles will require significant training/retraining of library staff in order to provide optimum access to information resources. The local school or public library that does not provide access to these resources will become merely a reading room instead of a dynamic resource center that supports the economic and cultural growth of the community.

A summary of the six roles identified above is found in Attachment 2. Please refer to this for an outline of the expectations of the general public and the librarian knowledge and job skills that will be required to meet these roles.

THE ROLE OF FEDERAL SUPPORT
During the five-year period October 1, 1997- September 30, 2002, the South Dakota State Library will focus on three key objectives taken from the Library Services and Technology Act and the related priority areas identified by the statewide focus forums:

Building Towards 2002 -- Attachment A -- Goal 1 -- Goal 2 -- Goal 3