South Dakota State Library Study and Transition Plan

Chronology -- Get the Facts -- SDSL Transition Plan
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South Dakota State Library Transition Project Strategic Plan Schedule

The South Dakota State Library has begun a major transformation designed to enhance its support for libraries and improve its service to state employees. While this transformation is consistent with the Library's historic mission and statutory mandates, it is also designed to meet the state's needs for 21st century library services.

The current restructuring began a year ago when the Department of Education and the State Library Board asked Dr. Mary Bushing to evaluate the State Library's mission and operations. Bushing's report, accepted by the State Library Board in July, recommended that the State Library phase out its "public library" or "retail" operations and become a "library for libraries" instead.

Since July, the staff has begun to implement plans for an 80 percent reduction in the permanent collection of the State Library. Materials from the collection are being distributed to other libraries throughout the state and will remain accessible to all South Dakotans through the interlibrary loan system. As part of this transition, the staff is working with local libraries to ensure that patron needs continue to be met.

At the same time, the State Library Board and the staff have begun work on a new strategic plan focused on providing 21st century services to South Dakota's school, public, and academic libraries. Enhanced training services will ensure that librarians throughout the state are ready to navigate the ocean of information resources available to state employees and citizens. Instead of purchasing books that duplicate the collections of other libraries in the state, the SDSL will devote a growing percentage of its resources to online information sources that give all South Dakotans anytime, anywhere access to the information they need for economic, social and cultural development.

The new strategic plan is expected to be complete by March 15, 2007. Attached is an overview of the timeline for the strategic planning process.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY - STRATEGIC PLANNING TIMELINE
Events & Tasks Stakeholders Dates
1. Provide Governor Rounds information that describes the actions of the organizations involved in the State Library Transition Process. SLB January 22, 2007
2. Create draft strategic plan.
  • Revisit the existing mission and discuss changes that reflect services to state government.
    • Current mission statement:
      The South Dakota State Library provides leadership for innovation and excellence in libraries.
    • Proposed revised statement:
      The South Dakota State Library provides leadership for innovation and excellence in libraries and state government.
  • Create vision statements that promote innovation and excellence in service to libraries and state government.
  • Create goals and objectives that are attainable and measurable.
  • Identify expected outcomes.
 SLB
SL
MT		 January 24, 2007
January 25, 2007
3. Meet with South Dakota library community stakeholders to:
  • Solicit comment on the draft strategic plan; and
  • Develop a statement that articulates a shared vision of the future for libraries and library services in South Dakota.
 SLB
SL
MT
DOE		 February 14, 2007
4. Prepare final draft of Strategic Plan:
  • Incorporate comments from stakeholders.
 MT February 28, 2007
5. Adopt Strategic Plan. SLB March 9, 2007
6. Deliver Strategic Plan to Dr. Melmer, Secretary, Department of Education. SLB March 15, 2007
7. Determine work plan to accomplish Strategic Plan goals including resource requirements for personnel and facilities to D. Melmer and SLB. MT April 1, 2007
8. Design and implement communication and public relation plans. SLB
SL
MT
DOE		 On going
Key:
Department of Education (DOE)
South Dakota State Library Board (SLB)
South Dakota State Librarian (SL)
SDSL Management Team (MT)
South Dakota Library Association (SDLA)
South Dakota Library Network (SDLN)
Chronology -- Get the Facts -- SDSL Transition Plan