New Guidelines for Accreditation

The new Nebraska Guidelines for Public Library Accreditation will be used for the first time for 2013 accreditation/reaccreditation. That process will begin in July when letters are sent to the 51 public libraries up for reaccreditation and to libraries that have not been previously accredited. Completed Accreditation Applications will be due in October. The Guidelines have many new features. • Accreditation and levels of accreditation are based on a point system. Instead of having to meet each requirement in a list, a library simply needs to accrue points. A total of 275 points may be earned. • Instead of Essential, Enhanced, and Excellent levels, the three levels of accreditation are Bronze (175 points), Silver (200 points), and Gold (250 points). • The new guidelines are community-based, so that each library determines its own priorities based on community needs. This requires each library to have or to create a strategic plan that addresses the unique needs of its community. A separate set of planning templates and guides has been developed to aid libraries in planning, if they wish to use them. • Statistics that have been reported by the library in the Public Library Statistical Report will be automatically filled in on the online accreditation application form, so the library will not have to double-report statistical measures. Each library will have a password to access its own application form. • Peer comparisons will be used for nine of the guidelines. Each library will be compared with libraries of similar size rather than being slotted into a predetermined population group as in past guidelines. • A library seeking accreditation for the first time or one that is up for reaccreditation in 2013 will first need to meet the 12 minimum qualifications before it can seek accreditation. These include: having a governing or advisory library board, a certified board, certified library director, local funding; annually submitting statistics to the Commission; active use of an e-mail address by the library director; and presenting an annual report to the local governing body. • The guidelines are organized into five categories: o Governance/Planning; o Resources; o Services; o Cooperation/Collaboration; and o Communications. A group of eleven librarians worked for more than two years to revamp the guidelines. The group was co-chaired by Stan Schulz from York and Joan Birnie from Broken Bow. The text of the guidelines is now available on the Nebraska Library Commission Website. The interactive accreditation application—available in July–will include text prepopulated with statistics unique to each library applying. It will have “radio buttons” for those questions requiring a “yes” or “no” answer; it will have space for notes where required; and it will require a library to list which part of its strategic plan relates to each guideline listed. For questions, contact Richard Miller at 800.307.2665, or richard.miller@nebraska.gov