Louisiana libraries plan for more training, community outreach

The State Library of Louisiana has released its new five-year strategic plan for statewide services funded by grants from the Library Services and Technology Act, a federal source of revenue for libraries nationwide.

This annual grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, distributed across all 50 states, is allocated on a population basis. It provides approximately $2.4 million for Louisiana public libraries.

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Some key points of the strategic plan include expanding community outreach, bridging the digital divide among people of all socioeconomic levels, training staff and community members on new technology and providing more staff training at libraries across the state.

“This plan supports a vision for the Louisiana public library as a vital, integral and valued anchor in its community, dedicated to social, economic and technological advancement,” the plan reads. “Louisiana public libraries are not warehouses of materials, but places of interest, destinations and places to seek help. To achieve this vision, libraries need to acquire the staff skills, reputation, vision and resources required to contribute to their communities in the 21st century.”

Some community outreach initiatives may include Homework Louisiana for students, the annual Louisiana Book Festival, the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice program, summer reading programs and services for the blind and physically disabled.

The State Library also hopes to develop a statewide early literacy program by 2020.

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According to the plan, the state has a goal of providing regional technology training for public library staff by 2019. In addition, the goal is for 75 percent of public libraries to provide formal technology training for their communities by 2022.

Other plans include more training for library staff. According to the plan, 48 percent of Louisiana public library directors have been in their position less than five years, and many libraries have no trained librarians on staff.

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“The State Library, one of the largest supporters of and participants in the national Library Support Staff Certification Program, intends to provide increased leadership and guidance for new directors and future directors, while continuing to provide high-quality training for front-line library staff, including webinars, staff day conferences and Tech Fest,” state officials said in a news release.

Louisiana has 340 public library buildings, organized into 68 public library systems. The State Library provides leadership and guidance, but does not oversee or govern public libraries.