2 minute read
Public Library Institute Held in Madison
The South Dakota State Library put on the 27th Public Library Institute May 31 – June 5, 2015 for rural library directors and staff who have no training or education in 21st century librarianship. This weeklong institute was held in Madison at Dakota State University. Four years leads to a certificate in Public Library management. With winter online courses, students accrue approximately 18 to 20 college credit hours. For some students this is their only experience with taking college courses or being in a college classroom. Credit hours are paid for with federal LSTA funds. In fact almost all of the Institute’s costs are paid for with federal funds. Mileage and individual room and board are usually paid for by the sponsoring community.
Once they start, Institute or another accredited college program if they so choose, their local public libraries are eligible to apply for state library accreditation. It is a voluntary program. All librarians who are certified are recognized every fall at the annual state SDLA conference. When they apply for SD Library accreditation local libraries along with their town and area legislators are recognized every January in the Rotunda during Legislative Day.
Advertisement
This year two distinguished library educators from Iowa and Nebraska taught the 30 eager students. (With a 20% to 25% annual statewide turn-over there always seems to be a large group of city councils and mayors eager to send their new hires!) The State Library staff also filled in with sessions that relate to governance, boards, budgets, statistics and general library administration which is the module this year. Subsequent years focus on Reference/Research skills and collection development, Youth Services and Children’s Services.
Hats off to Kathleen Slocum, the CE Coordinator, who orchestrates this annual training institute and who makes all things run smoothly…and with a smile the entire week! Classes begin to fill up immediately following the end of the Institute. There is a limit of 40 students per year. The students eat well, have comfy beds and usually have private rooms. There are lots of laughs and fun while learning thanks to Kathleen, the guest instructors and the rest of the SDSL staff who participate. Fridays are test time, then graduation and finally sad fair wells to new found friends and colleagues. We often hear students say it was one of the best weeks of their lives and local leaders, though they are often hesitant to “lose” their librarian for a week, agree it is an investment well worth making. Contact Kathleen for details on the Institute at 800-4236665 or at Kathleen.Slocum@state.sd.us.
