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Home > For Libraries > Archives > LSTA Survey for Five Year LSTA Plan Evaluation

LSTA Survey for Evaluation of Maine State Library's Five Year LSTA Plan, 1997 - 2002

Where We've Been . . . Where We're Going

Library Development Solutions, a Princeton, NJ based library consulting firm, has been contracted by the Maine State Library to evaluate the impact of LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funding on the state's libraries during the last 5 years.

This survey is part of a project to gather data about Maine 's LSTA program. We would greatly appreciate your cooperation in completing and returning the survey promptly. Your feedback will help the Maine State Library in telling the LSTA "story" to federal legislators now considering reauthorization of this important legislation and will also help in developing the next Maine LSTA five-year plan.

Maine uses LSTA funding in the following ways:

  • Statewide Library Development Services - Encouraging and assisting in the development and improvement of local library services through research, planning, training and consultation, as well as staff and trustee training and development through CE workshops and courses. Many of the following information access and resource sharing projects are part of Library Development efforts.
  • Information Access- Targeting library and information services to individuals with disabilities and persons having difficulty using a library, including rural populations not having access to a local library. This includes the Talking Book program through Maine 's Regional Library Services to the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Large Print Services and the Books-by-Mail program for the more than 200,000 Maine residents who live in areas without a public library or one that is open les than 15 hours per week.
  • Resource Sharing and Electronic Linkages - Establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries - including the online Holdings Database, MINERVA, the integrated automated library system and the Maine InfoNet state wide library catalog and providing interlibrary loans statewide.

Survey

First, tell us about you and your library:

Library Name:

Library Address:

Library Contact Person Completing Survey, include name and position/title:

Phone: E-mail:

Now, we need your opinion about LSTA funded projects.

In the last 5 years LSTA has funded a number of statewide projects designed to improve access to print, electronic and non-print library resources, encourage greater resource sharing among all types of libraries, and develop new skills for librarians. Some of the specific projects are listed below. Please indicate next to each project its value to you and the people who use your libraries or your community by circling the number: 1 indicates "low value".

Regional Library System: District consultants, technology consults (e-rate, InfoNet), training, planning, and continuing education.

Provides support for local library development through consulting services, statewide planning, continuing education and training opportunities for librarians, library assistants, trustees, staff, library administration and management training.

1 2 3 4 5

Interlibrary Loan : Provides interlibrary loans for CMLD as well as statewide. Provides grants to ARRCS (area reference and resource centers) for support of NELINET use.

1 2 3 4 5

 

InfoNet Statewide Library Catalog

Statewide database combining current holdings and real time information from URSUS, MINERVA, the Holdings Database, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Portland PL, University of NE, Maine Maritime Academy and Maine College of Art.

1 2 3 4 5

 

Talking Books, Large Print Books and Books-by-Mail (LBPH services)

Supports staff and materials for the Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the LP Books and Books-by-mail programs. Includes summer reading programs for children through these services.

1 2 3 4 5

 

Please share your opinion about how library service in Maine has improved in the last five years from LSTA funds invested in statewide projects.

Benefit Least-- Most
  1 2 3 4 5
Increased resource sharing          
Improved Inter Library Loan          
Improved family literacy          
Improved public awareness of libraries          
More continuing education materials and opportunities          
Increased electronic resources          
Improved cooperation between schools and public libraries          
Increased sharing of expertise among library staff          
Increased and improved CE workshops          

 

Open Ended Questions

  1. How has your community/library benefited from these projects?
  2. How has LSTA funding helped you in meeting local needs for service? Would you have been able to meet these needs without LSTA funding for the projects mentioned above?

Where We're Going

What ideas can you offer about Maine 's use of LSTA funding during the next five-year period? Please keep in mind that LSTA funds can only be used for projects meeting federal eligibility requirements. Please keep LSTA's priorities in mind:.

  • Establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries
  • Linking libraries electronically with educational, social or information services
  • Assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks
  • Encouraging libraries in different areas, and encouraging different types of libraries to establish consortia and share resources
  • Paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies; and
  • Targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.

Please return your completed survey by March 8 to

Library Development Solutions

64 Princeton Hightstown Road, Suite 106

Princeton Junction , NJ 08550

Or fax to 609-275-4784 or e-mail to lburger@librarydevelopment.com