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NMLD > Council > Plan of Service

Plan of Service 2004

Geography and Population

The Northeastern Maine Library District (NMLD) serves the citizens of the seven northern and eastern counties of the state: Aroostook , Hancock, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington . The District is spread over an area of 19,103 square miles with a total population of 397,722 . It is the largest geographically and the third largest in population of the three Maine Regional Library Districts.

The population of the communities with member libraries goes from 50 in Frenchboro to 31,475 in Bangor . The median size of a community in the Northeastern District is in the range from 1,000 to 2,500.

Overview 

Libraries

The Maine Regional Library System was established October 1973. The first Northeastern Maine Library District Council meeting was held February 13, 1974 . The post of District Consultant was held from 1975 to 1976 by Isabel Carroll; from 1978 to 1979 by Benjamin Keating; from 1980 to January 1988 by Karl Beiser, with Benita Davis as acting Consultant from 1986 to 1988; and from 1988 to present by Benita Davis. As of August 2004, 202 libraries and school systems had voluntarily joined the Northeastern Maine Library District and were receiving service benefits through that membership. It is important that the governing body understand that participation with representation in the Council acts to improve services to the people in their communities, be they towns, schools, post-secondary, or special libraries.

Current membership in the N.M.L.D. includes

  • 99 Public Libraries
  • 67 School Systems representing 263 schools
  • 13 Post-secondary
  • 23 Special Libraries

Area Reference and Resource Center

At the first Northeastern Maine Library District Council meeting held February 13, 1974 , the membership voted to accept the Bangor Public Library as the Area Reference and Resource Center (ARRC). As the ARRC for the District, in accordance with P.L. 626, An Act Creating Regional Library System , the Bangor Public Library receives state aid for the purpose of making its resources and services available without charge to all residents in the District...."

Interlibrary Loan 

The primary goal of the statewide interlibrary loan program is to support libraries and insure that the state as a whole has the library resources it needs and that every citizen in Maine can readily locate and obtain any item or piece of information requested. (Revised from Widening the circle: THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE TO STUDY LIBRARY SERVICES IN MAINE . 1971, p.4)

Reference Service/ARRC

Reference and information service provided by the ARRC is another important service of the District. Contact can be made via the fax, telephone, email or toll-free telephone line.

Mission Statement and District Goals

The purpose of the (Maine Regional Library System Districts) is to promote improved service for the constituents of its member libraries.

Goals

  1. Increase public awareness of Maine libraries and their resources
  2. Facilitate professional development for library staff (and trustees)
  3. Encourage resource sharing and regional cooperation
  4. Foster increased opportunities for literacy programs
  5. Expand communication with libraries, library organizations and the public

District Consultant

Goal

The District Consultant shall provide professional library services to the regional library district. The District, in cooperation with the Maine State Library and the District Executive Board/Council, shall provide technical assistance to cooperative interlibrary projects designed to promote equal access to library materials to all Maine people regardless of geographical location. The District Consultant shall maintain ongoing communication with library members.

  1. Serve as a professional consultant to libraries within the district or districts
  2. Study the needs of the district and make recommendations to the district council
  3. Coordinate services among libraries of all types
  4. Provide liaison between the district, other districts and the Maine State Library
  5. Foster opportunities for continuing education, inform district librarians of availability, and encourage them to participate and to attend state and regional workshops and other educational opportunities
  6. Encourage local initiative and commitment to regional cooperative library service (such as cluster groups)
  7. Work with area reference and resource center staff members in planning area reference and interlibrary loan service
  8. Help evolve a district plan of service
  9. Continue to promote and support cooperative purchases among member libraries especially for the purpose of purchasing databases.
  10. Help the District Executive Board/Council develop and refine a five-year district plan of library service in order to meet the intent of the law establishing the regional system.
  11. Maintain a professional collection in the Consultant's office for district libraries and list them on the website.
  12. Facilitate exchange of ideas and skills among libraries and librarians by a variety of methods such as mentoring, one-on-one ex changes, and staff exchange opportunities or other instructive methods as appropriate.
  13. Provide and maintain a portal to current professional information available on the existing NMLD web site.

Discussion

Maintaining communication with district librarians is essential to promoting interlibrary cooperation and meeting the individual needs of all types of libraries. Serving as a liaison between the Executive Board/Council and the Maine State Library ensures smooth and effective cooperation and coordination of the regional library system programs. Planning and assisting with workshops throughout the district encourages librarians to further their professional knowledge and skills. It is essential to work together to offer the most resources to patrons. Cooperation among all libraries and librarians despite type of library and background of librarian's preparation is important to offering the most effective access to resources for patrons.

Interlibrary Loan

Goal: User access to ILL shall be continued, expanded and promoted. A systematic effort shall be made to maintain policy and procedures to keep pace with changing technology.

  1. The District shall have an ILL committee consisting of the district member chairperson, an ARRC representative, the District Consultant, and two representatives from major union catalogs in the district. E.g. (Minerva, URSUS, SOLAR)
  2. This committee shall periodically review and recommend rules and procedures for maximizing use and minimizing abuse of the systems by member libraries.
  3. The ARRC shall be responsible for dissemination of information reflecting any change in ILL policy or procedures starting with the District Consultant.
  4. The ILL committee will work with the Maine State library, The Regional Library system, The Legislature, The Governor's Office and the Maine Library Commission to find funding for the statewide delivery system.

Networking and Technologies

Goal

Statewide library cooperation shall be actively promoted by District libraries, library personnel, and the District Consultant for providing services to meet the needs of everyone in our communities.

  1. The District Executive Board will promote and maximize the use of statewide online databases and other electronic resources.
  2. Keep member libraries informed of technological developments.
  3. Promote effective and compatible communication links among member libraries
  4. Promote and maximize the use of all resources available.
  5. Whenever possible for meetings, use ATM technologies to eliminate geographical barriers.
  6. Encourage a forum for discussion and sharing of resources, cluster groups, (such as Upper Penobscot, Tri-County, Mid-Coast, M.A.S.L. I, Hancock/Washington County, Aroostook County)

Discussion

As the state of Maine continues to make strides in the use of electronic technologies in and between libraries, the District and the District Consultant shall make available to the library community information about these technologies and provide a forum for discussion of the applications and impact of such technologies within the geographical region of the district.

Public Relations/Advocacy

Goal

Public relations endeavors, which describe the needs and services of all types of libraries, shall be continually developed.

  1. As necessary, the Public Relations Committee shall develop programs and printed materials to promote libraries and services offered by district libraries
  2. The District Consultant shall make this information available to libraries.
  3. The PR Committee shall advocate for state funding for appropriate library facilities to provide adequate library services.
  4. The PR Committee shall address emerging issues that impact libraries.

Discussion

Public relation programs are essential for developing awareness and support for library services.

The District Consultant can assist libraries by directing support for needed programs at the district, state, and national levels, by preparing information releases which focus on pertinent topics, by publishing information on the NMLD website, publishing a district newsletter, and/or by examining topics of concern within small area meetings.

The District Consultant and the Public Relations Committee should explore effective methods for helping libraries realize public relations goals. Possible activities may include model informational releases, useful packaged public relations kits, a clearing house of ideas used successfully by participating libraries, a resource bank, and/or a model brochure describing library fundraising strategies.