The 2007 SDLA School Section Goal was to assess the needs of School Libraries in achieving the School Media Voluntary Standards as recently updated and adopted by the South Dakota Board of Education.

The Section posted a request for proposal for the services of a research assistant to analyze data from the South Dakota School Media Libraries 2005 Annual Reports. The assessment was based upon Section Three of the Voluntary Standard Requirements regarding facilities, staffing, collection development and budget. On January 15, 2007, a contract was awarded to Nancy Spoolman to act as research assistant to the work group.

A print document was created consisting of maps, graphs, and tables based on the State Library School Media Annual Report questions:

• Library Collection as reported in question 90 of the state library report
• Periodicals as reported in questions 91 and 92 of the state library report
• Budgeted Books Per Student as reported in question 113 of the state library report
• Audiovisual Budget as reported in question 116 of the state library report
• Computer Software Budget as reported in question 117 of the state library report
• Library Supplies Budget as reported in question 121 of the state library report
• Selection Policy as reported in question 32 of the state library report
• Board Adopted Policy as reported in question 33 of the state library report
• Automated Libraries as reported in question 136 of the state library report
• Library Catalog Home Access as reported in question 139 of the state library report

The information in this document is subject to the interpretation of the questions in the Annual Library Report. For example, discrepancies occur when libraries do not report their Audio Visual Budget separately from their Computer Software Budget. Libraries who reported zero as an answer to any question were counted in the statistics, while libraries leaving a question blank or answering NA were not counted.

The questions in the State Library Annual School Media Reports are not designed to measure compliance with the voluntary standards. However, it is necessary to continue research with survey questions that specifically assess compliance with Section Three Voluntary Standard Requirements. This could be accomplished by adding targeted questions to future annual reports.

The SDLA School Section School Media Voluntary Standards RFP Summary Report is a beginning benchmark to guide the efforts and resources toward meeting the voluntary standards. The following are recommendations to begin the process:

• Resources are designated in the State Library Library Development Program to provide continuing education for school libraries to meet the voluntary standards as identified in the RFP. The State Library is encouraged to collaborate with SDLA as appropriate for offering continuing education sessions.
• Statewide forum discussions are coordinated by the State Library to address questions as noted in this report to update data of the status of school libraries to meet the voluntary standards.
• The State Library Annual Report is updated to collect data related to school libraries meeting the voluntary standards.
• Establish data gathering and publish annually for distribution the status of school libraries meeting the voluntary standards by the State Library.

Targeted continuing education needs related to meeting voluntary standards:

• Collection Development : weeding / selection
• Equipment : what are the current needs to keep up with changing technology
• Periodicals : Subsidize your collection with online resources / Sign your students up for public library cards to increase access

Statewide forum discussions:

• What do libraries need in their supplies? Is it possible to share through a co-op? 72% of reporting libraries show a supplies budget that is at risk.
• The study shows the size of library collections, but what about currency? Are libraries neglecting weeding if their budgets are low? 78% of reporting libraries have exemplary collections, but only 29% show exemplary budgets for books.
• 94% of reporting libraries have a selection policy, but what is the currency of the policy?
• 88% of reporting libraries have automated catalogs, but only 29% allow home access. How do we get more students to acquire public library cards? How do we get libraries to share their records?
• Audio Visual budgets and Software budgets reported showed 91% at risk and 93% at risk. Do libraries need to adjust their budgets to allow for new and improved technology?