Welcome to the South Dakota library world! Public and school libraries are wonderful places to work--full of fun and fascinating information. They can also be confusing sometimes, especially when you are a new librarian. The South Dakota State Library wants to help you navigate this new world so we've gathered some information that will help guide you. If there is anything else we can do to help you in your new position, please let us know.
Click on the different tabs to find out what the state library provides for you as you begin your new position.
This free service is for South Dakota residents of all ages who are unable to read standard print materials due to visual, physical, or learning disabilities. Braille & Talking Book program provides recorded, braille, large-print, and descriptive videos.
Is your library a school/public combo library or are you considering such a collaboration?
Review the information provided at the bottom of the Library Board/Trustee Page http://libguides.library.sd.gov/c.php?g=667085&p=4780078 to learn more about combo libraries and how they operate.
State library staff provides consultation and assistance to libraries in many areas including administration, trustees, grants, standards, and statistics. See the Library Outreach/ LSTA page and the School Libraries page for more details.
As a new library director, you should be familiar with SD Codified Law as it relates to libraries.
South Dakota Codified Law governing public libraries is found at:
http://www.sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=14-2
South Dakota Codified Law dealing with public meetings, which include public library board meetings and public libraries is found at:
http://www.sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=1-25
See specifically:
To help you keep up with the ever-changing library world, the State Library provides continuing education opportunities in a variety of formats including in-person workshops, online webinars and teleconferences, and online tutorials. Review the Continuing Education page for upcoming and archived opportunties.
Many electronic resources are provided by the state library including subjects such as genealogy, business, health, and medicine. State library staff also provide training, troubleshooting, and assistance for these electronic resources.
The state library provides electronic access to many state publications through our digital services program. See more about this program under the State & Federal Government Publications LibGuide http://libguides.library.sd.gov/c.php?g=667085&p=4780085 See specifically "Online SD State Government Publications".
Disc Repair Service
The South Dakota State Library is offering a Disc Repair Service to libraries.
Libraries can send up to 50 damaged DVDs/CDs at a time to the State Library for repair. The library must be able to pick-up the items at the State Library or arrange for delivery through the courier or some other means. The library sending the material to the state library is responsible for all delivery costs. For more information, visit http://library.sd.gov/ACS/TECH/discrepair.aspx
Signing up for listservs helps you keep in touch with what's going on in other libraries around the state. The state library has many lists that you can join to keep up with news and continuing education opportunities in SD libraries. In addition, you can post messages to the lists if you ever needed guidance from library colleagues around the state. SDSL also uses these lists to make important announcements. Sign up here http://library.sd.gov/LIB/DEV/listserv.aspx
The state library also publishes the Cornerstone e-newsletter 10 times a year.
Are you on social media? If so, also find the SD State Library on the following sites:
State library research staff are available to help your library staff find the answers to questions that require extensive research or even the use of resources that your library may not otherwise have access to. Please call the state library at 1-800-423-6665 or use form to request help with a research question. http://library.sd.gov/forms/request/index.aspx
Each library in SD is assigned a library card number that can be used to order items through SD Share-It if you are not a participating library. If you don't know your library card number, call the state library. For all information on interlibrary loan services at the state library, visit http://libguides.library.sd.gov/services/ILL
The South Dakota Department of Education, in partnership with MetaMetrics®, coordinates a year round reading initiative to bolster student reading achievement. Read! SD provides access to a variety of free resources for parents, teachers and librarians to support reading. Explore Find a Book South Dakota and follow Read! SD on Facebook for the latest news.
It is important to be involved in state and regional library associations. Library conferences provide excellent training opportunities and making connections with other librarians through these associations is invaluable. Linked below are some state and regional associations to check out.
South Dakota Library Association
SDLA is a statewide organization representing libraries, library employees, library trustees, and library supporters. SDLA provides leadership and educational opportunities and supports its members in the meeting the challenges of providing quality library service to all South Dakotans. Visit http://www.sdlibraryassociation.org/ for more information.
Mountain Plains Library Association
The Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA) is a twelve state association of librarians, library paraprofessionals and friends of libraries in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Its purpose is to promote the development of librarians and libraries by providing significant educational and networking opportunities. Visit http://mpla.us/ for more information.
Association for Rural and Small Libraries
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries, Inc. is a network of persons throughout the country dedicated to the positive growth and development of libraries. ARSL believes in the value of rural and small libraries and strives to create resources and services that address national, state, and local priorities for libraries situated in rural communities. Visit http://arsl.info/ for more information.
American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world. Founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the mission of ALA is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” Visit http://www.ala.org/ for more information.
Contact any senior librarian at the SD State Library for assistance!
Library Outreach
1-605-773-3131 or 1-800-423-6665, Option 5
Kathleen Slocum, Continuing Education Coordinator, Kathleen.Slocum@state.sd.us
605-773-8438
Brenda Hemmelman, Collection Services Librarian, Brenda.Hemmelman@state.sd.us
605-773-5075
Nina Mentzel, Metadata Librarian, Nina.Mentzel@state.sd.us
605-280-6911
Shawn Behrends, State Data Coordinator, Shawn.Behrends@state.sd.us
605-280-5834
Alissa Adams, School Library Technology Coordinator, Alissa.Adams@state.sd.us
605-295-3152
David Bradford, Digital Resources Coordinator, David.Bradford@state.sd.us
605-295-3174
Laura Kelly, Children and Youth Services Coordinator, Laura.Kelly@state.sd.us
605-773-5066