Montana State Library

Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2007

Table of Contents

State Librarian’s Office
Darlene Staffeldt, State Librarian
Kris Schmitz, Central Services

Montana State Library Commission
Donald Allen, Chair   
Bonnie Allen
Cheri Bergeron, Alternate for Supt. of Public Instruction
Cindy Carrywater
Marsha Hinch
Linda McCulloch, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ron Moody
Nora Smith

Statewide Library Resources
Bob Cooper

Montana Talking Book Library
Christie Briggs

Montana State Digital Library
Jim Hill

Montana State Library
1515 East Sixth Avenue
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT  59620-1800
phone:                                (406) 444-3115
toll free in MT:(800) 338-5087
TDD: (406) 444-3005
fax: (406) 444-0266
http://msl.mt.gov
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MSL Home > About MSL > Annual report > 2007 > FY07 Annual Report

2007 Annual Report

Montana State Library Values

MSL believes that:

• Quality information leads to quality decisions.
  
• Knowledge is a critical resource for the future economic development of Montana and Montanans.
  
• Information produced by government should be easily accessible, widely distributed, and free to citizens.
  
• Montanans need and value convenient access to quality information resources.
  
• Responsive to patrons’ needs, the State Library adds value to data and information by integrating it with other data and information.
  
• Citizens must be able to privately seek information without fear of scrutiny.
  
• Libraries play a vital role in providing Montana with access to knowledge and new information.
  
• Libraries are critical for the just, efficient, and effective collection, management, and distribution of quality information in a digital age, and vital in a democracy founded on the principle of an educated and inquisitive citizenry.
  
• Information about natural resources, the land which is central to quality of life and economy, is especially critical to Montana citizens and government.

Your Montana Library: The Compass That Guides

Montana State Library Commission

As a publicly funded institution, the Montana State Library has, and takes seriously, a commitment to use knowledge in the service of the public good. Current technology pushes us in the direction of more collaborative ways of creating knowledge and more cooperative ways of sharing it, within state government and across broader communities. The Montana State Library is a leader in this movement, exploiting new technologies to enhance access, engage the community, and foster collaboration.

For research libraries, the future is always upon us. The Montana State Library is charged with providing ongoing services and building on traditional strengths while, with high levels of forethought and imagination, laying the foundations for the library of the future. Today, the stewardship of the State Library’s traditional library resources is counterbalanced by the presence of vast numbers of digital objects that our libraries, first, must acquire, license, generate, or authenticate; second, must deliver to users; and third, must preserve for future generations.

Along with our sister institutions and libraries around the world, the Montana State Library faces a grand challenge. Grand challenges are audacious goals, so ambitious that they are only accomplished through the efforts of coordinated teams, not through the work of an individual person or institution. Grand challenges seek to raise the level of knowledge to a new understanding, with the result that new knowledge is transformative.

With the explosion of knowledge in both traditional and digital forms, the Montana State Library’s professional librarians have developed increasingly dynamic relationships with our wide range of patrons – from state agencies to each of Montana’s libraries. In a world where everyone begins their work by searching Google and often prefers the convenience of accessing information online from their home or office, the library as place is taking a different shape. There is no question: libraries are changing rapidly to meet the needs of users. The Montana State Library is a leader in embracing change to face the future.

The future is taking shape now. Our repository has already been transformed into a dynamic center for the delivery of information. In part, the library of the future will exist on the desktop of each individual user. In some form, the Montana State Library will exist in an oil field in Richland County, as surely as it will exist here in Helena. The future will be secured by the careful work that we at the State Library can accomplish today.

Don Allen
Montana State Library Commission Chair

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Serving Our Communities

The Montana State Library has one foot in the past and one foot in the future. We straddle the present.

Our past is preserved in the papers of former Governor Tim Babcock, the notes from the drafting of our state constitution, and the grim photos of the Montana vigilantes. Our future is evident in the digital resources that dominate today’s information landscape, from Web page archives to podcasts of legislative sessions. New formats and digital collections emerge with startling frequency.

Generations of individual consumers can move from one medium to the next without giving too much thought to what is left behind. It is not necessary for most people to maintain a foothold in the past. To understand this, talk with a teenager who might not even own a CD. All of the teen’s music is safely preserved on his iPod or laptop.

But what happens in a state library when formats change? The library must adjust to those changes while maintaining access to all the information that was created in another form. One foot in the past, one foot in the future. Words have migrated from the page to the computer screen, sound has migrated from cylinder recordings to MP3s, photographs have migrated from glass-plate negatives to JPEG files. The challenge confronting libraries is how to maintain access to content in many different formats.

Collectively with other libraries, museums, presses, and cultural institutions, the grand challenge that the Montana State Library faces is nothing less than to transform the whole of recorded human knowledge into digital forms; to build the infrastructure to support the ability to transmit materials not just around Montana, but around the world; to facilitate the free flow of information; to save the world’s accumulated knowledge and cultural riches for future generations; and to cultivate individuals with the skills to achieve those goals.

Those are indeed ambitious goals. To achieve them takes vision, wonderful collections, extraordinary people, cutting-edge technology, and resources. The Montana State Library will strive to advance, because the Library is so critical to the success of state employees, Montana’s libraries, and indeed all Montanans.

The Montana State Library believes that libraries are critical for the just, efficient, and effective collection, management, and distribution of quality information in a digital age, and vital in a democracy founded on the principle of an educated and inquisitive citizenry. With one foot in the past and one in the future, we move forward.

Darlene Staffeldt
Montana State Librarian

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Statewide Library Resources

http://www.msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/default.asp

Statewide Library Resources (SLR) are at the heart of excellent library services across Montana. SLR staff provides leadership and guidance related to library programs, services, and facilities. A professional staff plans, develops, and implements programs and administers funds for new and improved library services throughout the state.

SLR works as a partner with Montana libraries to ensure that Montana library users get the best materials and services available. By focusing efforts in the above areas of concentration, SLR staff help libraries plan and develop quality local services and stellar collections that result in Montana libraries becoming vital components in their local communities.

In Fiscal Year 2007, Statewide Library Resources (SLR) accomplished the following highlights:

Collaboration

• Launched the Montana component of the Gates Foundation’s Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant (PAC-HUG) program. Agreements were mailed to 109 public and branch libraries that will receive grant funds.
• Contracted with Thomson Gale Publishing to provide a core collection of subscription magazine databases (InfoTrac) for all Montana libraries for 2007- 2009 and renewed the EBSCO Auto Repair Reference Center database for 2007-2009. The cost of both of these statewide subscriptions is covered by a legislative allocation, making these services available to libraries free of charge for the next two years.
• Continued emphasis on library planning. Facilitated Library Planning Workshops in Petroleum County and Drummond. Worked with Parmly Billings Library Director and facilitators to develop planning process to meet their needs.
  
• Launched Montana’s participation in the Gates Foundation’s Rural Libraries Sustainability Grant program.
  
• Hosted the first ever statewide meeting of Montana’s school/public libraries. Representatives from nine different school/public combination libraries attended.
  
• Distributed the 2007 summer reading program manuals to public libraries and branches. The theme is “Get a Clue @ Your Library.”
  
• Launched the new online Montana Library Event Calendar.

Innovation

• Hired a statewide projects librarian, Sarah McHugh, to lead the state’s libraries toward innovative library service solutions.
  
• Developed prototype for training resources Wiki.

Training

• Conducted the Fall Workshop in Lewistown in September. 107 people attended including 67 public library staff, 18 trustees, 8 school librarians, five combined school/public librarians, four academic librarians, three special librarians and one school librarian and public library trustee, and one other. Forty public library directors and trustees attended the “Keeping Patrons Well Connected” workshop that was funded by the Gates Foundation’s Rural Library Sustainability grant.

  Hands on training is just one of the many services Statewide Library Resources provides to the Montana library community.

• Conducted Trustee Workshops in Missoula and Billings. A total of 65 people from 27 different libraries attended including 18 public library directors, 40 trustees, three foundation members, two Friends members, and two other. The topic was fundraising essentials.
  
• Conducted the 2007 Summer Institute for Library Leadership; the event was attended by 34 library directors, 13 trustees, two branch managers, three library staff members, MLA’s executive director, and five MSL staff members. Representatives from nine different school/public combination libraries attended.
  Recruited, screened, and selected six new volunteer trainers for the Library Board Education Program (LBEP). Arranged for the LBEP Trainer Institute (August 4-5) for the volunteer trustee trainers.
  
• Continued monitoring 2004 and 2005 scholarship awards available through the Professional Education and Employment for Librarians (PEEL I) project. Two of the original five scholarship recipients have now graduated with a Masters of Library and Information Science degree. Finalized PEEL stipend agreement with Helena Public Schools The stipend position has been announced/advertised. A new professional librarian position will result.
  
• Finalized revision of the Montana Public Library Trustee Handbook and the Handbook for New Library Directors. Copies were distributed to public libraries.
  
• Developed disaster planning outline and sample plan materials to assist libraries in meeting Montana Public Library Standards for disaster planning.

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Montana Shared Catalog

http://www.msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/Montana_Shared_Catalog/default.asp

The Montana Shared Catalog (MSC) helps Montana libraries meet today’s library users’ demands. It gives Montanans a rich and easy-to-use catalog of library resources available anyplace and anytime. The Montana Shared Catalog is comprised of all kinds of libraries – big and small, from public to school to special and academic, from east to west and north to south – with more libraries joining every year.

In Fiscal Year 2007, the Montana Shared Catalog (MSC) accomplished the following highlights:

• Launched the MSL/OCLC Content Cooperative Pilot Project. This OCLC pilot is testing the use of the OCLC Connexion interface as a digital collection management tool. Coordinated OCLC-led training on the Connexion Browser and the Digital Archives for the 13 Montana libraries selected to participate in this pilot.
  
• Launched the OCLC/Montana NCIP/Home Delivery pilot with ten MSC libraries and two HiLine libraries. Ten pilot participants were trained in NCIP/Home Delivery System reports and procedures, mailing equipment, and the WorldCat Resource Sharing System.
  
• Created and delivered RSS feeds for all MSC libraries, linking MSC patrons with the latest additions to their library’s collections.
• Added six libraries to the MSC including Roosevelt County Library, Poplar Branch Library, Froid Branch Library, Culbertson Branch Library, Missoula International School Library, and Alberton School Library, bringing the total of MSC libraries to 78 in 56 Montana communities.
  

  School librarian Linda Gardner congratulates the first student to check out a book through the newly activated Montana Shared Catalog system at Alberton School Library.

  
  
• Continued to facilitate and grow “user-sharing” groups, which facilitate sharing of collections to increase access of materials to patrons. To that end, created new MSC user sharing group, which is called MSC 4-Rivers. It is composed of the public libraries in Ennis, Sheridan, Three Forks, Twin Bridges, Virginia City, and Whitehall. These libraries allow users to check out and return material at any library in the group. Users directly request items via a place hold option. Three Forks also participates in the BridgerNet MSC group and Whitehall participates in the Jefferson County library group within the MSC.
  
• Began investigating downloadable audio collections, working with MSC and non-MSC libraries to determine and evaluate options.
  
• Began providing a Mac client and MSC support to MSC libraries using Mac computers.

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Natural Resource Information System

http://nris.mt.gov/

The Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) is Montana’s source for natural resource information. The goal of NRIS is to make information on Montana’s natural resources readily available and easily accessible.

NRIS works to record, acquire, store, and disseminate natural resource data. Through federal and state interagency data coordination and partnerships and cutting-edge programming, NRIS develops and maintains a vast collection of Montana’s geographically referenced natural resource data.

In Fiscal Year 2007, the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) accomplished the following highlights:

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Natural Heritage Program

http://nhp.nris.mt.gov/

Web resources include:

• Montana Field Guide – an online encyclopedia of Montana’s animals and plants, with images, descriptions, and sounds;
• Natural Heritage Tracker – powerful mapping tools to track animal and plant distributions throughout Montana;
• Land stewardship maps that show public and conservation lands;
• Access to NatureServe Explorer – with information on species and habitats for all of North America;
• Publications - over 100 survey, species and ecology reports.
• Other services:
  -Expert scientists to ensure accuracy of information;
  -Quick, friendly responses to data requests and user support.
  

Made New and Improved Data Available to Users

• Added over 10,000 new Species Occurrence Records (animals and plants) and updated another 4000 animal and 1500 plant records to the NHP databases. 
• Completely updated statewide distribution data for 130 animal Species of Concern.
• Reviewed and updated map precision for half of all plant Species of Concern records in the MTNHP databases.
• Added over 250,000 bird observation records collected by the University of Montana Avian Science Center.
• Launched the Natural Heritage Tracker website, a state-of-the art map-based tool that provides users with fast desktop access to more than half-a-million animal observation records in the NHP’s databases.  Tracker also enables members of the public to submit and track their own observations of Montana wildlife.

Began Vegetation Mapping Initiatives

• Established Wetland & Riparian Mapping Center, and began systematic mapping of wetland and riparian habitats, with initial focus on the Bitterroot Valley, Flathead Valley, Upper Clark Fork basin and southwest Montana. 
• Assumed leadership of the Land Cover I-Team and worked with I-Team members to develop a proposal for ongoing coordination of statewide land cover/land use mapping under the Montana Land Information Act.

Conducted Surveys to Fill Major Data Gaps

• Continued statewide amphibian inventory program and led a survey for Idaho Giant Salamanders which had only one recently confirmed sighting in Montana; NHP surveys found them thriving in 15 different streams in Mineral County.
• Conducted surveys for terrestrial mollusks, focusing on National Forest land, finding 192 new locations for 13 Montana Species of Concern. This new information led to down-ranking of five species, including the Pale Jumping-slug and Fir Pinwheel snail, which are no longer considered at risk. Another species, the Smoky Taildropper, which had been known from only one location in Montana, was found at 30 new sites in the state. 
• With USFS support, we are participating in baseline surveys of bats and evaluating detection probabilities to determine sampling regime and sample sizes needed to detect changes in population status.

Revised Status Ranks and State Species of Concern Reports

• Produced and updated report on Animal Species of Concern in Montana, a joint publication with the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The  also report tallied species by habitat type, showing which habitats support the greatest numbers Species of Concern to help resource managers in setting priorities. 
• The July 2006 Animal Species of Concern (SOC) report included 23 invertebrate species newly ranked for Montana, as well as four vertebrate species with upgraded ranks. 
• Reviewed and updated Montana status ranks for over 100 Plant Species of Concern and Potential Species of Concern, based on new information.  Added State ranks for over 800 vascular plant species not previously ranked. 
• Worked with the Montana Native Plant Society to create an advisory committee to better assess threats (or lack of threat) to plant Species of Concern. 

Land Stewardship Maps

• Contributed to the legislative Audit Division’s performance audit on conservation easements.  The final report praised NHP for having documented conservation easements in Montana as a valuable public service, as well as for the quality and completeness of our conservation easement information, which was identified as the best in the nation.
• Produced updated statewide public and conservation lands maps at the 1:100,000 scale and published them on the web as PDFs, viewable at:  http://nris.mt.gov/gis/ownmaps.asp
• Added Land Stewardship Mapping information to the MTNHP web site, viewable at http://mtnhp.org/STEW.ASP

Information Requests

• Responded to over 1,200 requests, representing a 10% increase over FY06.
• Conducted over 1000 database searches for Species of Concern, representing a 10% increase over FY06.
• Filled over 110 requests for digital data, representing a 10% increase over FY06.

Produced New Publications

• Published 11 reports (in print and electronic format) summarizing the results of field survey projects.
• Added full-text electronic versions of over 50 historical NHP reports to the website, making more than 180 full-text NHP publications available through our website. 

Provided Training

• Conducted full-day trainings in MTNHP data usage for four BLM offices, and for Ravalli and Missoula County planning and weed management office. 
• Provided training for Department of Agriculture weed grant applicants.
• Provided training to staff of the Montana Department of Transportation, and met with them to explore new methods for supplying the information that they need to manage Montana’s highway system..

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Library Information Services

http://www.msl.mt.gov/For_the_Public/default.asp

In Fiscal Year 2007, Library Information Services (LIS) accomplished the following highlights:

• Worked to pass HB132, which modernizes Montana’s state depository library program and updates the definition of a state publication for the first time in 40 years.
  
• Added 1,200 electronic books to our holdings from the Montana Shared Catalog eContent Collection (OCLC NetLibrary).
  Created and promoted RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds to keep patrons better informed about new publications added to the collection.
  
• Constructed an FTP site that allows state employees to electronically deposit born digital state publications in the State Publications Center.
  
• Produced an FTP site so depository libraries could download catalog records for state publications for their own OPACs.
  
• Observed a remarkable increase in the use of digital state publications, which averages over 1,000 hits monthly. 

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Talking Book Library

http://www.msl.mt.gov/talking_book_library/default.asp

The Montana Talking Book Library Project ensures that all qualified Montana residents who, because of a disability are not able to use standard print resources, have free and easy access to reading materials. This service is provided for those Montanans who are blind, low-vision, or have physical or reading disabilities.

In Fiscal Year 2007, the Talking Book Library (TBL) accomplished the following highlights:

• Partnered with Low Vision Montana and the Lions Clubs of Montana to bring library information to a greater number of Montana citizens.
  
• Doubled the amount of magazine issues being circulated to patrons.
  
• Signed up five Montana patrons to the National Library Service expanded online digital download collection which requires patrons to purchase a special player to participate.
  
• 12,627 volunteer hours were donated to library services, equaling six full time employees.
  
• 1,067 applications were sent to potential patrons.
  
• 57 presentations were made to various community groups, associations, academies and schools about the Montana Talking Book Library services.
  
• 2,500 new book titles were added to our 62,000 title collection.

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2007 Montana State Library Revenue and Expenditures

Revenue
General Fund 1,831,013 Federal 881,264 Resource Indemnity Tax 391,436 NRIS Core Funding 283,570 Coal Severance Tax 437,204 Contracts 181,083 Grants/Other 436,381 4,441,950
Expenditures
NRIS 1,036,503 Library Development 1,272,403 Grants to Libraries 701,892 Library Services 605,267 Administration 457,865 Talking Book Library 368,021 4,441,950

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A Statistical Snapshot of the Montana Public Library System

As derived from the 2007 Montana Public Libraries Statistics.

For more information on Public Library Statistics visit http://www.msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/For_Public_Librarians/Statistics/

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