MSL Home > About MSL > Long range plan > Agency Goals
Agency Goals
The mission of the Montana State Library is to help all citizens receive the information services that they need to improve or enhance their lives. MSL does so by providing comprehensive information about natural resources; fulfilling the information needs of state agency employees; preserving state publications; improving public library services; promoting cooperation among Montana libraries of all types; and providing reading material to those with physical disabilities.
Montana State Library's departments and programs share many common issues. The following is the agency's plan to address these intra-agency issues.
Issue
MSL employees have inadequate and unpleasant workspace.
Needs Assessment Summary
The space needs of the agency have and will change dramatically. The original use of the first floor was for the library's extensive collection and contained no office space. During the last 15 years, the agency has attempted to create office and work space but these efforts, while creating areas separate from the collection area, have resulted in small offices with inadequate lighting and few, if any amenities. Furthermore, as MSL's shifts to providing information resources on-line, areas that house the print collection are underutilized.
The second floor of the building is adequate to house the administrative functions of the library but is inadequate for the needs of NRIS and TBL. TBL's lack of adequate space and the inefficient use of existing space has become a critical issue and is addressed in TBL's section of the plan. Over the years, NRIS has attempted to remedy its needs for office and workspace, but these efforts have resulted in small offices with inadequate lighting.
Goal #1
MSL employees have pleasant, efficient, and sufficient office and work areas.
LSTA purpose
No LSTA funds will be used.
Key Output Target
Each year, visible improvements will be made to MSL's workspaces.
Key Outcome Target
MSL employees report a high degree of satisfaction with their workspaces.
Programs
Create and implement a building plan. Contact state architect for advice and planning assistance. Prioritize needs and develop incremental plan to address needs. Inform budget office of plans and fiscal requirements. Staff leader: Karen Strege, Jim Hill, and Darlene Staffeldt. Time Frame: Ongoing.
Issue 2
MSL must support a robust and reliable information technology infrastructure.
Needs Assessment Summary
Information dissemination through electronic means is critical to MSL's mission. Users of MSL expect uninterrupted access to our information resources through the web. MSL's services are inextricably bound to the World Wide Web and the software and equipment necessary to manage and offer the information in a user-friendly and secure manner. Current resources do not allow MSL to provide this access in a reliable manner.
Goal #2
Users have reliable and easy access to MSL's electronic services.
LSTA purpose
No LSTA funds will be used.
Key Output Target
MSL's systems are available 95% of the time.
Key Outcome Target
Users report high satisfaction with system performance and availability.
Programs
Develop an information technology plan and update annually. Identify prioritized needs and inform the budget office of fiscal requirements. Work with ITSD to ensure that MSL takes advantage of available resources. Staff leaders: Darlene Staffeldt, Karen Strege, and Jim Hill. Time Frame: Ongoing.
Issue 3
MSL must respect and value the contribution of each employee in achieving its mission.
Needs Assessment Summary
During this planning process, some staff members identified problems with morale, workspace, and salary concerns. Like any other organization, MSL must have the commitment of staff to fulfill its goals. To promote the best work from staff, MSL must improve methods of communicating with staff, both within the departments and agency wide; improve the physical working environment, as identified above; provide appropriate training; and insure that compensation is fair.
Goal #3
MSL employees are fully committed to fulfilling the agency's mission.
LSTA purpose
No LSTA funds will be used.
Key Outcome Target
Staff turnover will stabilize at 2.5% a year.
Key Outcome Target
Staff will be highly satisfied working at MSL.
Programs
Improve communication. Managers will query staff on the format and time of departmental meetings and devise meeting methods that enhance participation and communication. Managers will encourage the use of the MINE site, the state's intranet for state employees, to ensure timely receipt of state employee information. MSL will hold a general staff meeting bi-monthly, which will feature a presentation by one or more staff members explaining their work. Time Frame: Ongoing.
Improve training. In addition to an individual training plan for each employee contained in work plans, MSL will offer two general interest workshops to all staff per year. Time Frame: Ongoing.
Improve compensation. The state offers an optional plan for certain occupational classes. Managers will investigate the use of this plan in the agency. Time Frame: Ongoing.
Issue 4
The state of Montana must fund the statutory defined responsibilities of MSL.
Needs Assessment Summary
MSL relies heavily on funds through the Federal Government's Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to support the essential services of Program 1. Using LSTA to fund essential services, while in accordance with the purpose of the Act, leaves little funding for significant statewide or local projects. Also, relying on federal funding places the agency at risk when funds are diminished or the act is amended.
In addition, 60% of NRIS's essential services are funded through contracts or soft money. Many of these contracts contribute to the data collection and dissemination mission of NRIS; however, contract administration siphons time away from core services. Furthermore, contracts vary from year-to-year and create an unstable environment. NRIS's plan contains more details about this situation and ways in which MSL will address NRIS's funding problems.
Goal #4
All of MSL essential services are funded through state funds.
LSTA purpose
No LSTA funds will be used.
Key Output Targets
Each biennium, the governor's office and the legislature will approve increases in state funding for MSL essential services.
Each biennium, more LSTA money is available to improve library services in Montana.
Key Outcome Targets
The citizens of Montana are served by a state library that has stable and predictable funding.
Federal funds through the LSTA program are used for demonstration projects that improve library services to the people of Montana.
Programs
Develop an incremental plan to secure stable and predictable funding for the agency. Time Frame: Plan completed by 2003.
Educate state officials, the library community, and NRIS users about the funding situation of MSL, and develop broad support for proposed funding. Time frame: Ongoing.
Issue 5
Geo-spatial data has become a critical component of public policy decision-making. Although NRIS is designated by statute to be the clearinghouse of natural resources and related information, no agency is assigned the role of clearinghouse for non-natural resource geo-spatial information.
Needs Assessment Summary
As agencies develop geo-spatial information, centralized access to this data is needed to avoid duplication and to facilitate use. MSL is uniquely situated to offer this service because NRIS is a successful model of a centralized clearinghouse and the Statewide Library Program is mandated to provide access to all state publications, regardless of format.
Goal #5
MSL provides clearinghouse for all geo-spatial data.
LSTA purpose
No LSTA funds will be used.
Key Output Targets
A plan to develop the clearinghouse will be developed by 2004.
Key Outcome Targets
Citizens, businesses, and government employees find easy access to current and accurate geo-spatial data through MSL.
Programs
Interested parties will be invited to participate in a planning process. This process will include representation from the Montana Geographic Information Council, the E-government Council, the NRIS Advisory Council, and the Montana State Library Commission. The process will cumulate in a plan identifying clearinghouse responsibilities for MSL regarding geo-spatial data. Time Frame: 2002 - 2003.
