by Kendall F. Wiggin

On July 11th, the State Library Advisory Council, met at the State Library in Concord, discussed and approved the Five-Year State Plan required under the new Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA). The plan was subsequently delivered to the Institute of Museum and Library Services by the August 1st deadline.

The Plan will go into effect on October 1, 1997 and continue through September 30, 2002. The law allows the states to modify their plans annually and at the rate technology is changing the State Library will most certainly want to do that.

The new Five-Year Plan, which supersedes all previous plans, addresses the purposes set forth in the new Act. The purposes are as follows: establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among and between libraries; linking libraries electronically with educational, social or information services; assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks; encouraging libraries in different areas, and encouraging different types of libraries to establish consortia and share resources; or paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies. The Act also seeks to target library and information services to people of: diverse geographic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; people with limited functional literacy or information skills; persons having difficulty using a library; and underserved urban and rural communities.

The State Plan identifies and addresses three major areas Information Access through Technology; Information Empowerment through Special Services; and the Administration of the Program. Goals were established under each of these areas and objectives were developed to meet these goals. The Plan does not include specific tasks that we will undertake to meet each objective. As much as possible, these are measurable objectives and we will be required to report on our progress in meeting them.

The Plan offers us an opportunity to build on our heritage of innovative resource sharing. The most immediate point that libraries will become aware of will be the emphasis on training and staff development in the areas of technology. The new training center at the State Library will be opening this fall and plans are already underway to offer a wide array of training programs. State Library staff are also looking at ways to deliver more training on a regional basis. LSTA funds will be redirected to this training effort.

As we identify various tasks, the library community will have to make decisions. Do you want, for example, full text databases available through NHAIS or do you want more grant opportunities for local projects? These are questions that the NHAIS Board and the State Library Advisory Council will examine this fall.

The transition from LSCA to LSTA will also take some time and since there is actually little additional money in the program, funding to meet the objectives of the plan will be assigned in a couple of ways. First, the monies previously used to fund Title II projects will now be available either for grants, for statewide projects, or for both. Secondly, the State Library, with the support of the library community, needs to grow the state budget. The more state funds we have to replace federally funded personnel and services the more money will be available for some of the Plan's objectives. Of course some services presently being provided, such as the van delivery service and NHAIS, can continue to be funded under the federal program.

GOAL I - Every resident of New Hampshire will have access to a wide array of library and information resources either electronically or in traditional fashion and, when necessary, will be afforded the assistance required for the optimum utilization of technology.

• Objective I.I Establish or enhance electronic linkages between and among all types of libraries to provide faster and increased access to networked information. Over the next five years we need to move libraries away from dial-up access to NHAIS and replace it with direct broad band connections. We also need to increase public access to specialized resource and research collections. Some of this may involve digitizing unique New Hampshire materials.
• Objective I.2 Provide assistance to libraries to facilitate ease of access to information through electronic networks. Beginning this fall, the State Library will establish training programs for librarians and library staff to give them the knowledge necessary to provide library patrons with high level assistance in the areas of electronic information. The State Library will also coordinate and offer workshops within the state and region on the uses of the latest information technologies. We are also considering developing a grant program to enable librarians in all types of libraries to acquire additional training so that they may provide technical assistance and training to other librarians. The old train the trainer approach.
• Objective I.3 Encourage libraries in different areas of the state to establish multi-type library consortia and increase the quality and magnitude of resource sharing. In addition to continuing efforts to build the union catalog, the State Library will also try to improve the van delivery service with the goal of reducing the turn-around time. We are also looking at ways for libraries to expand their capacities to transmit requested information. This could mean a grant to purchase a fax machine or to provide full text periodicals on-line. The State Library will also explore other ways to encourage libraries to share information resources and support existing consortia.
• Objective I.4 Provide guidance and leadership through the State Library's Library Development Section to ensure coordinated library development, including the development of electronic access and networked services in all regions of the state. The State Library will continue to provide advisory and consultative services to make it possible for libraries to plan and develop library services tailored to meet local needs. We will also partner with other institutions and organizations to develop recommendations and an implementation plan designed to replace the PLT program with programs and courses necessary to provide librarians with 21st century information skills. The State Library will work with the library community, library supporters, and state and local officials to ensure that libraries acquire the funding needed for them to serve their users. A tall task, but one that we must all undertake at the local, state, and federal level. Along with librarians, archivists and manuscript curators we will continue our efforts to preserve endangered resources and provide alternative electronic access.
• Objective I.5 Make research and special collections in the state's research libraries available to the public through strengthening and streamlining the resource sharing capabilities of these libraries. To accomplish this objective, grant funds will be available to academic and other libraries to assist them in making special materials available to residents through interlibrary loan and in providing reference service either on-site or via the Internet. Imagine the possibilities! We also want to improve public access to government information through NHAIS, particularly by making more special and unique materials available in full text. The NHAIS Board has already begun looking at purchasing database licenses for statewide access which would be available to all types of libraries through NHAIS. We will continue to enhance WEBSTER, the New Hampshire state government World Wide Web home page. With LSTA funds we hope to be able to guarantee that every library will have at least one public access terminal with a direct connection to Webster by the year 2002.

GOAL 2 - New Hampshire residents, irrespective of geographic location, socio-economic or cultural background, level of literacy skill, physical or mental condition, or age and ability, will have electronic or on-site equal access to library and information services.

• Objective 2.I Develop and implement plans to expand and improve library services currently available to New Hampshire's diverse populations. We will continue to work with the various literacy agencies serving adults in the state to promote literacy and reading. State institutional libraries, including libraries in county facilities, will be eligible for grants. Summer reading programs may get a boost from LSTA as well. The ability of the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to serve persons with disabilities in New Hampshire will be improved and expanded. Libraries will also receive assistance in acquiring and using technology designed to make library resources and services available to persons with special needs. Educational and training opportunities will be made available to librarians and trustees in order that they become aware of the changing nature of library service to people with special needs.

GOAL 3 - Efficient and effective administration of the Library Services and Technology Act program to accomplish the objectives of the Five-Year Plan.

• Objective 3.I Administer the Five-Year Plan in accordance with the requirements contained in all applicable state and federal statutes and regulations. In particular, we will continue to work with the State Library Advisory Council and the NHAIS Board to plan, propose, implement, and evaluate grants to all types of libraries. The Area Library Forums will continue to be used to communicate local needs to the State Library and as a vehicle through which libraries will receive advice on LSTA.
• Objective 3.2 Promote public awareness of LSTA programs among all types of libraries and statewide library associations and organizations. Information will be collected and disseminated using both print and electronic means, with a growing emphasis on collecting information electronically.

GRANT CATEGORIES - A portion of the funds allocated under LSTA will be awarded as grants to libraries on a competitive basis in four program areas.

• Category I will be for projects that establish or enhance electronic linkages between or among libraries; link libraries electronically with educational, social, or information services; and assist libraries in accessing information through electronic networks. Priority will be given to consortia and cooperative projects.
• Category II grants will be used for training librarians in the efficient uses of new technologies to improve public access to information; to encourage libraries to establish consortia; and to assist libraries to acquire and share computer systems and telecommunications equipment.
• Category III grants will be awarded to libraries for library and information services projects designed to reach any person who has difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities. Emphasis will be placed on grants that address adult literacy and children's and young adult's reading programs.
• Category IV grants will be for the preservation and conservation of significant library materials held by the state's various libraries. Projects that emphasis access to these materials will receive priority.

Before these grants will become available, the State Library Advisory Council will need to adopt guidelines for the grant process. Unlike the old LSCA Title II grants, however, these grants will not necessarily be all matching grants, but those details have yet to be worked out.