Meeting of the Board of Regents | December 2010

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

The Regents will review a proposal for developing a new Ten Year Plan for Library Services in New York State in the context of their overall P–16 education reform strategy and a final report on the implementation of the ten recommendations of the Regents Commission on Library Services that were adopted as Regents statewide policy for library services in 2000.

Reason(s) for Consideration

Review of policy.

Proposed Handling

Members of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries will present a proposal for developing the new Ten Year Plan for discussion at the Committee’s December meeting.

Procedural History

In April 2010, the Committee encouraged the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to provide leadership to the library community in developing a new long-term vision for library services in New York State.  

Background Information

At the recent November 4-6, 2010 Annual Conference of the New York Library Association, the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries sponsored an open discussion entitled “2020: What’s Your Vision for Library Services in New York State.”  This event was a first small step in the process of developing a new vision for library services in New York. The ten recommendations of the Regents Commission on Library Services, outlined in the Commission’s final report, Meeting the Needs of All New Yorkers: Library Service in the New Century (http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/rcols/finalrpt.htm), have provided the basis for New York’s library initiatives since 2000. A final 2010 review of the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations and identification of remaining challenges is also helping to inform the development of a new vision for library services (http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/rcols/).

The Regents Commission on Library Services was appointed in 1998 to develop and recommend to the Board of Regents a vision for 21st century library service and to propose ways to achieve the greatest access to library service. The Commission members represented all types of library institutions and organizations in New York State, as well as the education and business communities.

In addition to authorizing two statewide surveys and an expert demographical analysis, the Commission held two rounds of regional public hearings over a two-year period. The first round of five hearings offered the public an opportunity to discuss the future of New York’s library services and suggest improvements. The second round obtained input on a draft of the Commission’s report. More than 500 New Yorkers, representing a broad range of constituents from the general public; the school, academic, and business communities; and state and national library organizations, provided testimony. Panel presentations and open discussions at Annual Conferences of the New York Library Association provided opportunities for further comment. Finally, six regional focus groups discussed issues involving the three types of library systems.

In its final report, the Commission articulated its conclusions about the libraries in New York State and presented a vision to transform them and provide all New Yorkers with access to quality library services. To implement that vision, the Commission offered ten recommendations. Shortly after the release of the Commission report in July 2000, the Regents adopted those recommendations as Regents policy. Since that time, they have provided the basis for New York’s library initiatives, with periodic review by the Regents and ongoing reevaluation by the State Library and the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries.

Recommendation

The Regents should review the progress in implementing library policy since the Regents Commission issued its 2000 report and provide feedback about the proposed plans for developing a new Ten Year Plan for Library Services in New York State.