PIERRE - Eight South Dakota public libraries have been accredited by the State Library in 2016.
They will be honored at 3:30 p.m. today in front of lawmakers, library colleagues and community members at the Capitol rotunda in Pierre. This event is held in conjunction with the annual South Dakota Library Association Library Legislative Day.
Accredited libraries demonstrate that they meet important benchmarks for providing high quality library services to their communities. Public libraries are accredited at one of three levels: Essential, Enhanced or Exemplary. Libraries are evaluated in the following areas, as outlined in South Dakota Public Library Standards: governance, administration, access, collections and resources, funding, staffing, technology and public relations.
The following libraries have been accredited:
• Brookings Public Library - Exemplary
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• Watertown Regional Library - Exemplary
• Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library - Enhanced
• Edgemont Public Library - Enhanced
• Madison Public Library - Enhanced
• Hill City Community Library - Essential
• Scotland Community Library - Essential
• Potter County Free Public Library (Gettysburg) - Essential
Detailed requirements for each level of tiered accreditation, as well as a complete list of all currently accredited libraries, are available on the South Dakota State Library's website at library.sd.gov.
