I. Introduction
Participation in Planning
Existing Partnerships

II. Policy Goals

III. LSTA Goals for Michigan
Goal I: Statewide Access
Goal II: Equity of Access
Goal III: Develop Information Skills
Goal IV: Foster Innovation and Technical Improvements

IV. LSTA Activities for Michigan's Goals and Priorities
Goal I: Statewide Access
Goal II: Equity of Access
Goal III: Develop Information Skills
Goal IV: Foster Innovation and Technical Improvements

V. Strategy for LSTA Fund Allocation

VI. Administration of LSTA
Funding
Evaluation

VII. Development of the LSTA Plan
Ongoing Communication: Advisory Groups
Periodic Communication: LSTA Forums
LSTA Forum Topics and Findings
Distribution of the LSTA Plan

VIII. LSTA Evaluation Plan
LSTA Evaluation Process

IX. Statement of Assurances

Target Dates Proposed Timelines for Subgrant Program 1998-2002

With the adoption of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in 1996, Congress set new goals for the use of federal funds in support of libraries and museums.

In Michigan, the final years of LSCA funding had been directed to many of the same purposes subsequently identified as priorities for LSTA. The enthusiastic response of Michigan libraries, and their success with many networking and technology projects funded through LSCA, showed that the goals of LSTA would be a good fit with the needs of libraries in this state. This review, evaluation, and refocusing effort began in 1995 and was based on the results of planning efforts at both the state and national level.

Participation in Planning:

The Library of Michigan's transitional LSCA program was based on findings from reports published by:

• The Michigan Library Association (MLA);
• The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS);
• The White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services (WHCLIS), as well as the report of Michigan's WHCLIS delegates;
• The Library of Michigan's Document Delivery Advisory Committee;
• The evaluation of existing programs using models such as TELL IT; and
• The planning done by Michigan's state-funded public library cooperatives and multitype Regions of Cooperation.

In addition, a joint planning effort by the Michigan Library Association; Michigan Library Consortium; Library of Michigan; cooperative directors; Michigan Association for Media in Education; Special Libraries Association - Michigan Chapter; and the university libraries of the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University led to a Telecommunications Summit held at the Library of Michigan on September 30, 1996. The comments at the summit, and the proceedings published in 1997, also have informed the planning for LSTA.

Future LSTA planning will also include the recommendations of a major statewide study by independent consultants working on a statewide technology plan. This work is a result of the Telecommunications Summit, and is support by LSCA funds through the Library of Michigan.

Existing Partnerships:

Michigan is able to begin work on LSTA from a strong position, with solid base of collaborative statewide projects in place. These projects include:

• A statewide monographic union list on OCLC in excess of 27 million records;
• An online OCLC serials union list (with a project now begun in cooperation with Michigan Library Consortium to provide expanded Internet access to this serials union list for libraries statewide);
• A statewide network of local dial-in Internet nodes developed by Merit, Inc., with funding support from a jointly managed state-Ameritech technology grant program. This program expanded access for schools and libraries, with additional library-sponsored Internet nodes in unserved areas funded by LSCA, as well as by a rural datafication grant;
• Cooperation with the Michigan Library Association on such projects as the Telecommunications Summit and the Rural Library Conference
• A state government initiative established the Office of the Michigan Information Network to further develop an integrated virtual network in the state;
• A growing network of 15 Internet Training Centers (ITCs) in libraries and cooperatives, supported by LSCA grant funds and by local libraries (15 ITCs are operational, with two more funded by LSCA now being established);
• The nationally recognized Michigan Electronic Library (http://mel.org) providing no-charge access via existing telecommunications networks to a library of electronic information resources selected by librarians with a focus on local, state, and federal government information, with funding support from LSCA;
• A well established National Information Infrastructure Council on Continuing Education (NIICCE) to facilitate collaboration among interested groups and the ITCs, as well as to share training materials statewide;
• AccessMichigan, created by the Michigan Library Consortium and funded in part with LSCA grants, has provided a useful platform for sharing electronic and other resources; and
• A new program to develop a Community Information Internet Tool Kit, supported by a $166,666 grant from Ameritech through the Library of Michigan Foundation, and intended to assist libraries in gathering community information and making it widely available in digital formats.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A consistent theme in the work of the Library of Michigan and its partner libraries and institutions has been an awareness of the need for access and equity on the new Information Superhighway.

This issue was outlined by 1995/96 ALA President Betty J. Turock in her address at Michigan's Telecommunications Summit:

The final major public interest issue affecting access is equity. While universal service makes access to electronic information available everywhere, equity makes access to electronic information available to everyone.

Today in the United States, more and more of the information we need is in computers. The powerful technology of the information superhighway helps the people find work, research a medical condition, participate in government, or connect students and scholars to information they need around the nation and the world. But not if they don't own a computer; not if they don't know how to use one; and not if they can't afford the online charges.

The evolving infrastructure threatens to widen the gulf that already exists between the information rich and the information poor, and access to the superhighway must be available to the rich and the poor, and the young and the old. High cost and rapid change in technology could make most of us information poor.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GOAL II To increase equity of information access by providing special assistance to areas of the state where library services are inadequate (underserved rural and urban communities), and to libraries that are working to provide service to persons having difficulty using a library.

GOAL III To support the continued development of information skills through continuing education on a collaborative basis statewide.

GOAL IV To foster innovation and technical improvements in information services by funding leading edge projects in libraries which will serve as models and training centers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

While the five goals for LSTA are expected to remain unchanged throughout the five-year period of this plan, the specific activities will be reviewed and revised on an annual basis. The results of ongoing evaluations, as well as the priorities assigned in view of current needs, will be used to refine the plan for each succeeding year. Annual reports to the Institute for Museum and Library Services will describe accomplishments and knowledge gained from LSTA-funded activities, as well as describing any changes in future plans for LSTA. An outline of specific activities for each of the Michigan LSTA Goals is given below.

For technology and electronic networking, the top priority will continue to be given to statewide projects that provide the maximum benefits to all types of libraries equally. A major component of this priority will be training to support these projects. Secondary priorities will be selected research and development projects to encourage innovation, and to provide some assistance to libraries without the minimum level of equipment to participate in the statewide projects.

For underserved urban and rural areas and persons with difficulties in using libraries, priority will be given to support for outreach services to individuals with disabilities, and to projects that provide adaptive technology to provide equity in information access.

GOAL I To develop and fund LSTA programs in support of statewide access to the widest possible range of information for all residents of the state through all types of libraries.

Activities: (All activities will assist libraries in accessing information through electronic networks.)

1. Provide an electronic library of selected digital resources (including full text magazines and other commercial resources) to all Michigan libraries through statewide contracts, and support the new service with training and promotion.
2. Continue development of statewide union lists, both for serials and monographs, and expand access to these files for all Michigan libraries. Also encourage the maintenance of records by all participating libraries.
3. Work in concert with Merit, Inc., the Michigan Information Network administrator, library cooperatives, and others to continue to build the statewide network of local dial-in nodes for library and public access to the Internet.
4. Encourage the identification, organization, and digitization of unique information resources in the state, for addition to the Michigan Electronic Library.
5. Continue to strengthen the Michigan Electronic Library and increase its use through expanded training and promotional activities.

GOAL II To increase equity of information access by providing special assistance to areas of the state where library services are inadequate (underserved rural and urban communities), and to libraries that are working to provide service to persons having difficulty using a library.

Activities:

A. Areas of the state where services are inadequate:

1. Provide LSTA support for projects that provide entry level information technology for public access and training. (A continuation of Internet Access Grants of equipment, software, training and connectivity is included here.) These projects will link libraries electronically to educational, social or information services.
2. Provide support for establishing or enhancing the electronic linkages among or between libraries, including local, regional and statewide networks.
3. Assist Michigan libraries to establish or participate in consortia for efficient sharing of resources and to lower costs. Assist Michigan libraries by working with the Office of the Michigan Information Network to extend discounts and state contract prices to libraries.
4. Assist efforts to create and continue regional cooperation among all types of libraries.

B. Improving library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library:

1. Provide LSTA grant support for outreach activities by Regional and Subregional Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
2. Provide demonstration projects, training, and equipment grants to encourage the adoption of adaptive technology in libraries.
3. Develop means of providing LSTA support for the improvement of library services to individuals with all types of disabilities, based on successful models for services to the blind and physically handicapped.
4. In all cases, LSTA funds will be used to encourage the improvement of services that will be supported with local funds as a fully integrated service of each library.

C. Improving library and information services to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line:(As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) applicable to a family of the size involved.)

1. Provide LSTA support for projects that address urban or rural populations of children in poverty through library outreach programs, library and community collaboration to improve library services to children, specific training programs to support the improvement of services to children in poverty, or the development of special library collections to support such services.
2. Coordinate such services with cooperatives, regional library groups or library professional groups to improve planning and to avoid duplication of effort. Encourage community partnerships in support of LSTA-funded projects or services.

D. Improving services to persons having difficulty using a library because of adult illiteracy or because of residence in a state institution:

1. Provide LSTA support for projects that address the needs of institutionalized populations or those needing adult literacy training through libraries, or for the development of special library collections to support such services.
2. Coordinate such services with appropriate state and local agencies as well as state literacy organizations and non-profit groups or foundations.

GOAL III To support the continued development of information skills through continuing education on a collaborative basis statewide.

Activities:

1. Continue to expand and strengthen the statewide network of Internet Training Centers in libraries and cooperatives.
2. Cooperate with Michigan's library schools, Training Center staff and members of the National Infromation Infrastructure Council on Continuing Education (NIICCE) committee to develop and share training materials.
3. Continue to provide basic training as a component in all Internet Access Grants.
4. Support the role of librarians as leaders by encouraging community partnerships in all LSTA projects, as well as by supporting the library role in developing literacy skills and the habit of lifelong learning.
5. Include training as a key element in all statewide projects supported by LSTA.

GOAL IV To foster innovation and technical improvements in information services by funding leading edge projects in libraries which will serve as models and training centers.

Activities:

1. In consultation with library groups and agencies, identify areas of important technological development.
2. Provide research and development grant funds to support the introduction of new technologies in Michigan libraries ready and able to test them. Work collaboratively with the grantee to evaluate the project and to formally share the findings locally, regionally, and statewide.
3. Give priority to projects that use new technology in ways that will assist the library in meeting one or more state goals, such as improving adaptive technology or expanding outreach to remote and underserved areas of the state.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In previous years, the Michigan strategy for LSCA relied on a variety of subgrant programs to meet all needs identified in the LSCA statute, with some funds directed to centrally administered projects such as OCLC union list storage, development of the Michigan Electronic Library in partnership with the University of Michigan libraries, and the initial start-up of a statewide contract for access to commercial databases for Michigan libraries. Comments at LSTA forums strongly endorsed expansion of centrally-funded projects that benefit all libraries on a non-competitive basis.

The strategy for LSTA funds in the five year period 1997 - 2002 will be to continue the transition to supporting non-competitive, broadly available services to benefit all Michigan libraries. Other LSTA funding will be directed to specific areas where library services are inadequate on the basis of need.

The anticipated allocation of LSTA funds will be 60% to support cutting edge demonstration and research grants and statewide technology projects, with 40% reserved for the range of projects and programs that address areas of inadequate library service. This second category includes projects to assist libraries serving urban and rural children in poverty; services to persons with disabilities and other difficulties using libraries; library outreach to persons served through state residential institutions or adult literacy programs in libraries; and Internet Access Grants for libraries without basic access to electronic resources. Training activities will be funded in both categories.

The initial allocation of funds to the two primary purposes of LSTA will be reviewed each year during the evaluation and planning process.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

It has been the policy of the Library of Michigan not to use federal funds to support the operations of the state library. It is our intent to continue this policy. The only federal funds we are allocating to administrative costs are those reserved for Single Audit fees for the Library of Michigan.

Evaluation:

An administrative responsibility of the Library of Michigan is to provide planning and ongoing evaluation of projects and services funded by LSTA. A continuing goal is to administer the LSTA program in cooperation with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Activities:

1. Compile evaluations from grant projects and from users of centrally-administered statewide projects, evaluate the findings and share them with libraries in Michigan as well as with the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
2. Review annual LSTA plans in light of the statewide library technology plan developed in 1997 by outside consultants.
3. Review annual LSTA plans in light of the recommendations received in late 1996 and 1997 through the series of LSTA forums held in 18 locations throughout Michigan.
4. Review plans and evaluation findings with advisory groups, including the Michigan Electronic Library and LSTA Advisory Council.
5. Continue to encourage all LSTA grant recipients to utilize a structured evaluation process with broad input, such as the TELL IT model.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ongoing Communication-Advisory Groups:

The Library of Michigan is working closely with its two advisory councils most involved in LSCA related activities. Both the LSCA Advisory Council and the Michigan Electronic Library Advisory Council have participated in discussions about how to shape this new state plan.

Because of the importance of maintaining a formally organized method of seeking and implementing ideas from the field, an LSTA Advisory Council will replace the LSCA Advisory Council this year. The former council included representation from public, school, institutional, special, and academic libraries; library cooperatives; and library users, including users with handicaps and those from disadvantaged communities. Given the multitype nature of LSTA, this mix of members will continue. The council members will be charged with helping Library of Michigan staff formulate the overall direction for LSTA in the state, reviewing the practical aspects of implementation, assisting in our efforts to reduce the amount of paperwork involved, and ensuring that we are meeting the state's goals.

We will continue to plot the course for one of our most successful LSCA projects, the Michigan Electronic Library, in cooperation with an Advisory Council. Funded by the Library of Michigan through LSCA and operated in conjunction with the University of Michigan library and the Merit Network, the Michigan Electronic Library provides a systematic approach to help librarians and library users to find resources on the world wide web. Over 18,000 sites have been reviewed and selected as part of this project.

The State Librarian has also participated in the planning of a new statewide initiative to encourage library cooperation and improved services. This project, called AccessMichigan, was initiated by the Michigan Library Consortium. It will provide an additional source of input from school, academic, public, and special librarians as the Library implements LSTA.

In January 1997 the Library of Michigan initiated an online discussion list as another means of soliciting ongoing input into the development of the plan. To subscribe go to http://lists.libraryofmichigan.org/mailman/listinfo/lsta

Additionally, ongoing input is received from subgrant recipients through submission of project final narrative reports. LSCA participants have been asked to comment on future uses of federal funds in Michigan. These comments will be incorporated into feedback received through other means.

The Library of Michigan conducted two series of Federal Funding Forums designed to assist in the needs assessment required for development of a state plan. The first series, conducted between January and April 1997, was general in nature. Attendees included library staff, trustees and users. The forums were held in all parts of the state, as indicated in the following schedule:

January 28 Kent County District Library, Wyoming Branch, Wyoming

January 30 Mott Community College, Flint

February 11 Wayne State University, Purdy/Kresge Library, Detroit

February 20 Big Rapids Community Library, Big Rapids

February 28 The Library Network, Wayne

March 5 Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek

March 18 Rudolph C. Zauel Memorial Branch Library, Saginaw

March 27 Holiday Inn, Gaylord

April 10 Participation via compressed video at three locations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:

Delta-Schoolcraft Independent School District, Escanaba

Michigan Technological University, Houghton

Lake Superior State University Library, Sault Ste. Marie

April 30 Rural Library Conference, Acme

The second series of forums, between November 1996 and June 1997, was planned to take advantage of previously scheduled meetings of state associations and other specific constituency groups as outlined below:

November 6, 1996 Michigan Library Association Annual Conference

February 13, 1997 Metropolitan Detroit Medical Libraries Group/Special Library Association, Winter Meeting

February 19, 1997 Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Directors and Network Librarians, Winter Meeting

February 25, 1997 Public Library Cooperative Directors February Meeting

March 8, 1997 Michigan Association for Media in Education, Midwinter Meeting

May 29, 1997 Correctional Facilities Librarians, Spring Meeting

LSTA Forum Topics and Findings:

Forums in both series were conducted using the following agenda:

• Review of LSCA
• Overview of LSTA
• Broad discussion of issues related to developing an LSTA program
• Discussion of specific needs to be addressed by Michigan's LSTA plan

Over 500 people attended and participated in these programs. The following topics were addressed at each session: