Introduction to the Standards

Illinois Public Library Standards and Illinois Library Law
The Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries is based on the premise that all Illinois residents deserve a basic level of public library service. The Illinois State Library (ISL) charged the Illinois Library Association (ILA) to annually review Illinois public library standards. This charge is referenced in the Illinois statutes, 75 ILCS 10/8.1, which states that in order for a public library to be eligible for state grants, including the Public Library Per Capita Grant), it must: “Provide, as determined by the State Librarian, library services which either meet or show progress toward meeting the Illinois library standards, as most recently adopted by the Illinois Library Association.” In order to meet the requirements of the charge, ILA appoints a standing committee to annually review the Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries.

What is Serving Our Public?
Serving Our Public: Illinois Public Library Standards provides a basic level of standards for public library service that Illinois public libraries should provide to their communities. It is meant to be a guiding tool to measure a public library’s success in fulfilling its mission and role in its community. Public libraries of all sizes should use the document as a basis for discussion, evaluation, planning, and action.

The 5.0 edition is made up of 12 sections. Each section includes a summary of the topic and the core standard as well as an intermediate and advanced standard. Also included is an action plan guide to be used as a tool for staff and board members to discuss and determine how their library addresses each standard. It is important to recognize that each published edition of Serving Our Public has evolved due to new trends, changing society norms, and cultural influences.  

Serving Our Public 5.0 Committee
The Serving Our Public 5.0 was completed by an ILA-appointed committee of highly-qualified public librarians who used not only their own expertise, but also included public library experts to review specific aspects of each section. The committee was charged with creating the 5.0 edition to be presented in an online format.  The committee was also charged with including an action plan that could serve as a tool for libraries to measure progress. Finally, the committee was charged with incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles throughout the document.

It is important to note that the Serving Our Public 5.0 committee struggled in finding the balance between inclusivity and setting the bar at a meaningful level. The consensus of the 5.0 committee is that a “one-size-fits-all” document is not plausible. Public libraries are locally funded and should be uniquely suited to the needs and resources of their communities and users. Nevertheless, it is in the public interest and the interest of the library community to have the word “library” signify certain standard conditions that one could expect to find. A library that does not currently meet one or more of the core or higher level standards might cite that deficiency in making a case for increased funding, staffing or library space. Coming up to a particular standard might be the focus of one or more objectives in a library’s strategic plan. The staff and boards of libraries that meet core standards might pose the query, “What makes a library effective?” and consider ways of enhancing the library’s effectiveness in serving its community. After reviewing the federal library standards and other states’ library standards, the 5.0 committee  outlined the following basic essential standards that all Illinois public libraries should work daily to uphold:

  • Be in compliance with Illinois library law. *
  • Have an organized collection of information.
  • Have written library policies approved by the library’s governing body.
  • Have a fixed location(s) with posted regular hours of services.
  • Have a trained, paid staff to manage the collection and provide access to it.
  • Be supported in part or in whole by public funds.
  • Have an identifiable library materials budget.

*Illinois library law also recognizes contractual libraries.

iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »