Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Mission:
The Adams County Library is a vital cornerstone of the community, fostering its growth, enhancing the quality of life, and promoting intellectual and social enrichment in Adams County, North Dakota.
Vision:
The Adams County Library aspires to be a dynamic, engaging, and welcoming hub for community members seeking lifelong learning, education, enrichment, and meaningful interaction.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Enhance Visibility and Accessibility
Objectives:
1.1 Collaborate with local daycare facilities, homeschooling networks, and public schools to broaden outreach.
1.2 Foster connections with local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to enhance accessibility and community partnerships.
1.3 Strengthen relationships with local assisted living facilities, providing resources and services to meet their unique needs.
1.4 Develop a comprehensive, long-term marketing plan utilizing various media outlets to increase library visibility and engagement.
Goal 2: Deliver Relevant Programming for All Age Groups
Objectives:
2.1 Engage children, young adults, and other age groups through diverse and relevant activities and programs.
2.2 Educate adults and senior citizens in modern information-seeking strategies to empower lifelong learning.
2.3 Provide ongoing staff training to enhance their proficiency in utilizing cutting-edge information-seeking strategies and technology, ensuring that the library remains at the forefront of evolving trends in library services.
First Reading November 8, 2023
Second Reading November 13, 2023
Approved November 13, 2023
Technology Plan 2024-2029
Mission:
The Adams County Library is a vital cornerstone of the community, fostering its growth, enhancing the quality of life, and promoting intellectual and social enrichment in Adams County, North Dakota.
Vision:
The Adams County Library aspires to be a dynamic, engaging, and welcoming hub for community members seeking lifelong learning, education, enrichment, and meaningful interaction.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Enhance Visibility and Accessibility
Objectives:
1.1 Collaborate with local daycare facilities, homeschooling networks, and public schools to broaden outreach.
1.2 Foster connections with local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to enhance accessibility and community partnerships.
1.3 Strengthen relationships with local assisted living facilities, providing resources and services to meet their unique needs.
1.4 Develop a comprehensive, long-term marketing plan utilizing various media outlets to increase library visibility and engagement.
Goal 2: Deliver Relevant Programming for All Age Groups
Objectives:
2.1 Engage children, young adults, and other age groups through diverse and relevant activities and programs.
2.2 Educate adults and senior citizens in modern information-seeking strategies to empower lifelong learning.
2.3 Provide ongoing staff training to enhance their proficiency in utilizing cutting-edge information-seeking strategies and technology, ensuring that the library remains at the forefront of evolving trends in library services.
Technology will be available too in supporting both our mission and vision to Support our vision:
- We strive to acquire and use technology to support the missions of the Library and the County.
- We adhere to the principles of intellectual freedom guiding the Library in developing access to electronic resources, with customers responsible for what they choose to use.
- We strive to making electronic information resources available to persons of all ages, physical conditions and locations in the Adams County service area.
- We value electronic resources extending library services, complementing other materials and services provided by the Library, and where appropriate, substituting for equivalent resources in other formats.
- We strive to promote electronic resources and complementary resources in other formats to all residents of our service area, both current and potential customers.
- We value staff interaction with customers, instructing them as necessary, assisting them in locating, using and evaluating information, whether a customer is on library premises or accessing library services from a remote location.
- We value the ongoing offering of new and emerging resources delivered via new technologies.
- We value the continuing education and training of Library staff in the use of electronic resources and new technologies.
Goal 1
Expand and enhance the use of the Library Webpage to provide a more inviting portal for our patrons to access information.
Objectives:
Evaluate our current web platform and explore other platforms for their ability to meet our goal.
Goal 2
Transition to a public library online catalog from a school based catalog offering more patron satisfaction and options with the online catalog experience.
Objective:
Explore other public library catalogs available, options, services and expenses.
Provide training to all staff in the use of a new catalog.
Goal 3: To continuously update hardware in the library ensuring access to the latest technology available with the constraints of the budget.
Objective:
Identify hardware that is out of date and secure funding to purchase up to date hardware.
First Reading June 10, 2024
Second Reading September 23, 2024
Approved September 26, 2024
Collection Development Policy
Adams County Library
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to guide library staff in the selection of library materials, to inform the Library Board and the general public of the principles upon which selections are made, and to declare the library’s commitment to the principles of free access to ideas and information.
Background
The Adams County library is located in Hettinger, ND. Hettinger supports a school, hospital, an active business and agricultural community. Hettinger is 70 miles from a town of over 10,000. The community is highly educated and somewhat diverse, necessitating a broad range of services.
Library Mission, Goal, and Objectives
Adams County Library will strive to be a relevant, vibrant, and comfortable location for the community members to utilize for lifelong growth, education, enrichment and engagement.
The Adams County Library will strive to be a relevant, vibrant, and comfortable location for community members to utilize for lifelong growth, education and enrichment.
Intellectual Freedom
The Adams County Library is committed to the principles of intellectual freedom and affirms the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement [Appendix] and the Library Bill of Rights [Appendix]. As such, materials representing diverse viewpoints on topics, including controversial ones, are actively collected. Selection of an item does not indicate that the Library, its Board, or its Staff agrees with the ideas and viewpoints it presents.
Target Audience
Collection of materials will be weighted 60 % adult titles with at least 15 % being adult non-fiction, and 30 % young adult and children’s titles of which 10% is non-fiction. 10% of materials, as available, will be specifically collected for the Heritage Collection.
Responsibility for Selecting Library Materials
The library director will be responsible for the selection of materials with input from other staff and community members.
Evaluative Criteria and Selection Aids
Selection of library material is an active process that applies both to materials purchased by the library and materials donated to it. The following criteria are used in the selection process to help ensure that all materials in the library are in keeping with its goals and mission and are of use to the community served.
General criteria:
- The collection will attempt to provide a balance of viewpoints on all controversial issues
- The collection will attempt to include a cross-section of media formats, topics, and viewpoints representative of patron needs and interests
- The library will attempt to meet all relevant collection standards, whether issued by governmental agencies, professional associations, or regional accrediting bodies
- Reviews from professional publications (journals and websites), as well as patron requests are considered in the selection of library materials
Specific criteria can be provided by audience or age level, by subject area/Dewey range, material type (large print, digital, A/V, etc.), special collections, etc. Specific criteria used include:
- Authority (is it from a trusted source—both author and publisher can factor in)
- Self-published/POD materials of local or regional merit.
- Comprehensiveness and depth of treatment
- Clarity, accuracy, and logic of presentation
- Currency of the publication
- Artistic presentation and/or literary merit
- Popular interest
- Relevance to the community
- Structural integrity (library will not purchase comb-bound materials…)
- Materials by local/ND authors
- Materials about the city/county/state
- Redundancy with materials available through Online Library Resources (rationale for exclusion, especially of periodicals)
Selection Aids:
- Subject bibliographies
- Standard lists
- Library catalogs
- Reviews from:
- Subject specialist journals
- Library journals
- Book selection journals
- Newspapers (local and national)
- Advance notices
Formats
Formats which will not be purchased include:
VHS, audio-tape, graphic novels
Special Collections
Heritage Room materials will be actively sought.
Resource Sharing
The library will utilize resources available through the ND State Library (ILL and databases), Overdrive and other legitimate services such as Academia.edu to expand our collection.
Appendix:
Freedom to Read: The Freedom to Read Statement | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org)
Library Bill of Rights: Library Bill of Rights | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org)
Approved : March 26,2023
📚 Adams County Library Donations Policy
Updated November 2025
1. Gifts of Materials
The Library welcomes donations of books and audiovisual materials. All donated items are evaluated using the same criteria as purchased materials. The Library reserves the right to:
- Transfer items to another library
- Provide items to the Friends of the Library for resale or charitable donation
- Discard items if unsuitable
Not Accepted:
- Periodicals
- Moldy, foul-smelling, water-damaged, or physically deteriorated items
- Textbooks
The Library does not appraise donated materials for tax purposes.
2. Gifts of Periodical Subscriptions
Subscriptions without indexing or broad appeal are labeled “Complimentary.” No archival storage is maintained for these items.
3. Monetary Donations
Monetary gifts are accepted under the following conditions:
- Unrestricted Donations: Deposited in the Friends of the Library account for Board-approved projects
- Designated for Materials: Deposited in the Trust Account for use by the Library Director in accordance with the Selection Policy
Public acknowledgment is at the discretion of the Library Board.
4. Memorials and Tribute Gifts
The Library encourages donations in memory of or tribute to individuals. These gifts allow for the acquisition of materials or equipment beyond the regular budget.
- Typically accepted as monetary gifts to a special fund managed by the Friends of the Library
- Donor preferences are considered, but final selection is based on Library needs
- Bookplates will be added to items purchased, noting both honoree and donor
- Notification letters will be sent to relevant parties
5. Artwork and Decorative Gifts
The Library prioritizes rotating displays over permanent installations. Before accepting artwork, the following criteria are considered:
- Compatibility with building architecture
- Spatial fit
- Relevance to Library objectives
- Cost implications (e.g., insurance, maintenance, storage)
- Approval by the Library Board
All artwork must be donated without restrictions, allowing the Library full discretion over its use or disposition.
6. Miscellaneous Gifts
Acceptance of furnishings, appliances, and equipment is determined by the Library Board with input from the Director. Considerations include:
- Library need
- Available space
- Staff impact
- Maintenance requirements
All other gifts not addressed in this policy are subject to Board approval based on the Director’s recommendation.
7. Acknowledgment
All donations will be acknowledged with a personal note from the Library Director.
Approved 11/5/25
De-Selection Policy
Adams County Library
The following policy is adapted from the recommendations put forth by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in the 2008 publication CREW: a Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries, revised and updated by Jeanette Larson.
Rationales for De-selection
Shelving space is finite and in order to fulfill our mission and meet the diverse cultural, educational, research, and personal enrichment needs of our community, the materials we offer must be current, accurate, relevant, and in a useful format and condition. Subsequently, materials that are no longer accurate, used, or useful must be withdrawn from the collection. This does not mean that they were a waste of money, just that they have fulfilled their purpose.
Local History and Special Interest Materials
The following criteria need not be applied to items with local historical value, which typically possess appeal, significance, and scarcity in excess of materials of no cultural relation to the region. Local history materials may be retained indefinitely.
De-selection Guidelines for Material Formats and Conditions
Non print materials can lose utility and vitality as technology advances. Older formats, such as filmstrips, slides, audiocassettes, videocassettes, computer software on magnetic media (floppy disks), etc. should be culled from the collection as the devices needed to make use of them obsolesce. The same holds true for sets and kits that include obsolete components.
Optical media (DVDs, Blu-ray discs, CDs, etc.) should be replaced or withdrawn if they are chipped, cracked, warped, or have deep scratches that affect their play.
For print materials, the following five negative factors (MUSTI) can compromise their usefulness, making them prime candidates for de-selection:
M Misleading and/or factually inaccurate
U Ugly (worn and beyond mending/re binding)
S Superseded (either by a new edition or a much better book on the subject)
T Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit; of past ephemeral interest)
I Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your community
Approved 8/02/21
Policy for Display and Distribution of Community Materials
Adams County Library
Derived From:
Larson, Jeanette and Herman L. Totten. Model Policies for Small and Medium Public Libraries. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1998.
Items that publicize community organizations and local events further the role of the library as the central source for civic, cultural, education, and recreational information. The library welcomes and encourages the display of such information on its bulletin boards and brochure racks.
Bulletin board display space is available for community organizations to disseminate information. Only one copy of a notice is permitted. Bulletin boards may not be used for personal or commercial advertisements. Items may be displayed for a maximum of one month. Library staff will remove items that have expired or that have been posted for one month. Items removed will be discarded; flyers and posters that have been displayed cannot be returned.
Brochure racks may be utilized to distribute flyers, brochures, leaflets, newspapers, and pamphlets that provide information about non-profit, civic, educational, cultural, or recreational organizations and events. Materials that promote programs or projects of a personal or commercial nature may not be distributed in the library. Items may be distributed for as long as they are valid. If space becomes limited, preference will be given to items of a timely nature and to organizations or group that have not recently distributed items. Literature related to political campaigns will be distributed for thirty days preceding an election.
All items for posting or distribution must be presented to the library director for approval; library staff will date and place items on the bulletin board or in the brochure rack. Distribution and posting of items by the library does not indicate endorsement of the issues, events, or services promoted by those materials. The library reserves the right to remove any posted item. Items left or posted without approval will be removed and discarded.
Approved 8/2/21
Adams County Library Reconsideration Policy
The library fully endorses the principles documented in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement of the American Library Association. Materials available in the library present a diversity of viewpoints, enabling citizens to make the informed choices necessary in a democracy. The library also selects a wide variety of library materials that satisfy the diverse interests of our community. The library upholds the right of the individual to secure these resources, even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to some. The library’s varied collection is available to all; however, it is not expected that all of the collection will appeal to everyone.
Procedure:
Patrons requesting that an item be withdrawn from the collection may complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Materials” form. Once the form has been fully completed and returned to the Library Director, the inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees. Their decision will be final.
Withdrawn books are donated to the Friends of the Library for book sales. The proceeds from such sales are used for the benefit of the library.
Approved March 26, 2023
Request for Reconsideration Form
Adams County Library
Title:
Author/Producer:
Location:
Type of material: □Book □Music (CD) □Video (DVD) □Magazine/Newspaper □Other
Date request received by staff: Staff initials:
Request initiated by:
Signature:
Mailing address:
Telephone:
Representing: □Self □Organization
Organization address:
Organization telephone:
What concerns you about this material? Please be specific. Cite pages.
Did you read/listen/view the entire item? If no, what parts?
Is there any age group for which this material might be appropriate? If so, please specify.
Are there, in your judgment, any positive elements in this material? Please describe.
Are you aware of any literary reviews of this material? If so, please cite.
What material(s) can you suggest to counterbalance the point of view of this material or provide additional information on the subject?
Approved 8/02/21
📚 Adams County Library Computer & Internet Use Policy
🌐 Purpose
We provide free access to computers and the internet to support lifelong learning, research, and communication. Services include web browsing, productivity tools, and access to educational databases.
🏛️ Library Responsibilities
- Uphold intellectual freedom and the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights
- Provide access to online content without endorsing it
- Offer filtering tools upon request
- Avoid monitoring individual usage
- Link to reliable sources when possible, but cannot guarantee accuracy
- Not liable for exposure to controversial or offensive material
👥 Patron Responsibilities
All users must follow legal and ethical guidelines. Prohibited activities include:
- Damaging or altering library equipment
- Circumventing security systems
- Harassing others online
- Excessive use that limits access for others
- Accessing or distributing illegal content
- Violating copyright or licensing agreements
Patrons must save work to personal devices. The library is not responsible for lost files or device damage. Printing is available for a fee—ask staff for assistance.
Use of library internet services implies agreement to release and indemnify the library from liability related to personal device use.
👶 Guidelines for Minors
Parents and guardians are responsible for guiding their children’s internet use. If internet access is not desired for a child, please notify library staff. Children must follow all patron guidelines.
🧑💻 Staff Assistance
Library staff may assist with library-owned devices and services as time allows. However, staff cannot:
- Troubleshoot personal devices
- Provide tech purchasing advice
📅 Policy History
- Approved: February 8, 2005
- Revised: June 24, 2013
- Revised: June 6, 2018
- Approved by Board: July 10, 2018
- Revised 11/05/25
Adams County Library 