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Public library standards established as benchmarks of conditions are necessary for effective library service in the state of Connecticut. Each benchmark should be supported by activities that contribute to the development and sustainability of the condition. Benchmarks may include but are not limited to governance, finance, facilities, staffing, resources, and services.

Minimum public library standards help promote good quality public library service in all communities; empower libraries to strengthen community relations and promote public support for quality library service; and support transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Standards reinforce the principle that public libraries play a critical role in providing free access to knowledge, information, and diversity of ideas to all residents of the state. An authoritative library standards document can serve as a reference for requests and justification for funding as well as planning and training.

The Best Practices in CT Public Libraries as endorsed by the CT State Library Board has, since inception, been used as an effective tool for advocacy, strategic planning, capital planning, and general library operations by libraries across the state.

Over the past year, the ACLPD Public Library Standards Committee in collaboration with the Division of Library Development assessed the current Best Practice document and incorporated appropriate suggestions, revisions, and additions into the document, and added and refined resources to supplement the content. Access the recent State Library endorsed 2024 Best Practices in CT Public Libraries.

While StoryWalks® are traditionally outdoor activities, we encourage you to use these materials wherever works for your library, including indoors. Thank you to the Richmond Memorial Library for generously donating several of our new StoryWalks®!

The loan period for StoryWalks® is 45 days. Laminated pages can be mounted according to borrowing library's preference. Please do not puncture the laminated pages. Please remove tape, Velcro, and other adhesives before returning.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier,

VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk®

is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

New titles available as StoryWalks®:

• And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaimie Kim
• City Beet by Tziporah Cohen, illustrated by Udayana Lugo
• Don’t Touch That Flower! by Alice Hemming & Nicola Slater
• The Earth Gives More by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Christiane Engel
• Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Abigail Halpin
• First Notes of Spring by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Jennifer Bower
• Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan, illustrated by Sujean Rim
• Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sís
• In November by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Jill Kastner
• My Voice is a Trumpet by Jimmy Allen, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson
• The Sea Knows by Alice B. McGinty & Alan B. Havis, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
• Summer Color! by Diana Murray, illustrated by Zoe Persico
• When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Lauren Dronzek

View all available StoryWalks® here. And keep checking back for new additions!

Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), CSL’s Outreach Van will be used for community engagement, programs, special events, professional development, library programming support, and pop-up exhibits for all State Library divisions and units, including the Division of Library Development, the CT Library for Accessible Books, Archives, the Museum of CT History, and more!

Beatriz De La Espriella is a licensed clinical social worker and mental health expert in anxiety, stress, and trauma. Beatriz works with individuals and libraries to improve the mental health and well-being of library staff, so they can feel empowered to serve their community and thrive personally and professionally. She provides training and coaching to libraries on trauma-informed services, mindfulness, self-care, and more.

Beatriz developed a Trauma-Informed Services Professional Development Curriculum that highlights the prevalence of trauma and provides library staff with essential skills to recognize and respond to trauma. Beatriz launched the “Empowered, Confident, and Thriving: A Mental Wellness Program for Library Staff'' that focuses on promoting mental well-being by practicing self-care, building resilience, and gaining the tools and strategies needed to navigate life’s challenges. Beatriz earned her MSW from Rutgers University and her Trauma Informed Professional Certification from Barry University.

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We'll start by learning about the different types of virtual reality tours, followed by creating your own tours. The session includes a discussion about 360-degree cameras, adding 3D assets to enhance a scene, and experiencing the tours in virtual reality headsets.

A networking opportunity to explore real life issues public library managers face today in a traditional on-site setting with your peers. Facilitated by experienced library administrator, educator, and consultant Jerry Nichols.

Based on the CT State Library Practical Management of Public Libraries series, this workshop will discuss in depth many of the challenges faced by today’s public library administrators. Topics such as leadership, board relations, personnel management, public relations, finance, and facilities will be interwoven with actual case studies brought by the participants.

Syllabus and background readings will be sent prior to the workshop. Participants will be required to present a real life or hypothetical case study for class discussion.

SPECIAL NOTE: Please plan to bring a lunch with you, drink, water bottle etc., as networking is planned during the lunch break. We do not have coffee makers on site. There are also several coffee shops and fast-food options nearby should you need to run out to grab something. 

Please note: This webinar will build on what was taught at "Strategic Planning: There has to be a better way" workshop on 6/17, however all are welcome to attend.

Who Should Come?

Perfect for library administrators, or other library staff, who develop surveys to gage feedback from their community whether that is small scale, such as programs, or large scale, for strategic planning. 

Visit our calendar

The eGO CT Program Provides eAudiobooks!

Last month, we added over 550 new items including 194 new eAudiobook titles in Palace! The collection provided by the Connecticut State Library now exceeds 37,300 items.

We continue to add new content to the Palace Project app to support the 165 libraries that have now moved into production and are actively sharing this free content with their patrons. Click the link to view the complete list of libraries live in Palace.

DLD is continuing to work with Baker & Taylor to bring the eGO CT Community Sharing Program to Connecticut schools. This program allows DLD to deliver eBook and eAudio content, including Nutmeg, Charter Oak, Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge titles, and All CT Reads titles from eGO CT directly to schools in Connecticut.

To date, we have 153 Destiny sites that are active in the program and over 3,200 items have been purchased specifically for this program. We are also offering a Baker & Taylor Boundless option for non-Destiny sites for access to the Connecticut State Library ebook collection.

If you have questions about the eGO CT program, eGO CT Community Sharing Program, or the Palace Project app, please contact Brad Bullis at bradley.bullis@ct.gov.

The Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development works with Bibliomation and Equinox to provide access to the fulfILLment interlibrary loan platform for public, school, and academic libraries.

The cost to participate in fulfILLment as part of the requestIT CT program is $350 per fiscal year and the term of use runs from July 1 - June 30 each year. 

Please note that fulfILLment training is available for your library upon request.

Interested in participating? Visit our requestIT CT LibGuide or contact Brad Bullis at bradley.bullis@ct.gov for more information.

New eAudio Titles Now Available in the Palace Project app!

Due to high demand, the loan period for these sets cannot be extended, and libraries are limited to two sets of current Nutmeg nominees at a time.  

For more information, visit the Nutmeg Book Awards website. 

Browse 2025 Elementary Nutmeg Book Discussion Sets

Browse 2025 Intermediate Nutmeg Book Discussion Sets

Browse 2025 Middle School Nutmeg Book Discussion Sets

Browse 2025 High School Nutmeg Book Discussion Sets