DES MOINES—The State Library of Iowa has announced that the General N. B. Baker Library has met the conditions for state accreditation as outlined in “In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards Sixth Edition.”
Achieving accreditation requires a significant, ongoing local commitment to high quality library services. The General N. B. Baker Library has been recognized for its efforts in all areas of library operations including governance and funding, staffing, library collection, services, public relations, access, and facilities. The accreditation status begins July 1, 2022, and is valid through June 30, 2025.
“The director and board of trustees of the General N. B. Baker Library and the city of Sutherland are to be commended for this achievement and their commitment to excellence in public library services for their community,” said State Librarian Michael Scott.
Of Iowa’s 543 public libraries, 403 – including the General N. B. Baker Library – are accredited. Iowa’s accredited public libraries are recognized for being responsive to their communities and for exhibiting excellence in their provision of library services. More than two-thirds of all Iowans have active public library cards. Iowa libraries play key roles in workforce and economic development, lifelong learning and e-government activities. Iowans use their libraries to find jobs, do homework, locate a good book to read, research medical conditions, access government information, and more.
Library Director Nancy Hill works with her 7-member board and the Sutherland City Council to fulfill its mission. Action selected by the Board of Trustees to maintain the highest quality sources for visitors to the General N. B. Baker Library in Sutherland include maintaining and upgrading the high quality of the historical structure. The beginning of a fundraising effort to remove, restore and replace the original flagpole that remains part of the building structure is planned for fall of 2022. The cost of that project is $2500. That is a small price for such significant historic preservation. A significant landscaping project is just being completed. A $500 grant from Sutherland’s Community Fund served as seed money for a few updates. Additional, unsolicited donations toward the project kept coming, allowing the project to be completed during the summer of 2022 rather than piecemeal over time.
Several people helped with the landscaping. Members of the public who have and continue to volunteer to do the work are next door neighbor Mauricio Jarro and new members to the Sutherland Community, Mike OMahoney and his son Connor. Mike and Conner are both Master Gardners and are lending their skills to the library.
The General N. B. Baker Library is known for its local and regional history collection. A monthly group of lifelong residents meet the third Thursday of each month discussing events throughout the area and county that shaped the present. Anyone is welcome. A book club was recently started that has gone over quite well in the community.
The Trustees have also put into their strategic plan improving the youth programming for the library. An huge grant worth over $4000 was awarded to the library from Early Childhood of Iowa to help strengthen children’s library programming. After school for early out Wednesdays in a big part of that strengthening.
Accredited libraries receive a higher rate of compensation through the State Library’s Enrich Iowa program. They also receive a Certificate of Accreditation signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, State Librarian Michael Scott, and Iowa Commission of Libraries Chairperson Carrie Falk.
For more information on the State Library’s accreditation program, and to view the Public Library Standards, go to https://www.statelibraryofiowa.gov/index.php/libraries/search/accred-stand.